GrowWeedEasy.com
You're browsing as a guest. Sign up to join the conversation, share your grows, and get help from thousands of fellow growers — it's free and takes less than a minute.
Brown thumb grow
- Thread starter Brwnthmb
- Start date
Bluey
Well-known member
I don't know anything about the approach you're taking.
I grew in soil outdoors for over 30 years and the last half made my own soil and soil amendments by composting and cooking it. Mostly grew in garden beds but sometimes large pots,nothing smaller than 13 gal which required amending in flower.
I never once measured its constituents. Properly composted mixes of a range of organic materials with a bit of lime & ash worked great, just a bit hot on its own so always mixed with the rubbish local soil that had very few nutes in it.
I now grow in coco with synthetic nutes indoors. It's easier to manage indoors (no bugs, enviromental control) and brings further benefits I couldn't achieve with soil outdoors.
I grew in soil outdoors for over 30 years and the last half made my own soil and soil amendments by composting and cooking it. Mostly grew in garden beds but sometimes large pots,nothing smaller than 13 gal which required amending in flower.
I never once measured its constituents. Properly composted mixes of a range of organic materials with a bit of lime & ash worked great, just a bit hot on its own so always mixed with the rubbish local soil that had very few nutes in it.
I now grow in coco with synthetic nutes indoors. It's easier to manage indoors (no bugs, enviromental control) and brings further benefits I couldn't achieve with soil outdoors.
Bluey
However; based on what you just said, I think it is wise to go ahead and add bloom nutrients. It will be the end of the week until I get an instrument to measure nutrients in the soil anyway and I received bloom nutrients this morning.
I have other plants that I plan to keep in vegetative state longer than normal, and I feel sure that they will deplete their nutrients. That is mainly what the instrument is for.
I have only grown outside before this.
However; based on what you just said, I think it is wise to go ahead and add bloom nutrients. It will be the end of the week until I get an instrument to measure nutrients in the soil anyway and I received bloom nutrients this morning.
I have other plants that I plan to keep in vegetative state longer than normal, and I feel sure that they will deplete their nutrients. That is mainly what the instrument is for.
I have only grown outside before this.
Bluey
Well-known member
Best to watch it closely and keep your pH on point. First sign of deficiency I'd recommend adding bloom nutes at quarter strength, an NPK ratio of 1.1.2 from memory and maybe 2 to 5 weeks in a PK suppliment around 0.12.13 at half strength. That should keep you going pretty well. You shouldn't need to suppliment PK for more than a few weeks and every second feed probably fine. Don't give runoff every feed. A bit of runoff twice a week is plenty most of the time.
Watch your leaves closely and keep pH in a range of 6.5 to 6.8 once flowers appear. Increase nutes a little each week until maybe at 3/4 strength. I've never had to go higher than that in coco.
Edit. I have had to start PK prior to flowers appearing but it will vary depending on how your plants are travelling.
Watch your leaves closely and keep pH in a range of 6.5 to 6.8 once flowers appear. Increase nutes a little each week until maybe at 3/4 strength. I've never had to go higher than that in coco.
Edit. I have had to start PK prior to flowers appearing but it will vary depending on how your plants are travelling.
Last edited:
I am very happy with my plants and I hesitate to do anything, but they are just starting flowering and are ready for bloom supplements.
I just received the bloom supplement (pictured). This brand was one of the ones recommended. Therefore I feel sure that I can make it work in the ratio that you are specifying.
Thank you for your help.
[the (2) 3 gallon fabric pots are the main ones. The two clay pots started flowering at the equinox, and I just brought them in for frost protection.]
Last edited:
Gingerbeard
New member
You got something wompus about your before-and-after nutrient pH.
I did a little google and found the answer "No, Superthrive Bloom is a plant nutrient designed to be used during the flowering stage of plants and does not lower pH.​"
When did this start, or, when did you notice this? Have you upgraded your pH meter? If your pH lowers with the more you add, are you adding too much in the first place?
I did a little google and found the answer "No, Superthrive Bloom is a plant nutrient designed to be used during the flowering stage of plants and does not lower pH.​"
When did this start, or, when did you notice this? Have you upgraded your pH meter? If your pH lowers with the more you add, are you adding too much in the first place?
