Most welcome. :)
I have used colorimetric/titration kits, but as Max says, it's difficult to take a reading if nutrients have changed the color of the water much. I now have a Hanna meter.
I do also test plant sap pH, with a goal of achieving 6.4, and for that I use litmus that comes on a roll. I'll have to search for it, I got it on Amazon.
Okay so when I take soil out of the root zone i am worried i might damage the roots..Sorry if I sound stupid, i am new to this as it is my first grow...I did the slurry test as you suggested but really only took soil from about 2 inches down on diff sides of the pot...p.s. i posted the results in Tnelz thread about whatever...not sure what "good" results are so far as ppm...any help would be much appreciated as i am having some leaf issues and am thinking it might be pH related..also pics posted in tnelz threadMy experience is different, so I do a slurry test. Very simple and really only takes about 10mins or so. I take my samples of media from the root zone, then mix them into a water sample I've already tested for pH and EC. I let that slurry sit for about 7mins, then test. I've found this is a much more accurate method, and better for *me* with regard to solving problems.
What's most important, however, is to make certain that whatever you're using to test parameters is itself accurate.
There will be some damage, there's just no way to get around that. But if the plant is healthy, has a good root system at least, it shouldn't hurt. If the plant is unhealthy, IME it's better to figure out what's going on instead of wasting time guessing. Knowing what's going on in the root zone either gives you your answer, or eliminates that as a possibility (when troubleshooting).Okay so when I take soil out of the root zone i am worried i might damage the roots..Sorry if I sound stupid, i am new to this as it is my first grow
"Good" is a relative term. First, we'd want to know a few things. Is your media really soil? Are you using any organic feeds or amendments that may mess with readings (organic molecules cannot be read accurately using EC, from which ppm/TDS readings are calculated. An example here would be molasses, which tends to drive those readings up crazy high)..I did the slurry test as you suggested but really only took soil from about 2 inches down on diff sides of the pot...p.s. i posted the results in Tnelz thread about whatever...not sure what "good" results are so far as ppm...any help would be much appreciated as i am having some leaf issues and am thinking it might be pH related..also pics posted in tnelz thread
That will explain why my PPM is so high :) from 700 - 938 PPM. Im using Bio Grow ( Mollasses based nutrient) . Does this mean everything is fine ? as i thought id overfed them. They seem fine even though my run off Ph Was on 2 plants as low as 4 :-( Do Organic nutrients play with the ph the same way ? definitely going to try the slurry test. Thanks for the info @Seamaiden.There will be some damage, there's just no way to get around that. But if the plant is healthy, has a good root system at least, it shouldn't hurt. If the plant is unhealthy, IME it's better to figure out what's going on instead of wasting time guessing. Knowing what's going on in the root zone either gives you your answer, or eliminates that as a possibility (when troubleshooting).
"Good" is a relative term. First, we'd want to know a few things. Is your media really soil? Are you using any organic feeds or amendments that may mess with readings (organic molecules cannot be read accurately using EC, from which ppm/TDS readings are calculated. An example here would be molasses, which tends to drive those readings up crazy high).
"Good" pH is much easier to know, see and correct. If you posted in Tnelz's thread, you're going to get really good help there. Otherwise, a link is helpful. :)
You were saying in an earlier thread that molassis based and other organic nutrients give inaccurate PPM readings. I was wondering do the organic nutrients also effect the Ph readings. My run off Ph on my 5 plants phd from 4 - 5 which seems very low. Although my plants look really healthy, when i watered them i watered for the first time with water phd to 6.5 and 2 days later they are looking very happy. Thanks for your reply @Seamaiden :)I'm not sure I fully understand your questions. :)
Ah! Gotcha. No, you should be able to achieve as accurate a pH reading with organic fertilizers as salt-based.I was wondering do the organic nutrients also effect the Ph readings.
Thanks Sea :) I watered the 2 with the lower ph tonight and run off was 5.9 so its risen a little, i done another slurry test and one plant soil was 5.9 and the other 6.1 I had flushed them to a nice run off with tap water ph 7.5 A bit of leaf curl developed on one of them but hopefully issue will soon be resolved. I like the slurry method so far. :-)Thanks for your help much appreciated and thanks for compliment on garden :)Ah! Gotcha. No, you should be able to achieve as accurate a pH reading with organic fertilizers as salt-based.
I'm pretty sure you've commented on trying slurry vs run-off method of pH management. There are *many* people who are well able to recognize and resolve pH-based issues using the run-off method, I just prefer slurry because I wasn't able to well ascertain the scenario using that method. In other words, try both methods, see what works best for you in your scenario. :) Lookin' good on the farm!
Hey I know a guy name Ceed... So don't be surprised I pass on your recommendation there...lolWhen *you* succeed, *I* succeed. So, go succeed.
Most welcome. :)
I have used colorimetric/titration kits, but as Max says, it's difficult to take a reading if nutrients have changed the color of the water much. I now have a Hanna meter.
I do also test plant sap pH, with a goal of achieving 6.4, and for that I use litmus that comes on a roll. I'll have to search for it, I got it on Amazon.
you should be between 5-6 not 4-5 looks like you switched into bloom and your not getting enough K. GOod dayYou were saying in an earlier thread that molassis based and other organic nutrients give inaccurate PPM readings. I was wondering do the organic nutrients also effect the Ph readings. My run off Ph on my 5 plants phd from 4 - 5 which seems very low. Although my plants look really healthy, when i watered them i watered for the first time with water phd to 6.5 and 2 days later they are looking very happy. Thanks for your reply @Seamaiden :)
My experience is different, so I do a slurry test. Very simple and really only takes about 10mins or so. I take my samples of media from the root zone, then mix them into a water sample I've already tested for pH and EC. I let that slurry sit for about 7mins, then test. I've found this is a much more accurate method, and better for *me* with regard to solving problems.
What's most important, however, is to make certain that whatever you're using to test parameters is itself accurate.
ever get an answer?Sorry to dig up an old thread but I just can't seem to find an answer. How do you take a soil sample from the root zone without damaging the roots in 3 or 5 gallon smart pots? I guess in any pot for that matter.
Sorry. Off topic...waayne, love the profile pick dude!Max you're gonna get the same reading whether it's strained or not...
The purpose of straining the slurry is to remove the heavier solids to avoid gunking up the test equipment's probe
or the PH pens conductivity electrode
ever get an answer?
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