New Grower First Grow Journal- Northern Light Auto

[AndyBotwin]

So to make things clear, runoff is not the pH that matters as much? Will my baby absorb the nutrients if the runoff is 5? Or next time I water, should I make the pH of the nutes and water higher so the soil pH is higher? Maybe water at like 7.5 so the soil pH is 6ish? Or is that bad? Also I've heard to alternate waterings with nutes, like water once with nutes and the next time with just water, and then nutes again and rotate, is this correct?

Runoff pH definitely does matter, since that gives you the best picture of conditions within your soil. If indeed your runoff is around 5, then yes you should bump up the pH on your water or nutes before feeding. Not anything drastic but maybe closer to 7. But like Ren said, no reason to panic for now. If the low runoff persists, you will probably need to get some dolomite lime and add it to the top or your soil. That stuff is neutral so it will pull up pH over time. Small plants can do OK with pH issues but once you have a large plant in veg or flower, pH in the 5 range can cause serious problems. Next time you water or feed let's get another reading and see where we are before taking more measures.

Alternating water and nutes is a good plan. Synthetic nutes like the trio can build up salts in the soil over time, so getting some water through the pot isn't a bad thing.

Things are looking really good so far!

 

[Renaissance Redneck]

Andy beat me to it!
BTW, GG, you may want to consider making your next purchase a pH pen. I finally got one, the ECO pH2, and love it. If you shop around, good deals can be found (I got mine on Amazon for about $48. I would have gladly paid more for the ease and accuracy!).

 

[growgirl]

Runoff pH definitely does matter, since that gives you the best picture of conditions within your soil. If indeed your runoff is around 5, then yes you should bump up the pH on your water or nutes before feeding. Not anything drastic but maybe closer to 7. But like Ren said, no reason to panic for now. If the low runoff persists, you will probably need to get some dolomite lime and add it to the top or your soil. That stuff is neutral so it will pull up pH over time. Small plants can do OK with pH issues but once you have a large plant in veg or flower, pH in the 5 range can cause serious problems. Next time you water or feed let's get another reading and see where we are before taking more measures.

Alternating water and nutes is a good plan. Synthetic nutes like the trio can build up salts in the soil over time, so getting some water through the pot isn't a bad thing.

Things are looking really good so far!

Thanks Andy (;
So I shouldn't do anything until my next water? I didn't do anything at all since testing the runoff, should I just leave it? Or water again with pHed water only? I don't want to over water but I don't want nutrient lockout!
And I will definitely look into getting a pen! I'm a full time student, so I'm pretty broke right now haha, but as soon as I get any money I'll look into it!

 

[growgirl]

Day 15 updates

Day 15!


Little growth since yesterday, her first feed, and I'm worried that since the runoff pH was so low (5.0) that she didn't absorb the nutrients. Could this be the case?
Is there anything at all I can do for her besides wait until her next water? She's due for one in two days, on Sunday, which I was planning on just watering using plain water (I was planning on rotating waters using nutes and just plain water), and I was going to make the pH around 7.0 or 7.5. Should I do this sooner? Or just let her be until her next water?

Red stems are still there, not sure if it's genetics,
check out these pictures!

 

[dazedandconfuzed]

Day 15!


Little growth since yesterday, her first feed, and I'm worried that since the runoff pH was so low (5.0) that she didn't absorb the nutrients. Could this be the case?
Is there anything at all I can do for her besides wait until her next water? She's due for one in two days, on Sunday, which I was planning on just watering using plain water (I was planning on rotating waters using nutes and just plain water), and I was going to make the pH around 7.0 or 7.5. Should I do this sooner? Or just let her be until her next water?

Red stems are still there, not sure if it's genetics,
check out these pictures!
View attachment 334812View attachment 334813View attachment 334814View attachment 334815View attachment 334816View attachment 334817

I can say from my experience, which has killed all my plants up to now lol, yes PH of 5 is really low, if its soil. I fixed my PH and BOOM, looking better. My plants exhibited ALL the symptoms yours have. Your water needs to be a PH of AROUND 6.5 after nutrients I think, I'm new to growing though so others here may be able to confirm that. Check my journal and you will see the same thing as what you have going on. PH fixed mine so far.

Hope this helps brother.

Peace.

