EC runoff test in soil?

I tried searching on this and could only really come up with threads dealing with coco.
So, if growing in soil should I be testing my runoff EC/PPM?
If so, do I want the EC/PPM to be the same coming out as going in, or will the reading typically be higher/lower?

I’ve been testing my EC/PPM before feed, but just checked my runoff and I’m not sure if my numbers are what they should be.
EC going in: 1.5
PPM going in: 718/1021
Coming out from plant one: 2.3 1150/1636
Coming out from plant two: 1.9 962/1368
I’m on a water, water, feed schedule using tap water and watering every 2 days

Might help to mention I’m about 7 weeks into flower and I’m in 5 gal fabric pots with a blend of FFOF/FFHF, using an SF2000 in a 3x3

Well this thread isn’t doing too well lol

No don't test the run off in soil get yourself a soil ec meter if you think you really need one. Have a read. All the best.

You need to flush. Too high an EC, for me, is a good indicator, that the plants are taking the moisture and not the fertilizer leaving you with a salt build up and high EC run off in the medium you are using.

That isn't alarming at all.. Are the plants looking good?

Username85 said:

So, if growing in soil should I be testing my runoff EC/PPM?

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No.

The end question is if the plants are healthy or not...If they are, then where you're at is fine. Though with a W/W/F schedule, if you're watering to enough runoff, I can't see that you should have a whole lot of buildup. How much runoff are you collecting per watering?

Probably the important part here is to mention what you're feeding. Are you running an organic grow or are you using FFOF/HF and also salt-based nutrients?

Assuming promix or similar you can feed just like coco,feed to runoff every time no plain water.Just reduce EC a little.
Feed water water works but you never really know whats in.

LeastExpectedGrower said:

The end question is if the plants are healthy or not...If they are, then where you're at is fine. Though with a W/W/F schedule, if you're watering to enough runoff, I can't see that you should have a whole lot of buildup. How much runoff are you collecting per watering?

Probably the important part here is to mention what you're feeding. Are you running an organic grow or are you using FFOF/HF and also salt-based nutrients?

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I do get a fair amount of runoff, so much so that I’ve dropped it from 2 Gals per plant to 1.5 & 1.75 gal for the two plants.
I’m using the FF liquid nutes-I was only feeding TB up until last feeding when I started adding Big Bloom

Here are my most recent pics from a few days ago, currently lights out. I know the one plant in the pic looks completely fried, but all I can say is that it’s not from over feeding. Not sure what’s wrong with that plant, but they didn’t receive any nutes until a week or two after 12/12 flip

calvin.m16 said:

That isn't alarming at all.. Are the plants looking good?

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I’ve had one plant that’s looked fried since a baby and my other plant has only shown signs of yellowing on larger fan leaves.
First 2 pics are most recent, other pics are from maybe a week ago

Now, see...I'm a nobody, but these look like they're overwatered to me... which is also possible to be doing when you're not putting enough water through them too.

What's your watering routine?

Also, rather than talking about generalities...what is a 'fair amount' of runoff? For instance I aim at 20-30% watering volume. My last grow with 5g bags during late veg & flower I was doing 2g per plant and getting 1.5-2L of runoff.

So, what I'm suggesting is water less often but more volume.

LeastExpectedGrower said:

Now, see...I'm a nobody, but these look like they're overwatered to me... which is also possible to be doing when you're not putting enough water through them too.

What's your watering routine?

Also, rather than talking about generalities...what is a 'fair amount' of runoff? For instance I aim at 20-30% watering volume. My last grow with 5g bags during late veg & flower I was doing 2g per plant and getting 1.5-2L of runoff.

So, what I'm suggesting is water less often but more volume.

Click to expand...

So I’m watering every 2 days at this point, was every 3 days up until about 2-3 weeks ago. They’re in 5 gal fabric pots and each plant was getting 2 gal. I haven’t measured the runoff from each plant, but I pour all the runoff into a 2 gal watering can and it’s usually close to half full, so maybe close to a gallon runoff between the two plants.
One feeding last week I tried to leave them go an extra day between feeding to make certain they were dry and they looked horrible, that extra day was too much in between waterings.
I made a thread a few weeks back if my plants were looking over, or under watered, and a few people were saying it’s basically impossible to overwater in flower. Not sure that’s the case-lights come on in 10 minutes and have to water them today-I’ll post some fresh pics

LeastExpectedGrower said:

Now, see...I'm a nobody, but these look like they're overwatered to me... which is also possible to be doing when you're not putting enough water through them too.

What's your watering routine?

Also, rather than talking about generalities...what is a 'fair amount' of runoff? For instance I aim at 20-30% watering volume. My last grow with 5g bags during late veg & flower I was doing 2g per plant and getting 1.5-2L of runoff.

So, what I'm suggesting is water less often but more volume.

Click to expand...

Here’s pics at lights on. I can’t deny they do look overwatered, but not sure how to go about switching up my watering routine. Would giving more than 2 gals per feeding help them hold out for that 3rd day? After seeing how they looked when I tried to make them wait an extra day has me nervous to try again.
I probably don’t have the most patience with watering very slowly, but I always wait for the soil to drink it down before adding more and I haven’t had any leaking from the side of the pots, so I’m pretty certain it’s reaching the bottom and not wicking off

I've been running Promix HP+ in 5g bags, which I think is a lighter than FFOF, and I'm watering every 4 days (though I've gone 5 here and there).

I water slowly, but I think you have a better chance of saturating the soil evenly that way. I have a few different watering cans to choose from and use the one that only holds 1L and has a very narrow spout. It means that I have to water slowly and evenly. Once I'm a few weeks in, I also use a wooden skewer to poke a whole bunch of holes throughout the soil for aeration (and to help the water find dry voids. I feed every other watering.

Theoretically, having a good amount of runoff should take care of that EC issue, especially on the days you're watering rather than feeding. You should be pushing enough water through the soil to remove excess nutrients to stop buildup from happening. For me that's roughly a liter+ per gallon out the bottom.