Help please, brown spots, crispy leaves

Fun Bunny said:
Compost is a fundamental component of living soil. It's what brings the bacteria to the mix in the first place. The difference is that living soil is comprised of a far greater array of ingredients which can feed your microherd for much longer whereas simple compost will run out of steam sooner and needs to be supplemented, although even living soils need top-ups and added amendments at some point during the cycle. It could be a little as some microbe teas but they generally need something to keep the soil life thriving.
Click to expand...
Well... compost is actually decayed material used as fertilizer. Which is an amendment. Which is added to soil, which affect a soil's PH. You most certainly want to test PH in soil grows, whether they contain compost or not. Growing organically, and using living soils with teas is a whole different monster. But the notion that one shouldn't test runoff because compost was used is very wrong. Testing PPM and PH of what is going in AND going out.. is the ONLY way to trouble shoot deficiencies without having memorized the entire leaf chart.
 
Well, each to their own I suppose. I'm happy it's working for you. I've never had any PH issues in compost which generally sits at 6.5, fed with tap water at around 8. Good luck though.
 
Fun Bunny said:
Well, each to their own I suppose. I'm happy it's working for you. I've never had any PH issues in compost which generally sits at 6.5, fed with tap water at around 8. Good luck though.
Click to expand...

Has to be a regional thing happening here. Compost has to be like 3 ph. Which would murder plants. You can't grow in straight compost. It's like pure nitrogen....
 
KingQuazy said:
Has to be a regional thing happening here. Compost has to be like 3 ph. Which would murder plants. You can't grow in straight compost. It's like pure nitrogen....
Click to expand...
Ah OK, I'm not talking about growing in straight compost here. I'm referring to a pre-mix - generally with other ingredients. Maybe that's where we're getting our wires crossed. No growing in pure cow poop going on here. :D
 
Thx eveyone for the replies.
To be fair,

@funbuddy does have a point, i have read on most growing forums that you dont need to adjust pH for premium compost mixes like all-mix, and i have never had these problems in my previous grows.
But as this is mostly a peat mix i am betting that @KingQuazy might have a point.

I repotted a few of them into all-mix to see how they do over the next few days
I also added 1ml of biobizz bloom to try and help with the phosphorus

edit. it appears peat moss is quite acidic, pH is around 4.4
http://thegardenofoz.org/peat.asp
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top