2nd time growing need help

[Joey82884]

Have you seen the technique of jamming a water meter sideways into a fabric pot about 1/4 up from the bottom? A handy way to check the water at a critical point, and by watching it react as you water you can stop overwatering. (Need to poke a couple holes to get it started.)

I use a moisture meter to check mine. Also I’m no expert but your light seems a little high up to me.

 

[phxazcraig]

Awesome I just ordered a meter worth a shot!

This is the moisture meter I used (in soil) - $10.99 from Amazon. It has a rudimentary light meter.

Amazon.com

The light meter basically only tells you how much light to use for seedlings, or if you aren't giving enough light for a mature plant. (Bright light quickly saturates it.) I tried a Lux meter after this, and it just wasn't much better. I finally ended up buying a $400 Apogee (MQ-200). The Apogee is what a meter always should have been. Accurate, easy to use. I just turn it on and hold the sensor where I want to measure, and I get PAR readings. No distance charts to guesstimate from, and I can turn the dimmer down while watching the meter to get just what I want.

Apogee Instruments Quantum Light Meters

These meters approximate radiation between 400 and 700 nanometers, the most important wavelengths for driving photosynthesis and plant growth. The meters measure instantaneous Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF) in µmol m-2 s-1. A blue lens filters spectra for improved response. Each meter stores...

www.forestry-suppliers.com

 

[Farmerbob93]

I use a moisture meter to check mine. Also I’m no expert but your light seems a little high up to me.

Yeah it was a few inches high

 

[Farmerbob93]

She’s only getting worse. She looks thirsty but even after I water it doesn’t help. Can somebody try to help me save her. I water with ph’d water 6.0-6.5 max, I gave a light feeding of around 600ppm. It’s growing in ffof soil. Temps around 75-80 rh 40-50. Not sure what is going on.

 

[Farmerbob93]

She’s only getting worse. She looks thirsty but even after I water it doesn’t help. Can somebody try to help me save her. I water with ph’d water 6.0-6.5 max, I gave a light feeding of around 600ppm. It’s growing in ffof soil. Temps around 75-80 rh 40-50. Not sure what is going on.

 

[phxazcraig]

What does your water meter say about the moisture content in that soil right now, or at the time of the picture?

 

[Farmerbob93]

What does your water meter say about the moisture content in that soil right now, or at the time of the picture?

It says dry, I feel so dumb. Such a noob. When ph’ing my water I didn’t let it sit to actually adjust enough. I just checked what I’ve been ph’ing my water to after sitting for a few mins and it was at 4.7 ….. that has to be the reason right??

 

[Blastfact]

Your using the same PH water for the other plant correct???

 

[Farmerbob93]

Your using the same PH water for the other plant correct???

Yeah my ph was all off.

 

[Blastfact]

Yeah my ph was all off.

Come on man follow through... Were or have you been using the same water for the other plant? Or have you been just roasting the roots on the one plant. The one plant has been your problem child right???

 

[Farmerbob93]

Come on man follow through... Were or have you been using the same water for the other plant? Or have you been just roasting the roots on the one plant. The one plant has been your problem child right???

I just said yes,I have been, they’ve both been problems. hopefully this ph change helps just quadruple checked I just watered them both at 6.3ph.

 

[steamroller]

To properly Ph water you need to take a sample and let it outgas for 24 hours .
Many suppliers add O2 or CO2 to keep their lines from corroding and both effect the Ph out of tap .
After 24 hours then you check to see where your Ph is after it has adjusted to being exposed to the atmoshpere.
The reading for Ph you get after 24 hours is your true Ph .
Not sure how many do this but it is the proper way top test your water .
I don't adjust my Ph I grow in soil .

 

[Farmerbob93]

To properly Ph water you need to take a sample and let it outgas for 24 hours .
Many suppliers add O2 or CO2 to keep their lines from corroding and both effect the Ph out of tap .
After 24 hours then you check to see where your Ph is after it has adjusted to being exposed to the atmoshpere.
The reading for Ph you get after 24 hours is your true Ph .
Not sure how many do this but it is the proper way top test your water .
I don't adjust my Ph I grow in soil .

That’s good to know! Can an off ph make the plant wilt like this?

 

[kyLman]

Im not an expert, but she looks really dry. I would PH some PLAIN water, and feed until little bit of runoff. The slower you water, the better saturation youll get before runoff. Sometimes it looks like runoff from the sides of the fabric pot but it isnt.

The plant should come around, might stunt though.

If the pots feel extremely light, give it a drink. Less is more, dont drown it either.

 

[Farmerbob93]

Im not an expert, but she looks really dry. I would PH some PLAIN water, and feed until little bit of runoff. The slower you water, the better saturation youll get before runoff. Sometimes it looks like runoff from the sides of the fabric pot but it isnt.

The plant should come around, might stunt though.

If the pots feel extremely light, give it a drink. Less is more, dont drown it either.

I had just watered about 2 hrs ago, she still stayed wilted after tho. I fixed my ph levels as best as I could I gave her about a liter and a half.

 

[Mostlymooses]

Always water to runoff with soil. 10% seems to be the generally agreed upon amount, meaning 10% of the volume you put in comes out the bottom.

 

[Mostlymooses]

You could be overwatering as well. Overwatering doesn't necessarily mean too often, you could also be using too much water at a time. Most issues new farmers have can be chalked up to over/under watering. It helps to physically pick up your pots after watering, then do the same every day after so you get an idea of what a well watered plant should feel like, and how it feels as it dries. When it feels light, water again. Good luck!

 

[Farmerbob93]

You could be overwatering as well. Overwatering doesn't necessarily mean too often, you could also be using too much water at a time. Most issues new farmers have can be chalked up to over/under watering. It helps to physically pick up your pots after watering, then do the same every day after so you get an idea of what a well watered plant should feel like, and how it feels as it dries. When it feels light, water again. Good luck!

Yeah I have been doing the feel test if my ph fix doesn’t help I’ll try less water next time. Super stressful not being able to get this right. I appreciate it

 

[Mostlymooses]

Try not to stress out too much, it seems like a big deal now but in the long run you will have a lot of attempts and will likely learn something each go around. Everyone runs into problems with their grow, with time you will learn to identify these and handle them before they progress and becomes bigger issues.

 

[kyLman]

Can you do a soil slurry test? I feel like that'll rule out PH or its a PH issue.
I forgot the recipe, quick google it. Pretty sure its 1 part soil (go under the surface) and 2 parts water? Mix very well.... let sit for 15 minutes and then take the PH of the slurry

edit: you need distilled water, I forgot