New Grower C0py's Setup

[c0py]

Muddy : Alright it's no issue to use the 3gal nursery pots because I actually have quite a few laying around and would love the extra space.

That's what I was afraid of with the LEDs so I may stick to HPS atleast for now until I have more to invest.

**Edit**
Found a place here that had 2.2cu ft blocks of Sphagnum Peat Moss so that's covered! I can't y'all enough for the advice and help!

 

[c0py]

Update time!

With the new AC the room is staying between 75-77F with a humidity range of 43-45% - From what Ive read thats a pretty good range.

Only issues I see now is that the water is testing at 8.0+PH! Its well water and the fields around used to be farmed for wheat which was fertilized with alot of Nitrogen and such. Ive seen PH Down stuff at the store, would that be safe to use with the plants?

Still waiting on the seeds and fertilizers to arrive and then I should have everything I believe. I'm also ordering a digital PH meter (Ive been using strips but they only have a range of 6.2-8.0.

 

[Hugo]

If the water is safe for drinking its safe for the plants the pH down is also safe on the plants.

On the AC vs humidity issue I'd have to say 43-45% of RH is quite ok for flowering. For vegetative growth it would be advisable to be around 60%. How long was the AC unit working before you took those measures? If it doesn't go lower than that I think you'll be ok, despite not being the ideal humidity I don't think it'll cause you big troubles.

 

[c0py]

If the water is safe for drinking its safe for the plants the pH down is also safe on the plants.

Is this to mean for me to ignore the pH? I get confused easily.

On the AC vs humidity issue I'd have to say 43-45% of RH is quite ok for flowering. For vegetative growth it would be advisable to be around 60%. How long was the AC unit working before you took those measures? If it doesn't go lower than that I think you'll be ok, despite not being the ideal humidity I don't think it'll cause you big troubles.

It had been running for 6-7 days. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Hugo]

NEVER ignore pH!
Good pH levels are between 6.0 and 6.5 for soil grows.

Get water from well, Measure pH, add nutes, measure pH again (see the difference), add pH-down if needed, give the feed to plants, measure pH on run-off water from the bottom of vase. Adjust pH for next feeds.

It's pretty simple and once you start doing it on regular basis you'll be confident about your grows.

 

[c0py]

NEVER ignore pH!
Good pH levels are between 6.0 and 6.5 for soil grows.

Get water from well, Measure pH, add nutes, measure pH again (see the difference), add pH-down if needed, give the feed to plants, measure pH on run-off water from the bottom of vase. Adjust pH for next feeds.

It's pretty simple and once you start doing it on regular basis you'll be confident about your grows.

That's what I was thinking that's why that threw me off. I'm still waiting on nutes & seeds so I got all of the pots setup and filled with a mix of 75% peat moss and 25% perlite. The PH Down stuff I bought works beautifully but I noticed something. If I water the pot with 8.0PH water then the runoff is about 6? Is that normal?

 

[The Squid]

Negative. Well...yes and no. Yes that occurs sometimes, but no, that's not what you want. If you have 8 going in and coming out at 6 then your mix's ph is like 5, which is too low. Sounds like you need to add some garden lime to your mix to get it to raise up to around 6.4-6.5. Lime takes time to start working, but since you don't have your beans yet you can use that to your advantage.

You'll mix a certain amount, not exactly sure how much, anywhere from a tsp to a Tbsp. per gallon, depending on how high your ph needs to be raised. And water with something standard like a 7 ph and give it about 5 days or so to start working and you should notice your runoffs becoming higher.

Hope this helps, let us know if you need other assistance.

 

[Muddy]

I agree, you need to add some dolomite lime to your soil mix. Lime is slow acting so don't expect to see the pH change for several days.

 

[Hugo]

pH acts down more easily than up, meaning you need a lower quantity to lower it than to raise it.

Check the run off of water pH'd at 6.5 to see. I doubt the soilpH is as low as 5.0 probably between 5.5 and 5.8.

 

[c0py]

The seeds arrived today and with a shirt that has quickly become my favorite one that I own. I also got a free G-13 Labs Cheese and World Of Seeds Mazar x Great White Shark. I'll add the lime and wait a few days since I'm also waiting on my 600watt light, Nutrients, and digital pH meter.

Thanks again to everyone helping!