So I've been doing some reading, went to a couple nurseries, did a little testing and a little soul searching and this is what I came up with, keeping in mind... -
I made a grow device to compare ease of use, quality, consistency and everything else you could imagine, between different ways/methods of... Making ph correct before planting and maintaining ph levels in coco (and other mediums), throughout a grow cycle. I have transplanted some seedlings in already and have seeds germinating in the other locations.
I have designed ''a res in a res technology'', just for this experiment.
'Outside res' - nutrient solution @ 7.0 ph. For the 'res in a res' - water @ ~7.0ph (needed for the organic coco and organic soil grows). I will not be going below 7.0 ph with the water because this is to test how well these 'solutions' will last when the water is not being 'ph corrected'. This could change, it depends on how well the plants/'solutions' do but for now I will ph the water to 7.0. ~0ppm water.
There will be no runoff, so I believe this will be a good test/comparison, of the 'longevity' of these 'solutions', as well as help maintaining ph levels over a longer time, reducing the frequency to add more of whichever 'solution' may need 'refreshed' to stay within good ph range. I will try and stay from 5.6 ph - 6.0 ph.
I have not used any of these 'solutions' for ph controlling in this manner before, so it will be a new experience for me.
I introduce you to -
The Grow Master - with 'a res in a res technology'.
Banana Dance, using dead tree bark and dead tree branches to lower ph. ph unknown (about 1/4 pot is bark and branches (see pic below). Peach Tree, coco, using apple cider vinegar to lower ph to about 5.5 ph (unsure on amount, only mixed small amount, I guess ~15ml x 1 gal coco was ratio used, REALLY strong stuff. More testing needed with it).
Dead tree branches and bark used.
Banana Dance, coco organic, using epsom salts and gypsum to get pH to about 5.7 (1/4 cup each, epsom salt and gypsum x 1 gallon coco). Devil Cream, coco, using epsom salts to get pH to about 5.8 (1/2 cup epsom salt x 1 gallon coco).
Organic mix, dried leaves/stems and ph’ed coco (5.7 ph before leaves added, forgot to check after).
Cream Caramel, in organic soil, pH ~5.8. Red Hot Cookies, in coco, salt + gypsum pH ~5.7 (1/4 cup each, epsom and gypsum x 1 gallon coco)
Bloody Skunk, using garden gypsum to get pH to pH 5.6 (1/2 cup gypsum x 1 gallon coco). Repeat of Banana Dance.
Some other things I may be testing in a not so formal manner include - coffee grounds, lemon juice, dried leaves/pine needles, wood chips, dried/dead wood tea and more.
Also need to do more testing with vinegar, that stuff seems like it may be really good if you use sparingly/get usage ratios just right. Vinegar very strong for ph adjustment just from my initial testing.
Almost forgot, I put a handle on it as well. Now I can take it with me to my buddies.