If you grow with organics in soil do you use regular ph down?

[Aqua Man]

so if I were to stop ph'ing my water and nutrient feeds how often should I be looking to check the run off? i'm using the same soil mix for all my plants - I'm guessing I don't have to test all of them? or will it vary if I'm growing different strains?

Once in a while... but really I wouldn't bother if I didn't see an issue.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

They aren't, however, an effective method of controlling pH, which is what the thread was about. Brewed teas, even aerated ones, can be acidic or alkaline- depending on what was used to make them and how much.

This caught my attention as a Herbalist. I hate Doctors. but yes, many plants and minerals when made into a tea actually will change pH an amazing amount depending on how they are mixed. This is important in herbalism because the body like acidic states. I can mix you a tea that will adjust your pH to any point I want. I never thought to apply that to growing. Shame on me. LOL

 

[ImpulsiveGrower]

Ive been using the same soil in my 4x8 living Soil bed in the basement for well over a year now with a consistent good flavor and yeild of different strains using that philosophy it works Biochar is the secret ingredient to longevity soil use

What does that do exactly? Looking to re amend my organic living soil. I’m om my first indoor grow and have been researching a lot but haven’t come across this yet.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

We use an amendment with npk and microbes, enzymes, bacteria and some other trace goodies.
We never throw out soil. Every grow the plants eat about 1/2 gallon of soil that we have to replace.

 

[freezeland2]

We use an amendment with npk and microbes, enzymes, bacteria and some other trace goodies.
We never throw out soil. Every grow the plants eat about 1/2 gallon of soil that we have to replace.

Was it you that recommended KIS? If so is that what you are using?

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

No, that wasn't me. We use Earth Dust. We've had grows with it and it's crazy easy. Organic so the soil is always reused.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

I am considering adding just a touch of DaKine420's 'Sticky Icky', but I haven't finished looking at the numbers yet.
I don't like to add, but this is adding enzymes which I'm fine with. They can't hurt. If there's not enough food around, they become food so there is very little downside to it.

 

[Aqua Man]

What does that do exactly? Looking to re amend my organic living soil. I’m om my first indoor grow and have been researching a lot but haven’t come across this yet.

Organic soils build structure over time and that's probably the largest benefit to them. It's a waste to through out a good organic soil as it only improves.

 

[freezeland2]

Organic soils build structure over time and that's probably the largest benefit to them. It's a waste to through out a good organic soil as it only improves.

I don’t plan on ever dumping mine. Just recycle and amend.

 

[Glassdub]

Been using AgroThrive this grow, organic for the first time overnight the run off pH went acid & the PPMs when through the roof, stopped feeding except for ProTekt & recently a little Cal/Mag since I watering with mineral free AC run off water, just fed for the first time in 4-5 waterings (I usually water every 5 or so days), just finishing my second week of flowering, with their flower formula, run off pH is 5ish with very high PPMs but the plants look pretty fine so...
I heard with organics PPMs are not so important, I just thought it was strange that it shifted from in range #'s overnight & didn't change a whole hell of a lot after all the straight waterings.

 

[Glassdub]

I don’t plan on ever dumping mine. Just recycle and amend.

I just put mine in my veg garden & start fresh.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Been using AgroThrive this grow, organic for the first time overnight the run off pH went acid & the PPMs when through the roof, stopped feeding except for ProTekt & recently a little Cal/Mag since I watering with mineral free AC run off water, just fed for the first time in 4-5 waterings (I usually water every 5 or so days), just finishing my second week of flowering, with their flower formula, run off pH is 5ish with very high PPMs but the plants look pretty fine so...
I heard with organics PPMs are not so important, I just thought it was strange that it shifted from in range #'s overnight & didn't change a whole hell of a lot after all the straight waterings.

So, what was different this time? Are you using the suggested feeding schedule?

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

PPM's are not as important, but they are still great indicators to keep track of.
Lets have a pic of where they sit. Are they sitting in old runoff that gets re-saturated each time?

 

[Glassdub]

So, what was different this time? Are you using the suggested feeding schedule?

I only used Dyna-Gro prier, this is my 3rd grow, been using half a cup per gal as directed, but in the beginning every watering, which may have been a mistake but I cut off when the numbers spiked & the plants all looked pretty fine except for one that looked a little hungry & I subsequently fed apart from the rest.

 

[Glassdub]

PPM's are not as important, but they are still great indicators to keep track of.
Lets have a pic of where they sit. Are they sitting in old runoff that gets re-saturated each time?

I'm not sure what you mean, this is where they set, I water in my bath tub & drain off most all runoff before putting back in the tent.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

One of the great things about organics is not having to feed all the time. We only have 3 feedings the entire grow.
The only thing we have to provide is water and light. Of course, we keep an eye on numbers but once I got the lights figured out, we have'nt had any issues except some critters that sneaked in with Golum.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

No runoff with organics. You are flushing away all the stuff that makes it grow.
That's why you have to keep feeding.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

All the bacteria, enzymes and minerals you water to runoff are running off from your plant.
You want the soil completly wet without runoff. ALL the soil, not just a circle around the plant.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

If you are doing non-organic then you NEED runoff.

 

[Glassdub]

No runoff with organics. You are flushing away all the stuff that makes it grow.

AgroThrive really sticks in the medium, it would take a long time, was mostly concerned with the acid pH but as the plants look ok, not panicked.