Need to clear my Sunshime Mix 4 concern

[AloeRuss]

Hello

I been growing for sometime now.
The mentor who thought me the tricks of the trade was only using Sunshine Mix # 4 as grow medium. Another thing I picked up from him is that he always had his PH at 6.0 or 6.2 as the maximum.

As time went on and I started growing on my own, I was told that more proper PH for that kind of medium was at 6.8 (soil levels)
I recently completed 3 grows with an ok results. Taking about an lb per 10 plants without any deficiencies, always using 6.8 as my PH with a runoff always being 6.1

Now I started reading posts on Sunshine and noticed how acidic it was and how 6.0-6.2 would be more proper PH to use with it.
Granted. I didn't have any deff. but still....
Please help me understand. Am I missing something important here? Should I go back to 6.0 as I go forward?
If 6.8 didn't give me any problems, will 6.0? Did I possibly miss on some weight I otherwise would have if I use 6.0 during the last 3 runs?
All those things I really need your help with, and I do need your help more then ever right now because I am 3 weeks away from finishing another run and went from being confident to being bit confused.

Please help me.

 

[jayjayfrank]

 

[AloeRuss]

Thank you Frank
This chart helped me to decide if I should switch to 6.7-6.8 from using 6.0 as my mentor did. But now I am reading about Sunshine and it's acidic values and how 6.0-6.2 is the max that should be given.
Where can I look for the truth?

 

[Smokin Joe]

Alot has to do with your amendments and nute lineup. I know folks that use SS #4 and not even worry about ph

 

[AloeRuss]

Thank you Joe.
I know I should. I just came from my grow room and I started noticing some deff.
About 12 plants out of a 100 show it which is a bit strange in itself. I know it may be affect of me adding shooting powder for the first time but the question remains.

Guys. Am I wrong on this one? Should I roll my PH back to 6.0-6.2 or should I stay at my current level, which is 6.7-6.8?
I saw some experts here commenting on Sunshine, braking it down to the molecular level..
I am calling on you gentleman right now. I grow for my family and I have to find the answer as this is my job.
Thank you very much and Happy Hollidays.

 

[canna woop!]

if you are set on shooting powder go lower. between 5.8 - 6.4

 

[jayjayfrank]

i have heard of sunshine mix but am not that familiar... its peat based yes? does it have amendments? (earthworm castings?)

want to know how 'acidic' the stuff in your pots is? do a slurry test. mix up some soil in some water and check the ph. do you check the ph of your runoff? this will give you a clue about what ph your soil is currently at.

the pH is not supposed to remain at one value during the whole grow cycle. the pH is SUPPOSED to fluctuate. for hydro 5.5-6.3 for soil 6.3-6.8. you want it to go up and down between these values to maximize available nutrients. you are suppose to run a lower pH in veg and stretch to make N more available and you are suppose to run a higher ph at the end of flower to 'flush' or 'autumn' the foliage by making N less available.


you never went below 6 or above 7 which is suppose to be completely fine in a soil based grow medium.

 

[AloeRuss]

Thank you for that.
Jayjay -My runoff right now is 6.1 and it's been 6.1 since I started measuring it about 2 month ago.
So if I been putting 6.8 and 6.1 comes out, what does that really mean?
Also, Do you think that this affect yeald in any way?

And yes, Mr. Whoop. I will go down to 6.4 my following feeds
I am adding BudXL and Shooting Powder for the rest of my grow.

 

[AloeRuss]

Jay jay, canna whoop and Joe. Guys. You attempted to add some light on my situation but probably asking, what is he so nervous about.
If not too hard, please go ahead and do a forum search for "Sunshine mix" and look for the titles with PH problem in it.
If I read correctly, sunshine mix is high on acidity.
Please let me know what you think.
Thank you again

 

[Greenlife1]

Aloeruss- I use promix bx an hp< which are basically the same as you use.
I stay between 5.9-6.2 been doing it that way for lot of years.
Now I run all organic thru it, an havent had to ph for the last 3 rounds

 

[unclefishstick]

you might want to consider the sunshine advanced mix #4,its 40% coco and i find its much easier to work with than the sunshine#4.i run the general organics line and havent even owned a pH tester in 3 years with never a single problem.

 

[rives]

When I was running SS #4, I kept my inbound pH between 6.8-7.0 and the runoff between 6.3-6.5, and it worked well for me. Good luck, and Merry Christmas!

 

[AloeRuss]

Thank you all for addressing this for me.

I think I start to realize why my mentor was usin 6.0-6.2 in all his grows, but I want to confirm with you if I am correct.
The SS 4 mix is acidic. (I gave 6.8- runoff came out 6.1). If the goal is to have 6.8, he would give 6.2. The .6 would be buffered by the mix which would be around 6.8 at the end.
Damn. Things I learn even after 3 successfull grows.
Giving your plants 6.8 does not mean just calibrate your solution with PH up so it reads 6.8 on your tester. You have to do the math based on your runoff!!!

 

[Eureka Springs Organics]

Build your own soil and save money. You also won't have to worry about the ph ever. PH problems should not occur in soil grows. If you need help making your own soil hit me up.

 

[AloeRuss]

Thank you Eurica Springs. Unfortunately Sunshine Mix is soilless mix that tend to be very acidy or at least needs to be treated not a soil.

I will flash with water tonight and will start with 6.2 going forward.
Allthough my plants mostly looking ok, My heavy feelings are around the fruits. It is possible that with 6.8 I been using, the buds did not get the chance to develope to their full potential.
Time appears to be waisted, and that I cannot fix. Do you guys think I am over reacting or I am right on?

 

[jayjayfrank]

over reacting

acidic this, acid that, you read some stuff and get paranoid...

it happens.

 

[AloeRuss]

Ok jayjay. Only because I know I have this tendency, I will take your comment to hart. Adjust what I have and continue the course to see what comes out.

Thank you

 

[Claude Hopper]

Sounds like you have been doing very well.

I never had any deficiencies or lockouts with Sunshine #4. I always used Maxibloom.

My last grow I wasn't patient enough to wait for Sunshine#4 and took the available Miracle Grow. Ouch. Lesson learned.

 

[Gelado`]

I think if your runoff is 6.2 your soil is more acid than that; high 5s. I'd add a touch of lime if anything!

 

[the gnome]

i always add 2 tbls of lime to my FFOF regardless is they say its ready to go.
if your using salt based fertz by the time your in mid bloom your PH will have dropped a fair amount.
recently i started using promix bx and added it to my FFOF
my oct run i used 3:1 and added 2tbs lime per gal. as I always do with no probs.
promix is pretty much peat and peat is acidic

this last round i went 50/50 ffof-pm.
ive been seeing a def in my skywalker og hybrids and some other strains but the majority of other strains look good.
the OGs are really looking bad in the last week and hitting extra fertz doesn't help.
started suspecting a lock out and check my soil ph with a kelway soil meter
its at 5.0!!!
i used a new brand of lime this round is the only thing i can think of.
even with low soil ph most the plants are doing great,
certain strains will give probs tho...

bottom line for me always add lime to your mix.