Newbie, New Question regarding high pH

[RazzleDazzleCrystal]

Hi, my Banana Kush has been reading high (close to 8) pH. In 3 pound cloth bag, FF Grow Big nutes. From seed, this plant is 7 weeks old., and my pH has been high for a long while. The plant looks healthy and i topped it a week ago and removed large shade leaves, bent a few areas and added net on top, which they are growing through, might move it up higher. Ok, so I bought pH down, added 5 ml to 16 ounces nute water 3 hours ago. I thought that would lower it, but gauge hasn't moved and I do take readings all around the plant. The meter is still reading high. Should I wait longer and re-check, or administer another dose? I am using a prong soil meter and will have a water pH testor tomorrow. Any help really appreciated.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

Check your runoff when you get the water tester. That will give you a good idea of where you are. 5 ml of pH down in 16 ounces of water is A LOT, but 16 ounces into a 3 gal pot is very little. If your plants are healthy, I'd stop trying to manage soil pH. I'd just get your input pH between 5 and 7, and let the soil buffer it. (You're in soil, right? If you're in coco, it's a different story.)

 

[RazzleDazzleCrystal]

Check your runoff when you get the water tester. That will give you a good idea of where you are. 5 ml of pH down in 16 ounces of water is A LOT, but 16 ounces into a 3 gal pot is very little. If your plants are healthy, I'd stop trying to manage soil pH. I'd just get your input pH between 5 and 7, and let the soil buffer it. (You're in soil, right? If you're in coco, it's a different story.)

Thanks very much. Yes, soil is FF ocean forest. My runoff? When I water, there is no excess water coming out of pot. I just watered Thursday, so I have to be careful with excessive water. The pH meter (which I calibrated) is still showing on the line between 7 and 8 in most places, and over 8 in a few areas. ai'll post a picture if plant in a few...

 

[RazzleDazzleCrystal]

Just taken

 

[ArtfulCodger]

Thanks very much. Yes, soil is FF ocean forest. My runoff? When I water, there is no excess water coming out of pot. I just watered Thursday, so I have to be careful with excessive water. The pH meter (which I calibrated) is still showing on the line between 7 and 8 in most places, and over 8 in a few areas. ai'll post a picture if plant in a few...

Over-watering is watering too often, as opposed to giving too much water at once. In Ocean Forest, I've had good results watering slowly to about 10% runoff, only when the pots are very light. It usually takes between a quarter and a third of the pot volume. With a plant that small in a pot that big, it could take 10 days or more to dry back, if you water to saturation. OF buffers pH pretty well. I don't bother monitoring or tweaking soil pH when running it. Just keep your input pH between 5.0 and 7.0, and it should be good. Based on your pics (small plant for its age, very low and dense, edge curl and taco-ing) I think you might consider watering in higher volume less often, and backing off on the light a bit.

 

[NoVC01]

Probably need a soil ph tester not a soil meter to get a better reading if you're testing soil. But runoff ph test should be a good indicator. (PH meter)

PH down moves down about one point per ml
PH up takes 4x the amount to bring it back up.

If you're still at 8 PH. Try 1 gallon per container of 5.5 PH water. Check runoff. Still not there, figure how much PH up/down you need to reach your target. Apply that the next watering. You'll have to adjust PH over several waterings, if you didn't reach the PH level the first adjustment. Takes some experimenting until you learn how much to apply with each situation. Good luck

 

[RazzleDazzleCrystal]

Over-watering is watering too often, as opposed to giving too much water at once. In Ocean Forest, I've had good results watering slowly to about 10% runoff, only when the pots are very light. It usually takes between a quarter and a third of the pot volume. With a plant that small in a pot that big, it could take 10 days or more to dry back, if you water to saturation. OF buffers pH pretty well. I don't bother monitoring or tweaking soil pH when running it. Just keep your input pH between 5.0 and 7.0, and it should be good. Based on your pics (small plant for its age, very low and dense, edge curl and taco-ing) I think you might consider watering in higher volume less often, and backing off on the light a bit.

