Run off ec lower than input ec

reddevil6

Active Member
Is it much of a concern if run off ec is lower that what you are putting in? What causes this? As I believe the runn of should be slightly higher than what your putting in.

Running 6 gal of coco/perlite 70/30.
Feeding with H&G Cocos at about 1.65ml per litre and 1ml per litre of multizyme giving a ec of 1.75, I'm working with hardish water here, base ec is around 0.5 - 0.6 ec.
Only feeding once per day at the moment and my run off is coming out at about 1.5 ec.
 

Buddernugs

Well-Known Member
For veg I veg 6 weeks from seed and start at 350ppms then by week 2 I bump up to 375ppm then week 4 400ppm week 5 450 and week 6 500ppmmthen I flip and keep useing veg feed for 2 weeks to power the explosive growth at 1 week into 12/12 I’m at 550 week 2 600ppms then week 3 600-650ppms....if a heavy feeder like blue dream I’ll top out at 750-850ppms
 

kovidkough

Well-Known Member
EC is:(Compared to inflow)StatusAction
Lower than inflow ECAnomalyNot a problem. Should self-correct.
Within +200*IdealMonitor EC twice weekly
+200 to +300AcceptableMonitor EC daily, consider increasing fertigation frequency
+300 to +400CautionIncrease fertigation frequency and/or Increase quantity of run-off.
+400 or HigherDangerConsider flushing
 

DrKiz

Well-Known Member
Also is feeding at 1.7 - 1.8 ec too high for veg?
No, as long as EC output is lower you are good. I've gotten close to 2.0 EC during vege, but that is pushing it. Strain dependent but it sounds like you're on track. Follow that chart. I don't let output EC get over 0.7 higher than input... and I watch carefully that output really never exceeds 2.0 by too much regardless of input.
 

reddevil6

Active Member
No, as long as EC output is lower you are good. I've gotten close to 2.0 EC during vege, but that is pushing it. Strain dependent but it sounds like you're on track. Follow that chart. I don't let output EC get over 0.7 higher than input... and I watch carefully that output really never exceeds 2.0 by too much regardless of input.
Awesome thanks for the info.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Are your plants healthy? If so then don't worry about the runoff. Worry about what goes in.
 

Buddernugs

Well-Known Member
It stresses them out?
If u feed more then they need in some strains Iv seen stunted and even stoped growth in mid flower with a few strains when run off was over 50ppms of what influx was and then the flip side of the coin I pushed some 250ppms over influx before I saw slowed growth any more than that I see painted nails.... I really don’t believe in heavy feeders as much as I believe in some strains tolerating hot growing medium as others
 

calvin.m16

Well-Known Member
Your fine that means plants are eating...if runoff is higher than influx then your wasting food and stressing them out I have never pushed past 850ppms and I just pulled 18.5oz off one plant feed/watered 1x per day from start to finish
Yeah but Buddernugs how small are your plants? I'm growing 7 foot tall plants that are 4 foot wide in circumfrence. If I feed 800 PPM thats a flush. I have to feed 1200 ppm or 1.65 EC minimum to avoid deficiencies. You can grow higher PPM if you grow bigger plants, you actually have to.. It's like feeding a worlds strongest man 8 foot tall 400 pound guy vs a little 5 foot 10 bodybuilder.

I can feed my girls with 1600 PPM and not see any burn.
 

Buddernugs

Well-Known Member
It does make sense when you’re dealing with giants iv just never. Had the self control to not flip them
 

reddevil6

Active Member
Well they where healthy but now they have stunted and I've got what looks like a iron deficiency I believe ( looks like mag deficiency but it started on the newest leaves and working down the plants).
My run off yesterday was 1.3 ec with inflow at 1.75.
I've been told not to go above 1.8 ec but I feel I need too, also on my feeding chart i should be up to 2.75ml per litre to make 1.8ec but i hit 1.8 ec at just under 2ml per litre my tap water has dropped back down to 0.35 ec
 

DrKiz

Well-Known Member
Well they where healthy but now they have stunted and I've got what looks like a iron deficiency I believe ( looks like mag deficiency but it started on the newest leaves and working down the plants).
My run off yesterday was 1.3 ec with inflow at 1.75.
I've been told not to go above 1.8 ec but I feel I need too, also on my feeding chart i should be up to 2.75ml per litre to make 1.8ec but i hit 1.8 ec at just under 2ml per litre my tap water has dropped back down to 0.35 ec
She’s hungry. Give it 1.9-2.0 for a few days. Check run off. She’s eating. No other explanation.
 
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