getting discouraged. What do I keep doing wrong?

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doom3crazy

Member
ok i just started thinking of something else that could play in but not sure if this would affect it. My last grow(not my widow one like in the pic) I was using the ffof I am now but my plant wasnt in it very long so I let the soil dry out and I am re using it cause i figured all the nutes and shit are still in it.

NOW...what killed my last grow I think was chlorine or something cause I was using tap water. The odd question is could shit from the tap water still be in the soil and thats whats screwing my grow up? I mean I let it dry out completly before re using but ya never know... yes no maybe so?
 
pointswest

pointswest

Active Member
it's not the chlorine in the water either. Your Ph is in an acceptable range and I have used tap water right out of the faucet for soil grows for 35 years with no adverse results, in fact i sterilize my cuttings before rooting by dipping in a 2% bleach solution. Several people here have given you the solution to your problem, your lights are too close. IF you cannot put your hand under the lights and would not feel comfortable leaving it there until the lights turn off, it is too close.
 
Howard Stern

Howard Stern

Well-Known Member
I have three seedlings in FFOF since they cracked! I was a little worried about putting them in there cus I thought it might be to "hot" for them but they are doing great in there. Like said before it's not your soil. Your PH is very important, 6.8 is really good for soil. My friend uses tap water also but anywhere you read everyone says use distilled water. But if it works for ya then go for it! Move your plants away from the light and make sure the temp stays around 80 and cooler. You should be fine.
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
Chlorine/chloramine in tap water isn't going to kill your plant, fluoride wouldn't necessarily either. Although, if you have a water softener this could present problems as it leaves higher levels of sodium in the water.
The problem with tap water is that if you're growing organically you depend on micro-organisms in the soil to regulate the pH and make nutrients available to the plant. The chlorine, and chloramines (which cannot be boiled/bubbled/evaporated out) will negatively affect the microherd. This in turn will have a negative impact on the plant if it had formed the symbiotic relationship, but the plant would recover.
In hydroponics, using tap water with lots of dissolved solids could also lead to lock out. But, if you grow in soil and use tap water from the start you really aren't hurting anything.
 
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doom3crazy

Member
pointswest said:
it's not the chlorine in the water either. Your Ph is in an acceptable range and I have used tap water right out of the faucet for soil grows for 35 years with no adverse results, in fact i sterilize my cuttings before rooting by dipping in a 2% bleach solution. Several people here have given you the solution to your problem, your lights are too close. IF you cannot put your hand under the lights and would not feel comfortable leaving it there until the lights turn off, it is too close.
Click to expand...
Word. So I have a odd question. I still have like 2 gallons worth of ffof that i used in a previous grow but the soil was only used for like 15 days. Can I re use it? I was watering with tap water at the time so I wasnt sure it that could affect it.

And then should I get dolomite lime to add to the soil for my next attempt?
 
pointswest

pointswest

Active Member
Soil only a couple of weeks old should be ok in most cases unless some soil-borne disease killed the plant in the old soil mix. Check the pH of the runoff, if it is in the acceptable range no dolomite is needed. The water shouldn't be an issue unless you are on a water softner system.
 
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doom3crazy

Member
pointswest said:
Soil only a couple of weeks old should be ok in most cases unless some soil-borne disease killed the plant in the old soil mix. Check the pH of the runoff, if it is in the acceptable range no dolomite is needed. The water shouldn't be an issue unless you are on a water softner system.
Click to expand...
word. Whats a water softner system? ha
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
A water softener is something that some people have installed at home that deals with their water supply. Essentially, 'hard' tap water (with excessive amounts of calcium/magnesium) runs through zeolite or beads that are covered in sodium ions. The sodium ions displace the calcium and magnesium, which would tend to cling to and accumulate on pipes/shower heads (hard water build-up) and also forms soap scum.

This is cheaper than buying and maintaining a reverse osmosis filtration system for the entire house, but the end result is increased sodium ions in the water. Not too bad for people, much worse for plants.
 
tendran

tendran

Active Member
I concur with everyone's thoughts on the lights. The plant looks green and relatively healthy if you can see beyond the wilting. I think as soon as you move the lights it'll perk up immediately.

Also in regards to bottled water, many companies add "minerals" that raise the sodium level in their water as well (consequently making you thirstier... hmmmm), which is why when people say use bottled water, they mean use distilled water.

I, however, am not a neo nazi on ph levels and such. I mix my nutes by eye straight into gallons of distilled water **not to say I recommend this to anyone else.** I've used tap water as well, but I run it through a brita filter AND then I let it sit overnight. The key is to fill your container as soon as you deplete it so it's ready by the next watering in couple days.

Another option? Put some buckets in your yard next time it rains and use that.
 
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doom3crazy

Member
Ok i need a question answered that I am very confused by. If I am using ffof do I need to add dolomite lime to my soil? and if so... Pellets? or powder? Ive heard both sides. So I dont know what to choose. Ive heard that powder is good for a quick fix but pellets are good an entire grow cause the pellets are slower disolving or whatever...


can anyone confirm or deny the above?^^^
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
You shouldn't really have to use any other amendments to stabilize Ocean Forest, but it might not hurt. Cannabis plants enjoy abundant calcium (and magnesium), so this is another good reason to add something in. Coarser crushed oyster shell or limestone is good, but powdered dolomite lime contains some magnesium too and will also work in the long-term.
 
Howard Stern

Howard Stern

Well-Known Member
doom3crazy said:
Ok i need a question answered that I am very confused by. If I am using ffof do I need to add dolomite lime to my soil? and if so... Pellets? or powder? Ive heard both sides. So I dont know what to choose. Ive heard that powder is good for a quick fix but pellets are good an entire grow cause the pellets are slower disolving or whatever...


can anyone confirm or deny the above?^^^
Click to expand...
Are you having problems with your runoff? FFOF has all the shit it needs in there.
 
Pipe Dream

Pipe Dream

Well-Known Member
I think it has to do with heat and possible lack of water too. I wouldn't recommend reusing the soil because you have had problems with the plant planted in there as well. If there is a problem with your water and buildup of excessive salts or something than reusing the soil would only hurt your future grow. I use the FFOF and have no problems. I water with tap water the only thing I add is some horticultural limestone which might not even be necessary but obv doesnt hurt. Don't give up do some reading but most of all keep it simple. Maybe get some bagseeds and experiment growing them for a while until they all look green and healthy and with FFOF that shouldn't be too hard. Hell you could even try it with a cheaper soil w/out any fertilizer at all because all they really need is water for the first few weeks. Get your setup dialed in and than plant your paid for beans. A lot of times, the first few weeks are the hardest and if you can get over the seedling stage hump the plant pretty much does all the work from there but if they aren't doing well at such a young age theyn something needs to be tweaked.
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
doom3crazy said:
run off just seems high. 6.8. Shouldnt it be around 6.5?
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6.8 is still fine for soil, adding dolomite lime wouldn't help bring it down; it is used to raise pH. Even so, 6.8 is about as high as your soil pH is allowed to go with the lime present.
When the plant utilizes nutrients the soil pH will fluctuate somewhat.
 
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