- - - Updated - - -

Runoff pH definitely does matter, since that gives you the best picture of conditions within your soil. If indeed your runoff is around 5, then yes you should bump up the pH on your water or nutes before feeding. Not anything drastic but maybe closer to 7. But like Ren said, no reason to panic for now. If the low runoff persists, you will probably need to get some dolomite lime and add it to the top or your soil. That stuff is neutral so it will pull up pH over time. Small plants can do OK with pH issues but once you have a large plant in veg or flower, pH in the 5 range can cause serious problems. Next time you water or feed let's get another reading and see where we are before taking more measures.

Alternating water and nutes is a good plan. Synthetic nutes like the trio can build up salts in the soil over time, so getting some water through the pot isn't a bad thing.

Things are looking really good so far!

+1

Mine all turned a very light green, I could never figure out why, but my rainwater was really low, like 5.6. Now I use tap water which after I've added Biobizz nutes comes down to 6.7, which seems a lot better for them.

It's only taken me 2 failed attempts to figure that out!

- - - Updated - - -

Runoff pH definitely does matter, since that gives you the best picture of conditions within your soil. If indeed your runoff is around 5, then yes you should bump up the pH on your water or nutes before feeding. Not anything drastic but maybe closer to 7. But like Ren said, no reason to panic for now. If the low runoff persists, you will probably need to get some dolomite lime and add it to the top or your soil. That stuff is neutral so it will pull up pH over time. Small plants can do OK with pH issues but once you have a large plant in veg or flower, pH in the 5 range can cause serious problems. Next time you water or feed let's get another reading and see where we are before taking more measures.

Alternating water and nutes is a good plan. Synthetic nutes like the trio can build up salts in the soil over time, so getting some water through the pot isn't a bad thing.

Things are looking really good so far!

+1

Mine all turned a very light green, I could never figure out why, but my rainwater was really low, like 5.6. Now I use tap water which after I've added Biobizz nutes comes down to 6.7, which seems a lot better for them.

It's only taken me 2 failed attempts to figure that out!

 

[growgirl]

Wait so my runoff should be 6.5? Because I make sure my water after I add the nutrients (before I water the plant) is 6.5. But when it comes out it's 5. So should I increase the water going in to be like 7 or 7.5?

 

[AndyBotwin]

Wait so my runoff should be 6.5? Because I make sure my water after I add the nutrients (before I water the plant) is 6.5. But when it comes out it's 5. So should I increase the water going in to be like 7 or 7.5?

Yes, that's correct. Here is GoAuto's pH guide:

If your runoff pH is higher than your starting pH, use this equation to determine your soil pH:*
Soil pH = Runoff pH + Difference

If your runoff pH is lower than your starting pH, us this equation:
Soil pH = Runoff pH - Difference.

For example, say your the starting pH of your solution before it goes in is 6.5 and the pH of your runoff is 7.0. The difference is +0.5, so using the above equation:
Soil pH = 7.0 + 0.5*
Soil pH = 7.5

If your starting pH is 6.5 and your runoff is 6.0, your difference is -0.5 and using the above equation:
Soil pH = 6.0 - 0.5
Soil pH = 5.5

Ideally, you want to be watering with 6.5 and getting runoff at 6.5. That will have fluctuations as the grow goes along, but definitely 5 is too low. I would wait until your next water, give her some that is around 6.8-7, then report back. If you still see very low numbers, it will be time to add the lime as mentioned earlier. Soil in the 5s won't be easily fixed by just running high pH water through it. You need a buffer like lime to stabilize things closer to 7. The good thing is that the pics look good, so no need to panic at this point.

 

[shax]

Looking good! If they are going to develope like mine, your cab is perfect. They dont grow in height at all and only get bushy bushy Looking nice! Good job keep it up

 

[pop22]

Andy beat me to it!
BTW, GG, you may want to consider making your next purchase a pH pen. I finally got one, the ECO pH2, and love it. If you shop around, good deals can be found (I got mine on Amazon for about $48. I would have gladly paid more for the ease and accuracy!).

I agree! If you use test strips you may as well stick your finger in it and guess.... they are not very accurate.

 

[growgirl]

Hey guys. I watered again today, it's day 17. Watered with only pH 7 water. The plants colors and everything look great but it's leaves are cupping a bit, I'm assuming it's because of an accident today the temperature went up to 90 for a few hours. It's back down to 77-79 now. I took the tin foil out of the box and spray painted it flat white with kilz original primer sealer. I watered with pH 7 water but the runoff was still around 5.0 - 5.5. There's not a lot of growth every day but she still looks pretty good I think. Check out this video from today after the water:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3AsPg82jY4