LexLuthor
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I try and keep my PH range from 5.5 - 6.2. All the way thru flower. I will start it at around 5.5 and it will raise slightly and usually stable off at around 5.8. I was told by an old OG farmer not to even worry about testing runoff ph or ppm's. As long as when you feed you get good run off and your not feeding to hot I see no need to check runoff unless u have a problem.
What can I use for pH down?? I have GH pH up, but I'm not driving all the way to the hydro store for a bottle of pH down if its safe to use white vinegar or lemon juice (from concentrate). My nutes bring the pH far down then I use pH up, but when I use plain water in between feedings my tap is about 7.4. I used lemon juice last week and I started to see some minor deficiencies this past week, I don't know if its attributed to the lemon juice but I'm trying to rule out possibilities so I can narrow it down and figure out exactly whats wrong.
So does anybody know if lemon juice or white vinegar will mess with your medium and/or plants in a negative way??
From what I have been reading both vinegar and lemon juice are fine but lemon is better. Honestly I'd use the lemon for now but order PH down online in the mean time or next time you go to the hydro store pick some up.
From what I have read they both dont hold PH for lengthy periods(But lemon is superior) unlike the hydro store PH products which ime hold PH amazingly.
I'm in Sunshine mix so I don't need it to hold the pH like in a RDWC system. Plus the Sunshine has a buffer so if I water with the correct pH it should e fine. Thanks for the info.
I'm in 5 gal pots in sunshine 4 and a 20% mix of perlite thrown in. Also have about 1" of perlite at both the top and bottom of the pot. I try and keep my ph between 5.8 and 6, and allow a little fade at the end. I am a fanatic about checking both in and out. I like to do it and fortunately have the time.
I have ran at 6.5 before, I have just been told many times that in organic soil to keep it just under 6. Can't tell any difference either way. I am measuring runoff and like midwest said the ph I feed at is determined on the ph at runoff.5.8 - 6 for pH in Sunshine #4? Can you guys say for sure you have ran that pH all the way through without lockout issues? I swore #4 came with dolomite mixed in, wouldn't that mean the media prefers the pH closer to neutral? I just did a run in this mix for the first time, granted most of my feedings were organics with bennies, but I did water in micro here and there with a pH around 6.5 without any ill effects.
I have ran at 6.5 before, I have just been told many times that in organic soil to keep it just under 6. Can't tell any difference either way. I am measuring runoff and like midwest said the ph I feed at is determined on the ph at runoff.
I use AN and (not the ph perfect stuff) and my ph will have a tendency to slowly drop. Am flushing a Chemdog #4 today and the ph when I started was 5.5 and I will bring it back up to 6. IMO if you look at some of the older nute uptake charts it says that 6.5 is best but lately I have been told lower is better. Don't ever see any signs of lock out. Plants stay green until they start to fade just before harvest.
@GREENLEAF- Maybe since Sunshine #4 has limestone you can water at a lower pH without ill effects because the lime acts as a buffer. If it has lime I dont think it means you have to water closer to 7 pH, it just helps buffer in case you water too low and helps keep it stable. I could be wrong but I'm just tossing that out there.
I'm gonna give the next watering with a 6.5 pH just to see if I can tell any visual difference.
Really interested to see your results....It's worth experimenting with the pH (slowly of course) to see exactly what the soil prefers. Have you ever contacted the manufacturer?
I'm having issues with my nutrient regiment at the moment. I just can't seem to dial-in 2 strains I have in a new environment. So not only will I fluctuate the pH I am going to start using GH Flora Micro + Bloom (not lucas). So in order for me to know which factor will be responsible for what, I'm gonna change the nutrients today, but only change the pH .1 at a time and keep 1 plant with 6.4-6.6 constant.
Np, I never contacted the manufacturer. Are you talking about Sunshine#4 mnfct.??
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