Brix Meter, anyone using one

[Xtbudda]

Sounds good, fredfarts,,,,looking forward to it.

purrpullkush, I hearya man. Until i see data/results I am not 100% convinced its worth the coin. but if readings can be related to what we are doing with the plant, then it has great potential.
After reading more on the refractometer, I also read that you can do the same with the leaf for taking ph readings using a ph meter, Now this is really awesome in my opinion because your getting the true ph heartbeat of the plant.
The cheapest i found so far, is the one previously listed ,where it works out to about 82bux cdn shipped.

 

[BudZad7]

Been using this meter for years !

Been using this meter for years !

Hi all ! This is nothing new to us old timers....like the book says keep
the brix reading between 8----12 and you are good to go, errr grow LOL!

take a leaf sample, 1 blade and roll it into a little ball between your fingers
then use a clean pair of pliers and squeeze the little leaf ball, so drops of
green sap will be collected on the brix meter like the instructions say....I'm sure there are other ways of getting the sap, but this is what someone has
told me....Good luck! Peace By the way it is a known fact that a plant with high sugar content deters bugs better than a plant filled with more water content, think about it bugs and humans drink way more water than pure sugar, to much sugar is bad for us and the same for bugs, where there's
alot of water in the chemical fed plants there's a high instance of mold, bugs
then the farmer responds with bug spray this and that, organic fed plants are higher in sugar content,healthier darker green, way less mold and bugs
so instead of feeding your plants, feed your soil instead....happy soil makes for happy plants :wink:

 

[Xtbudda]

So Budzad7, do you see different readings?, or do they keep climbing up, as the grow progresses.

If say, you overferted or overwated it, how soon after do the readings go lower?

From the reading I have gathered on fruit using this thing, it seems fruit producers, wait till peak sugar leavels and then take before decline. At the end of harvest time, have you seen it lower, indicating that harvest is over and it is on its decline?
Xtbudda...

 

[DeVenT]

I asked about this a while back on OG but no one really recommended one, or even commented on them really.

It's in the IN DOOR BIBLE by Jorge Cervantes.....they recommend a reading of 10-12. Anything under 10 indicates a lack of nutrients. (I'm just reading what it says in the book) But I also have two other books: The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green and Marijuana Grower's Insider's Guide by Mel Frank and neither of those mention anything about brix content.

 

[Xtbudda]

Thanks DeVent for resurging the thread and comments.
Well, someone must have one , somewhere, if Jorge is writing about it. If the wine/fruit guys use it, there has to be some valuable information to be had.
I am just more curious, if it swings in readings and corresponds, with what you are doing to the plant. If it does that, you can maximize your crop, as you could push it to the limit, when it really wants it.
Xtbudda...

 

[Guest]

OK I am stumped! I switched to the Lucas Form about 3 weeks ago. The I got this brix scope. I read 5 right after I switched nutes. 3 weeks later I am still reading 5 on various plant in flower it goes from 3.5 midday to 5 at night. So I checked my Mothers havent been cloned in two weeks She is ready to take cuttings now looking very healthy BTW she read 5 also

Now Jordge says 10 -12 I even checked the calabration and its right on. I dont see how I can get a 12??????????

can Anyone shed some light on me???

 

[Xtbudda]

From what I understand so far from reading, 10-12 is the goal towards the end. Fruit growers wait till it peaks at their noted peak level for that fruit. So I am thinking towards the end, the number will go up. But that is interesting, if you see a swing difference in day and night.
What week in flower are they?
thanks for the input.
Xtbudda...

 

[Xtbudda]

Sorry to keep dredging this post up from the dust, but I am trying to get as much input into these devices as I can.
Lately, I have been reading about the Brix Meter on fruit growing sites, as its usage for our product is not widely known, I am trying to get others more interested in this tool, as I believe it has great potential, to push our girls to the max.
I really think it has potential and I am on the edge for buying one but I just need to convince myself some more.
Here is an excerpt, I scooped from a fruit growing site, talking about the Brix Meter.