Gingerbeard
i think I’m using the meter correctly; and it’s a vivosun meter (the cheap but recommended one). I measured the before and after the same way, suspended in a one liter pitcher.
However , the calibration didn’t go exactly like the manual said it should, that the meter would get to 5, then blink 3 times, etc. so I don’t feel confident in the calibration. However the readings are very repeatable when measuring tap water, and the sample at 6.86.
edit; I am trying to add 1/2 tsp/ gallon (0.5ml/750ml) but the syringe that I’m using is hard to read.
i think I’m using the meter correctly; and it’s a vivosun meter (the cheap but recommended one). I measured the before and after the same way, suspended in a one liter pitcher.
However , the calibration didn’t go exactly like the manual said it should, that the meter would get to 5, then blink 3 times, etc. so I don’t feel confident in the calibration. However the readings are very repeatable when measuring tap water, and the sample at 6.86.
edit; I am trying to add 1/2 tsp/ gallon (0.5ml/750ml) but the syringe that I’m using is hard to read.
Last edited:
Gingerbeard
New member
So, you got the setup that lowers pH. No big deal. Get confident in your meter and dosage and look to get yourself some pH-Up. Whatever brand.
Your plants are looking great in the last picture! Get something under your bags so they are not flat, before you run into issues.
Your plants are looking great in the last picture! Get something under your bags so they are not flat, before you run into issues.
Gingerbeard
What do you mean get something under your bags so they’re not flat? Do you not want a flat surface to set the bags on?
I have some ph up but I need to get confident with measurements first.
What do you mean get something under your bags so they’re not flat? Do you not want a flat surface to set the bags on?
I have some ph up but I need to get confident with measurements first.
Last edited:
Gingerbeard
New member
Flat, yes. But you need air to the bottom of the bags just as you need it to the sides. They need to breathe or your chance of root rot goes up.
Bluey
Well-known member
1 US gallon = about 3800ml or just under 4 litres. 750ml is a bit under a US quart which is 948ml
1 imperial gallon is a bit over 4 litres. 1 imperial quart is 1.13 ltrs
Something like that.
Edit. Zoom on using your phone on the syringe and put some blue tape or similar at 2ml 4ml or 5ml 10ml then you can keep putting off those reading glasses like me.
1 imperial gallon is a bit over 4 litres. 1 imperial quart is 1.13 ltrs
Something like that.
Edit. Zoom on using your phone on the syringe and put some blue tape or similar at 2ml 4ml or 5ml 10ml then you can keep putting off those reading glasses like me.
Last edited:
Bluey
Well-known member
Read this
https://forum.growweedeasy.com/forum/growing-community/587080-the-tale-of-two-ph-pens#post587080
Get an Apera PH60 or PC60 with calibration fluid and storage fluid.
They have a shop on Amazon.
Toss that POS in the bin once it arrives.
https://forum.growweedeasy.com/forum/growing-community/587080-the-tale-of-two-ph-pens#post587080
Get an Apera PH60 or PC60 with calibration fluid and storage fluid.
They have a shop on Amazon.
Toss that POS in the bin once it arrives.
@Bluey
I have a ph60, but haven’t used it yet. (I also ordered the vivosun “model pos†since it was cheap and recommended.) I will try the apera when I get home for comparison.
I expected the Vivosun to calibrate as advertised at least. There’s some reason it didn’t get to and stop at 5. It’s also a puzzlement how it was repeatable afterwards measuring tap water and the sample’s ph.
I have a ph60, but haven’t used it yet. (I also ordered the vivosun “model pos†since it was cheap and recommended.) I will try the apera when I get home for comparison.
I expected the Vivosun to calibrate as advertised at least. There’s some reason it didn’t get to and stop at 5. It’s also a puzzlement how it was repeatable afterwards measuring tap water and the sample’s ph.
Gingerbeard
New member
Brwnthmb The idea is to let the bottom get air. If the plastic saucers are preventing air from getting to your bag either by direct contact or allowing the bag to sit in water for more than a couple hours, yes, get rid of the saucers.
This is a picture of what I use. These sit in saucers to catch runoff. Search your own brand if you are interested.
This is a picture of what I use. These sit in saucers to catch runoff. Search your own brand if you are interested.