This plant has been topped, trimmed and trimmed and trimmed again, plus some branches are bent down....it grows so bushy, which I read is normal for a banana kush. The light is about 14" up now...so should I rise light higher? I am not going to water again, even though I am still getting pH readings at or near pH 8... I will test pH again tomorrow...I ordered the following...

 

[RazzleDazzleCrystal]

Over-watering is watering too often, as opposed to giving too much water at once. In Ocean Forest, I've had good results watering slowly to about 10% runoff, only when the pots are very light. It usually takes between a quarter and a third of the pot volume. With a plant that small in a pot that big, it could take 10 days or more to dry back, if you water to saturation. OF buffers pH pretty well. I don't bother monitoring or tweaking soil pH when running it. Just keep your input pH between 5.0 and 7.0, and it should be good. Based on your pics (small plant for its age, very low and dense, edge curl and taco-ing) I think you might consider watering in higher volume less often, and backing off on the light a bit.

This plant has been topped, trimmed and trimmed and trimmed again, plus some branches are bent down....it grows so bushy, which I read is normal for a banana kush. The light is about 14" up now...so should I rise light higher? I am not going to water again, even though I am still gertting readings at or near pH 8... I will test pH again tomorrow...I ordered the following...

Probably need a soil ph tester not a soil meter to get a better reading if you're testing soil. But runoff ph test should be a good indicator. (PH meter)

PH down moves down about one point per ml
PH up takes 4x the amount to bring it back up.

If you're still at 8 PH. Try 1 gallon per container of 5.5 PH water. Check runoff. Still not there, figure how much PH up/down you need to reach your target. Apply that the next watering. You'll have to adjust PH over several waterings, if you didn't reach the PH level the first adjustment. Takes some experimenting until you learn how much to apply with each situation. Good luck

I know this is a very green newbie question, but when someone mentions "run off", does that mean water that drains out, when you water your plant? If so, I have never had run off.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

The light is about 14" up now...so should I rise light higher?

I run LEDs at the tops of my tents, and manage the intensity with the dimmers. I want my fan leaves to be flat, level, and vibrant green. That indicates they're digging the light level. Any discoloration or contortion, including twisting, taco-ing, edge curl, etc, and I dim the lights a bit.

 

[RazzleDazzleCrystal]

I run LEDs at the tops of my tents, and manage the intensity with the dimmers. I want my fan leaves to be flat, level, and vibrant green. That indicates they're digging the light level. Any discoloration or contortion, including twisting, taco-ing, edge curl, etc, and I dim the lights a bit.

Thanks. I have a mars hydro intro ts600 led light (it came with the grow tent kit)...there is no dimmer...and the temperature rarely exceeds 24-25c...the space between tallest leaf and light was 14"....and just today, at my wits end, i lowered light to 10 inches thinking that might raise the temperature...should I try putting more space between the plant and the light?

 

[ArtfulCodger]

Thanks. I have a mars hydro intro ts600 led light (it came with the grow tent kit)...there is no dimmer...and the temperature rarely exceeds 24-25c...the space between tallest leaf and light was 14" for several days....and just today, at my wits end, i lowered light to 10 inches thinking that might raise the temperature...should I try putting more space between the plant and the light?

If that was my grow, I'd move the light up until the top fan leaves flatten out.

 

[RazzleDazzleCrystal]

If that was my grow, I'd move the light up until the top fan leaves flatten out.

Just lifted light to 16"...will keep an eye on fan leaves.

 

[NoVC01]

This plant has been topped, trimmed and trimmed and trimmed again, plus some branches are bent down....it grows so bushy, which I read is normal for a banana kush. The light is about 14" up now...so should I rise light higher? I am not going to water again, even though I am still gertting readings at or near pH 8... I will test pH again tomorrow...I ordered the following...

I know this is a very green newbie question, but when someone mentions "run off", does that mean water that drains out, when you water your plant? If so, I have never had run off.

Yes runoff is the water draining from your containers. The type meter you ordered is perfect. Looking at your plants it probably is the time to increase the amount of water you give them each time. 3/4 gallon for a 3 gallon pot should provide enough saturation and runoff. The days between watering will increase some. Your plants look healthy. You're not in trouble and getting your PH adjusted should not be a problem.