"The answer for many farmers and gardeners is to simply experiment by feeding the growing plant with various sprayed-on fertility elements. For instance, the concerned gardener may try a dilute solution of fish or seaweed (or both). If, indeed, the plant gains Brix they know they have hit on something. If the Brix remains the same---or drops---they know they must keep searching. And the search may not be as difficult as they think: manufacturers around the world are constantly developing soil & foliar applied products that can raise Brix---often dramatically. "
Xtbudda...

 

[Xtbudda]

More to think about:
"American researcher, Bruce Tainio, has discovered that plant sap pH is a simple and accurate guideline for the following:
1) Enzymatic breakdown of carbohydrates (sugars) for plant growth and vitality.

2) Risk potential for insect damage.

3) Risk potential for foliar disease appearance (fungi, bacteria and viruses).

4) Nutritional balance in the growing crop.

5) Quality of fruit and vegetables.

6) Shelf-life of fruit and vegetables.

The desired sap pH-level for optimal plant growth and production is pH 6.4. If sap pH exceeds 6.4, then the most likely cause will be a shortage of the anions nitrogen, phosphate or sulfur. At pH 8 the likelihood of insect trouble is 100%.
Conversely, if sap pH is lower than 6.4, then there is a cation problem, with possible deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, potassium and/or sodium. Low sap pH suggests a far greater potential for foliar disease. For example, at pH 4.5 the probability for fungal appearance is 100%.
---as reported by Graeme Sait of Nutri-Tech"

 

[fuzygrowth]

does anyone remember an old COPS episode where the cops come into a *hemp* farm, assuming it was in California. they bust out a refractometer and test a couple of the plants. they did not like the result and they took down the whole crop. the farmer guy was pissed off and kept showing his permit and talking about how unfair it was. the cops just said they had to do what they had to do and their levels were off so it's all gotta come down. i remember watching this a long time ago and it might be a little hazzy in my brain but i'm sure thats how it went down.

 

[Guest]

Dude you maybe should take a break from your own stuff! :jawdrop:

 

[Possum]

brix readings

brix readings



when i grew out the White Rhino X AK the brix readings were between 11-13 during flowering.

the BlueBerry and Blue Moonshine had brix readings of 16 and 14 respectively during flowering.

P

 

[Xtbudda]

Thanks Possum....
Did, they ever go down in reading due to under/overwater, over/underfert, etc.?
Xtbudda...

 

[Guest]

How much are these brix meters?Anyone got a link please?

 

[Xtbudda]

60US and up.
http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=2&p=46784&cat=2,2120
http://www.bustan.ca/product_results.asp
http://65.110.80.25/pdfs/AUTO-CAN.pdf (page 225 99bux CDN)
Xtbudda...

 

[Possum]

yes definately.

yes definately.

when ever there were existing problems the brix number would be lower. i could watch the brix fall, then bam at some point the leaves would start to die and i would have to change things.

P

 

[Guest]

ThanKs Xtbuddha

 

[Guest]

I am on the right track FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok I noticed a K defiency, In looking back at my previous nute levels Thanks to PH s spreadsheet I was using NPK of 178-131-327 With all he hype about the lucas formula I switch to it, using GH 3 part 8-16 ml which gave me 106-92-158. My brix reading was 4.5 - 5 the light is 65 watts sq ft the enviorment is dailed in perfectly I also maintain co2 at 1500 ppm.

I could not get the brix to move, Stuck at 4.5!

So Back to the drawing board!

Now the good news! I changed the NPK to 92-115-336 and the brix went to 8 4 hours after the res change!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a sog set up and I have tested several ages of plants at differant times of the day I see no differance between plants. all read the same. I cant wait to see the brix today!

Apparently my plants need much more K then others. I am following the suggested element PPM levels from Jordge C's Indoor Canabis bible. I am not a big fan of his however I think he has a better handle on the NPK of cannabus.

I dont see how 106-92-158 (Lucus formula) can work without additives. No disrespect intended but in my room my girls love the K!

 

[Xtbudda]

goodstuff fredfarts!!!!!
Nice to see it respond like that with the massive change in numbers.
keep up the testing, as it shows that these things might be very usefull.
Xtbudda...

 

[JerryPakul]

Just wanted to say wow very nice thread...im very intrested to see where this leads and i think i might just have to pick one up myself...well continue the good work guys an keep posting ur results..have a good one