Indoor Conflicting Soil PH Results

[Peekineeze]

Soil Mix: Fox Farm Ocean Forest - Perlite (50/50)

My plants show symptoms of nutrient deficiencies. Symptoms: rust spots, purple stems & small buds. *When I test the runoff water I got PH results between (4.0 - 5.0). *I guess it might have bad soil. *I tested the soil multiple times with a soil test kit and the results were slightly acidic/neutral which is right where it should be. *My question is not how to fix with the problem. *My question is; which test is valid? *The results contradict each other. *I would assume if I apply (7.0) water through the soil and the runoff is coming out below 5.0 then the soil should test as extremely acidic but it doesn't. *The only way I can make any sense of this is if one of them is wrong. *I have looked for the answer in other threads and the can't find any consensus. *Some people say the soil test kits are no good and other people say testing runoff water is a waste of time. *So I thought I would pose the question here. Any help is appreciated as always.

 

[Mr Piggy]

I say you put WAY too much perlite in your soil and that's what's playing with your ph. Next time only mix in a couple of gallons per bag. Also mix in a gallon or two of earth worm castings and a tablespoon of dolomite lime per gallon.

 

[Hugo]

Where do they say run-off tests are no good? As you can tell, I think run-off pH tests are very important!

What are you using to test pH in run-off and in soil?

Soil Mix: Fox Farm Ocean Forest - Perlite (50/50)

My plants show symptoms of nutrient deficiencies. Symptoms: rust spots, purple stems & small buds. *When I test the runoff water I got PH results between (4.0 - 5.0). *I guess it might have bad soil. *I tested the soil multiple times with a soil test kit and the results were slightly acidic/neutral which is right where it should be. *My question is not how to fix with the problem. *My question is; which test is valid? *The results contradict each other. *I would assume if I apply (7.0) water through the soil and the runoff is coming out below 5.0 then the soil should test as extremely acidic but it doesn't. *The only way I can make any sense of this is if one of them is wrong. *I have looked for the answer in other threads and the can't find any consensus. *Some people say the soil test kits are no good and other people say testing runoff water is a waste of time. *So I thought I would pose the question here. Any help is appreciated as always.

 

[Peekineeze]

Where do they say run-off tests are no good? As you can tell, I think run-off pH tests are very important!

What are you using to test pH in run-off and in soil?

I would have to go find all the threads I've read to find who said what. It's just random people on threads. I used the drop testers and a digital for runoff and the soil test kit for the soil test.

 

[Peekineeze]

I say you put WAY too much perlite in your soil and that's what's playing with your ph. Next time only mix in a couple of gallons per bag. Also mix in a gallon or two of earth worm castings and a tablespoon of dolomite lime per gallon.

Yeah, that's what someone else told me on my last thread when I was asking why my soil was off. He said Perlite causes your PH to go up though which is weird since I have the opposite problem. Anyway, I used much less (25%) on the 2 plants I just transplanted and I ordered some pulverized dolomitic lime last week since my pellets are apparently too slow. I'm just confused about the conflicting test results.

 

[Hugo]

That just comes to show ya that you cannot trust in everything avery people tell you. Many times there are conflicting opinions, and then it's just a mess. You need to get yourself a proper base! Go to the References Link in Introductions to get your self some bases.

In my opinion soil testers are a waste of your money! I have one, and I'm sorry I do. To have a proper reading your soil needs to be drenched in water, and even then I doubt the readings are accurate. Keep your self in the safer side testing the intake feed water pH and then the respective run-off water pH.

Bare in mind aswell that, even though your run-off water pH is a measure between your intake pH and your soil pH, it's easier to lower the pH than to rise it. So for example, if you intake pH is 6.9 and your run-off is 6.2, it means your soil pH will be somewhere around 6.0/6.1 .

That sayed I also agree with Piggy there, you mixed way too much perlite in the mix! Perlite is neutral but you're not gaining anything with that much quantity, It's bound to mess your pH readings.

 

[Mr Piggy]

That much perlite thins out the mix too much and the plant probably gets confused as to weather or not it's in soil or hydro. I would advise using no more than 20% perlite, and make sure it's not that miracle gold shit, it has slow release ferts and those fry autos dead. As a matter of fact, never touch anything made by scotts. If you're going to add perlite to your mix then IMHO you absolutely must balance it with lime and compost or EWC.

 

[Peekineeze]

That much perlite thins out the mix too much and the plant probably gets confused as to weather or not it's in soil or hydro. I would advise using no more than 20% perlite, and make sure it's not that miracle gold shit, it has slow release ferts and those fry autos dead. As a matter of fact, never touch anything made by scotts. If you're going to add perlite to your mix then IMHO you absolutely must balance it with lime and compost or EWC.

I just transplanted my next 2 autos and it's about 20%. I use Hoffman Perlite. My lime should be here tomorrow. I paid for the fastest shipping because I have a few plants that just showed symptoms last week and time is a wastin. Thanks.

 

[Mr Piggy]

All this soil mixing is something you have to do before you plant. Top dressing with dolomite isn't going to help much. You have to mix your soil up and let it "cook" for a few weeks before planting. I saw that you said 25% earlier and that's why I said don't go over 20.

 

[Peekineeze]

That just comes to show ya that you cannot trust in everything avery people tell you. Many times there are conflicting opinions, and then it's just a mess. You need to get yourself a proper base! Go to the References Link in Introductions to get your self some bases.

In my opinion soil testers are a waste of your money! I have one, and I'm sorry I do. To have a proper reading your soil needs to be drenched in water, and even then I doubt the readings are accurate. Keep your self in the safer side testing the intake feed water pH and then the respective run-off water pH.

Bare in mind aswell that, even though your run-off water pH is a measure between your intake pH and your soil pH, it's easier to lower the pH than to rise it. So for example, if you intake pH is 6.9 and your run-off is 6.2, it means your soil pH will be somewhere around 6.0/6.1 .

That sayed I also agree with Piggy there, you mixed way too much perlite in the mix! Perlite is neutral but you're not gaining anything with that much quantity, It's bound to mess your pH readings.

Yeah, that is what I'm learning. This is my first grow and I've put in hours and hours of study but sometimes you can't know what's what without experience. I used the 50/50 mix because I read posts from many peps that said Autos love lose, airy soil and 50% was the ticket. It did seem like a whole lot, just based on a common sense.

The test kit i used is the one where you mix soil with mostly water & empty a capsul on it and it reacts. There isn't room for much soil though. Maybe the water needs to move through more than just a pinch of soil before the PH is really effected. I also bought one of those stupid 2 pronged moisture/PH/light meters. It doesnt take long to realize they're totally worthless. I can't wait to get this issue figured out. Everything should be smooth sailing without the PH issue.