NEED QUICK RESPONSE, PLEASE! Short question.

Problem: Plant leaves are getting yellow and brown spots, leave tips curling under.

Diagnosis: Most likely PH problem.

Things done prior to issue surfacing: Flushed 1 gallon pot yesterday with 2 gallons of tap (PH around 7.5) and 1 final gallon of bottled drinking water (LOW PH, under 5.5, didnt know that at the time)

QUESTION:

1. Can I get a general idea of my soil's PH by taking a soil sample mixing it with neutral (7) PH water and then retesting the water?

2. To adjust the PH, do I need to "FLUSH" again with good PH water, or just add PH adjusters to level PH? If I just need to add, what is the best method of adding considering I just flushed with 3 gallons of water 24 hours ago?

Please reply ASAP if you know the answers to either of these questions, I really only have time to get this issue resolved in the next couple of HRS. Thanks in advance.

test the water run off, and thats how you get soil pH.

SmokeyMcSmokester said:

test the water run off, and thats how you get soil pH.

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Ok, I just tested the run-off and its off the charts (way low). Im using a liquid test kit that ranges from 6.8-8.2. I know its a piece of junk and I need to get a better one to get a definitive answer, but for now (until my hydro store opens tomorrow) Im stuck with it. Anyway, the lowest reading 6.8 is a light yellowish orange collor and my water is a VERY faint yellow when tested. Which would tell me that Im very low.

Question now is, what is the best way to raise it?? Keep in mind (if it matters) that I just did a complete 3 gallon flush yesterday. Thanks for the quick reply, I really appreciate it.

I like to keep my pH around 6.0 to 6.5..and usually its a piss yellow color when its tested. To raise it you will have to add some pH up to your water. But let your plants recover from the flushing first..Is your soil muddy?

SmokeyMcSmokester said:

I like to keep my pH around 6.0 to 6.5..and usually its a piss yellow color when its tested. To raise it you will have to add some pH up to your water. But let your plants recover from the flushing first..Is your soil muddy?

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No, the soil isnt muddy at all. I flushed yesterday afternoon which was about 27 hours ago and am currently running a 18 hour on light cycle which ended 5 hours ago, so the plant was under 18 hours of light after the flush which Im sure aided in drying out the soil a bit.

I wont have access to "PH Up" until tomorrow or the next day. Do you have any reccomendations for a substitute I can use? Also, with PH-Up or any substitute, how do I apply it? Is it like another flush, or just like a normal watering with the PH up added?

You would water it with normal watering. Then test the run-off..

OK, so I went and picked up the most advanced PH test kit I could find (its still a complete POS, but its meant for gardening, so maybe it will be a little better than my pool test kit). It comes with these different little tablets that look like small pills and each type of pill is used to test different things; nitrogen, PH, phosphorus, etc.

I tested the run off using distilled water and came up with roughly 7.0 maybe a tad less. The thing that is strange is that the pool test kit comes up off the charts on the LOW end and this kit says im either right on or if anything a little high.

For the sake of getting all my facts straight, the kit tests ph in the following way:

- Take soil sample from plant
- Fill test tube to line with distilled water
- Put 1 "PH soil test" tablet in tube with water
- Add 1 cap full of soil, cap tube, and shake.
- Set aside and wait until soil settles to bottom of tube
- Compare color of water to chart

I did it that way and I also did it without adding soil, but using run-off from my plant instead.

When I used the soil sample method, it came up with an 8.0, when I did the run-off method (no soil) it came up with the 7.0 or a tad less.

Any thoughts??

man that's some funky shit..I just use those lil ph strips for testing run off, and then I have this other tester that you drip into a plastic cylinder and it changes the color of the water being tested.

How is your new growth? Is it lush?

SmokeyMcSmokester said:

man that's some funky shit..I just use those lil ph strips for testing run off, and then I have this other tester that you drip into a plastic cylinder and it changes the color of the water being tested.

How is your new growth? Is it lush?

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Yeah, as soon as the hydro shop opens tomorrow Im gonna get a decent tester. Im not exactly sure what you mean regarding the new growth.

But I do have one question for you, I have these really big fan leaves that are completely covering the new growth that is coming from the center out toward the sides. Should I cut the big leaves off or??

leave the big leaves- dont take any leaves off unless they are dying

yeah what Herbie said...Never cut leaves off is what I'm told....

Ok, so no cutting leaves, got it.

But these big ones are literally laying on top of the growth coming up from the middle, there is no way that it is getting any light. Is that normal, or do I have something wrong with my setup that I dont know about? My setup is very basic, 1 plant and 1 400watt HPS with a Yeild Master hood hanging directly above the plant.

Should I look into tying the big leaves away or anything, or just leave it?

dude that's totally enough..I have 6 plants under 150. Your plant is getting enough light. Do you have any mylar or anything reflective to bounce lumens back to the plant?

SmokeyMcSmokester said:

dude that's totally enough..I have 6 plants under 150. Your plant is getting enough light. Do you have any mylar or anything reflective to bounce lumens back to the plant?

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Well to be honest, I've been constantly renovating my setup due to "un-foreseen circumstances" so other than the Yeild Master hood I have, I have been on and off with my mylar and other reflective material. Currently, I have none.

You should pick some up

Don't cut the big leaves off, you wouldn't grow right if someone came and cut your friggin arm off would you? The only time you take leaves off is when they are already dead, or you are using some advanced techniques. You are off to a good start though with the 400 watt HPS as your primary light.

Get a "Real" PH tester , the kind with a digital readout, also get some calibrating solutions in ph 4 and 7. There are cheap $30 PH testers that work fine and have digi readouts. For soil you want to try and keep the ph between 6 and 7.

hopefully everywill be fine goodluck!