New Grower Aksteel First ever Grow

[AKsteel]

Hi AK, plants are looking great. I use ProMix as well. One of the things I have learned is that its pH tends to drop after about 4 weeks. If you have not already invested in a soil pH probe like the Accurate 8 you will find it an excellent investment. Not sure how much minerals you already have in your water (I use well water that is pretty hard) and found that starting to add cal/mag to my water early on helped as well.

Happy growing

Thanks Oldster. I have city water that has a PH of 7.6 out of the tap. I have been using PH down to get it to 6.5, but the other day when I watered I had some run off so I tested the run off and it was 5.8. I will definitely invest in a soil PH meter.
As far as the cal/mag. How soon have you started using it?

 

[oldster]

My last couple of grows I started using cal/mag as soon as the plants were above ground. Since ProMix is a "soilless" medium with no added nutes other than a little limestone a soil pH of 5 - 5.5 is fine. I also start with veg nutes at about 2 weeks for that reason. I know TaNgs schedule calls for starting cal/mag around day 30 and nutes starting around 2 weeks as well but I have found that with ProMix starting the cal/mag a little earlier seems to help head off future problems.

There is no way other than direct measurement to really know how much pH buffering capability is in your soil other than direct measurement that is why a probe is so important. With the Promix you have all the peat in it pulling the pH down and the limestone trying to balance that out but by about day 30 the limestone for me seems to get used up so from there on you have to maintain the soil pH with your water and nute mix

 

[AKsteel]

Thanks for the info Oldster. I have Sensi Cal/mag xtra, should I just go with 1/4 strength?

 

[briman]

yep 1/4 strength! Then when you get your led, you will need it for sure! Led sucks the cal/mag right out of your plants! I have to use it by week 2 for sure! I also start to feed my plants when the cotyledon(the seed leaf) starts to yellow a bit, about week 1 1/2. This tells you that the plant is starting to use its own stores/energy to live and is looking for a MILD nute charge. Get some Dolomite lime too and be ready to sprinkle 1 tbsp on top of your soil at week 3-4. I would take oldsters advise and get an accurate 8 soil probe off Amazon or here(best price) http://www.horticulturesource.com/index.php because you wont find one here in town. The dolomite lime, I will pm you where to get it at. Looking good, dont panic, you are doing it man! growing your own!:kusht:

 

[AKsteel]

yep 1/4 strength! Then when you get your led, you will need it for sure! Led sucks the cal/mag right out of your plants! I have to use it by week 2 for sure! I also start to feed my plants when the cotyledon(the seed leaf) starts to yellow a bit, about week 1 1/2. This tells you that the plant is starting to use its own stores/energy to live and is looking for a MILD nute charge. Get some Dolomite lime too and be ready to sprinkle 1 tbsp on top of your soil at week 3-4. I would take oldsters advise and get an accurate 8 soil probe off Amazon or here(best price) http://www.horticulturesource.com/index.php because you wont find one here in town. The dolomite lime, I will pm you where to get it at. Looking good, dont panic, you are doing it man! growing your own!:kusht:

I put a little Cal/Mag in with the water yesterday. They seem to like it.
What is everyone's opinion on premixing nutrients. I will be heading back to work and Mrs. Steel will be taking over the grow in my absence. I want to have her set up as much as possible.

 

[oldster]

Hi AK, no problem premixing nutes a day or two in advance, you may want to recheck pH the first time you do to make sure it has not changed too much.

If you have a little air pump and stone that you can put in the premix your plats will enjoy the additional O2 as well

 

[faded187]

lookin good ak. that yodas gonna stretch on ya.lolol good luck brotha and im subbed up

 

[HD Grower]

Sounds good AK..Must be nice to have a farmhand to help out.....

Maybe I should try some cal/mag too.But not sure if it would mix well with the Fox farm nutes I'm using..Any input anyone?

Thanks

(I should say AK Great fallowing your grow )

 

[elsamurai]

I don't know how I missed this, but I'm here now and all subbed in. sound's like you got a plan. I've seen those moonstone's and they are beautiful and the name take's me back to Skyrim lol. congrat's on starting your 1st grow.

 

[AKsteel]

lookin good ak. that yodas gonna stretch on ya.lolol good luck brotha and im subbed up

Welcome Faded. If you get the time would you mind sending me a PM with a detailed description of how I should FIM the Yoda. I would ask for video but I know how you feel about that.....:xlaugh: