Nutrient LockOut/ Compost Soil Issue

[FWB]

HI All,

First time poster long time reader. I am having a nutrient lock out/pH issue. So for my whole life with both photoperiod and autoflowers I have used pro mix. This round a momentary lack of judgement led me to using a good soil I had in my yard. The soil is great for gardens. Its a triple mix (soil, peat, compost).
So moving the story forward everything went great for a few weeks until I started using nutes. Within two weeks I noticed what I thought first to be overwatering but have come to realise is more of a nut lock. So today I ran some water through. The water was about a 6.9 in the water can. Once it drained through it was about a 6! Based on my math thats some acidic soil!
I have since ran lord knows how many liters through the pots but the run off does not change pH. The soil is also very heavy. For now I have put things back under light but I am not sure what to do. MY options, as I see them, are as follows:
(a) Wait, monitor and see what happens
(b) Flush x more liters of water through... not confident it will make a difference
(c) Remove from pot, wash roots and repot in new soil (promix)? I am doubtful they will handle stress well.

In the meantime I have cracked a few seeds as I had more space and thought this problem may be unfixable in any meanigful way.

Thoughts?

 

[Joemac879]

I’d try using some dolomite lime


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FWB]

I was thinking of that. Just put some on top of soil?

 

[Joemac879]

That’s what I’ve always done.. I’m curious did you do a slurry test or are you just testing the runoff?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FWB]

I am just testing run off (and my nute solution)

 

[FWB]

Interesting... slurry test shows 6.8 - 6.9 depending on plant.... Any explanations on difference between two readings? Any recommendations going forward? In my head the compost component of soil is messing with my ph once nutes are added? Thoughts anyone?

 

[Rev. Green Genes]

You are probably going to have to recycle that soil and pH it before you plant next time. The two things to fix it in pot though are dolomite, like already pointed out. Also you can crush and dry a dozen eggshells and make a tea from it to water daily till the runnoff is good. With the heavy flushing you gave it, she may not recover and start uptake again for a minute either.

 

[Waira]

.... dolomite is waaaay too slow acting, even if powdered, it's the slowest/longest acting of the limes... it's chemistry is slightly different that Ag'/garden lime which releases faster,... if you need RIGHT NOW fast pH adjusting, flushing with a hydrated lime solution may be called for, but this may not be that bad,... it's resistance to correct bugs me,... must be very little buffering minerals in that soil,... I'd try a garden lime solution flush, powdered is best, fatsest,... it'll have the carbonates needed to buffer pH over time,.... keep in mind that all this flushing is going to strip the nutes out, so add in a mild dose of nutes on last pour through,.... another catch-22, is this constant saturation of the soil is going to screw with the roots health, and that soil being heavy makes matters worse,....
get us pics to confirm symptoms! ... how old are the plants, and size? + Pot size?

 

[FWB]

Plants are about five weeks. Pots are 3 Gallon I believe. I honestly think its going to be a wrap for a couple of these guys. I feel like they are delayed a week or worse now as theyre still looking pretty depressed. While I am sure they will come around I can't see the yeilds being where they should be. I am cracking new beans and I will also post a few pics later to get your thoughts. Stupid soil!