The importance of using the right additives and nutes in the right ratio

[MCsumz]

[yellow]

Ha ha, was quiet an interesting read. So moral of the story; dont cheap out on equipment?
hope you found the issue! As I personally know how frustrating things can get. Goodluck!

[Toker1]

I do DWC and Ph should drift. If you hit 5.8 every time, nutrients that are absorbed at closer to 6.5 will be locked out. Add PH up or down until the desired level is reached. Test with pen or drops, both are accurate.
You calibrate the pen with calibration solution.
Cheap pens work well when you properly store them. I have had mine about 5 years ($10 ph pen) and only I only calibrate about 1 per year. Most I have ever seen it go off in the years time is by .1.

http://www.just4growers.com/stream/hydroponic-growing-techniques/how-to-take-care-of-your-ph-meter.aspx

[Bogleg]

I keep mother plants in a coco/perlite mix in one gallon pots. Once they get root bound I take a cut and start over.

I haven't grown from seed in coco, so I can't comment on the nutrient requirements from that aspect - but I do grow from seed in hydro (DWC as seedlings, then ebb and flow for flower), which is pretty similar from a nutrient schedule perspective.

For my moms, I use a half strength slightly modified (Greengene's Formula) Jacks 3-2-1 formula at half strength. When I water/feed, I always water to around 20-30% run-off and check both PPMs and PH. I use Apera meters - the PH60 and EH60 I think are the models. I store them in a storage solution that provides both an EC/TDS value and a PH value, so when I put them back in the cap with the storage solution, I get a reference point to check for calibration. As a hydro grower, regular PPM and PH meter calibration is a must, so it's a habit I already had when I started using coco.

I don't try to keep PH at specifically 5.8. Generally with my coco plants I just try to keep it around 6...anywhere from 5.7-6.2 I'm generally okay with (for run-off numbers - I always pH to 5.8 going in).

[Toker1]

You can trim away at the root ball, only take an inch or so off the sides. Replant in fresh soil (or whatever medium you choose) and you can keep your mothers around much longer.

[Toker1]

No prob. Here is a visual depiction. Calcium and Magnesium all need the 6-6.5 range to be absorbed. While Phosphorous, Boron, and Manganese need the 5.5-6 range to be absorbed.