question about ph and adjustments

[redheadedbitch]

ok i recently bought a ph tester for fish tanks ranges from 6.0-7.6. i tested my tap water 7.4 so i adjusted it down to 6.2-6.4 with lemon juice (veg??) and now that im in flowering i use vinegar to lower the ph right?? their gonna be in light warrior till the end, im using earthjuice bloom 1tsp/gallon, runoff ph is 6.2-6.4, is this the right ph for that medium?? and do you think that my ph tester is accurate cuz i know the soil tester is for shit. thanks in advance for the answers peaceout~red

 

[HeadyPete]

All sounds good. Watch your plants for any issues and calibrate that tester every two weeks.

There are many acids to use for ph down, lemon and vinegar aren't very stable. I use phosphoric acid and you can use nitric acid. Phos acid is good for bloom, Nitric adds nitrogen for veg, but usually you use a drop or two so it doesn't really matter.

 

[HeadyPete]

Can you post some recent pix to confirm all is well? Try to use a tripod or prop the cam on something solid to get some crisp clear shots.

 

[redheadedbitch]

i still can't upload pics and its been about a month i keep getting this message

Problem running JPEGTRAN:

"/usr/local/bin/jpegtran" -de /data/web/icmag/icmag.com/www/gallery/data/500/35796100_0074.jpg

Error Code: 2

dang this is getting annoying but anyways thank you for all the help Pete. and i don't have a ph meter, the ph tester is a test tube u put water in and add three drops of this brown liquid, but to explain my plants, this is my first grow so they have been through some definite trauma, overwatering, underwatering, nute burn from MG, yellowing leaves from low N levels, ive fixed almost everything except heat issues ( i have a 250w enclosed ballast light . heat ranges from 72-82F its below 80 most of the time though). the bottom leaves were completely yellow and now their almost completely green. i accidently killed off 2-3 of the lowest node leaves on about have of my crop (14 plants would have been 15 but my cat killed one 3 days after they popped outta soil), the leaves coming directly outta the nodes are ok though. im running Mandalas speed queen and sadhu. i have 8 females and two males so far, my sadhu tri is a female so im happy that a good ratio even if the others turn up male. anyways thanks for all the help!!! peaceout~red

 

[MynameStitch]

Argggg, looks like the site is having the same damn problems again with uploading pictures!!!!!!!

If you want to accuratly test pH, you need to invest in a meter, a digital pH pen.
If you don't have money for one you can get strips but are not as accurate as a pen.
The method you are using does not work well and I would not trust it's readings personally.
Gotta love the cats! I had one that ate over 20+ of mine so I feel you on there!!!

 

[redheadedbitch]

thanks Stitch and Pete for the info. hopefully ill manage to scrounge up the money for the ph pen, or "borrow" one from the science department j/k and yes kitties can prove to be very sneaky little creatures, especially my little black and white one, i swear she's half angel half demon lol.

hey Pete, what do you mean by the lemon juice and vinegar is not stable??? i've had my water sitting out for 3 days, a little shaky shake and the ph comes out the same as when i first adjusted it so what did you mean by "not stable"? thanks again and peaceout~red

 

[HeadyPete]

Hey, temps sound good now. I heard from others that vinegar and lemon it is not stable but have never tried it myself. I'd wait till you get a digipen to be able to determine how stable that ph is. A swing of a few points can affect your plants and that tube test won't pick it up. I paid $70 for my Milwaukee pen, they aren't all expensive and they are as essential as a good HID grow light.

If you need to transplant again use pots deep enough to bury the plants up to the first set of leaves to shorten them again. The buried stem will grow roots. You can even put the rootball in sideways and carefully bend and bury the stem if they are really tall. Plants bend best when they are thirsty.

Good luck.

 

[view2athrill]

Geez, you can bury them up (with dirt, I'm assuming?) over problem leaves and they the buried part gets roots? Very interesting. I have a couple plants with yellow first true leaves that I'll have to try that on.

Is it ok to just pinch off the offenders, instead?

 

[HeadyPete]

sure, although those leaves are feeding nutrients to the plant because of a nitrogen shortage. Make sure you feed enough N for your plants and the lights they are under, so you don't get yellowing lower leaves again.

Yes, with dirt, or coco, or promix, or perlite or whatever, as long as the stem is dark, moist and buried, it will grow roots.

 

[MPL]

Should you trim any budding leaves/nodes etc. off the stem before burying it?

sure, although those leaves are feeding nutrients to the plant because of a nitrogen shortage. Make sure you feed enough N for your plants and the lights they are under, so you don't get yellowing lower leaves again.

Yes, with dirt, or coco, or promix, or perlite or whatever, as long as the stem is dark, moist and buried, it will grow roots.

 

[HeadyPete]

sure..

 

[redheadedbitch]

Thanks Pete, when i get a ph pen, i'll let ya know how stable vinegar and lemon juice are and i already transplanted into 1 gallon bags, plenty to finish with, after all, they started flowering 30 days from first sprout so they shouldn't get too big (8-14in now, runt female is 6"). next grow will definitely veg longer, thinkin about 7-8 weeks. and the heat issue is solved ( i crack the closet door, keeps it below 78) once i get the air cooled bulb and mini glass attachment i'll be able to shut the door. and, is it normal to get 10/14 females, maybe cuz of high temps??? either way im happy. and i hate to ask you this but where is the thread that shows newbs about trimming during flowering, i've been looking for it for months and still can't find it. do u just cut off the lower leaves at the nodes or is there a trick to it? thanks again~red

 

[HeadyPete]

Not sure about that thread. If you want to trim just cut them at the node like you say. Usually you prune 2 weeks bfore 12/12 and 2 weeks after, pruning out weak and small branches, inside branches, leaving strong healthy branches for big buds and clearingout the insides for better air circulation.

i do a LST/SCROG thing where I train the plants LST when they are young, then when they go into final 5 gal pot for flowering I train all the branches through a screened frame so they have room to grow, and I cut out all the branches and leaves below the screen that won't get enough light.

Feel free to ask any other questions you may have

 

[Treetops]

This should work for you, I use one like this........Take a look..

Peace,
Treetops

http://www.discount-hydro.com/productdisp.php?pid=535&navid=13

 

[HeadyPete]

I think he needs a ph meter not a ppm meter...is this what you meant?

 

[Treetops]

Yeah, you are correct..this is a better one, maybe this will fit the bill..sorry about that....

Peace,
Treetops

http://www.aquacave.com/ph-600-ph-testerbr-by-milwaukee-instruments-631.html

 

[redheadedbitch]

thanks Pete, i thought thats what you did for trimming. and thanks Treetops for the cheap ass ph meter Awesome dude and just to let yall know its not only men who like to grow some bomb smoke have a good night yall peaceout~red

 

[HeadyPete]

That looks like a good economical first ph pen Treetops, Thanks for that. With that one you need to use the included screwdriver to turn a dial to calibrate your meter.

Bitch, thank god for lady growers! Stitch is one of the best, and I also admire Outkastt and of course Dutchgrown. Great to have you here.

 

[Treetops]

thanks Pete, i thought thats what you did for trimming. and thanks Treetops for the cheap ass ph meter Awesome dude and just to let yall know its not only men who like to grow some bomb smoke have a good night yall peaceout~red

Your welcome..
This is the one I use...I cant find where I bought it from...damn stoner that I am....but go from here, you get the idea..http://www.sharpweblabs.com/shop/test-meter-p-1008.html

Peace,
Treetops