New Grower First Grow, South Texas: WOS Pakistan Ryder/Strawberry Blue

[Alter Ego]

Money is not the problem. I would like to stay under $100 if possible though. Let's hear your story bro, it can't be worse than mine, haha.

I appreciate the words of encouragment though. I just want the absolute best for my ladies ya know...

What should I do in the meantime? The plants are yellowing up really fast. Honestly if she makes it without herming on me, I doubt she will yeild more than an 8th, lol.

I need to learn how to grow asap because I have other seedlings growing up super fast. They will need tranplanting in the next few weeks and I am not killing those girls. I also have a WOS 100% landrace sativa Kilimanjaro and a G13 Labs OG13 (og kush) on the way that I wanted to grow. Seeds are not cheap and my skills are lacking to say the least. I studied a lot about growing but doing all this in real life is no easy task. Do
many variables...

 

[s_b]

If you're on a budget you can get a cheap ph tester for $10 on ebay. It's only 1 point calibration, and doesn't correct for temperature. Singles use packs of milwalkee (sp?) calibration solution are like $1 too. It's definately not the best, and it isn't water proof, but it does work. Just make sure your water temp is room temperature, this way the reading is the most accurate without having to figuring out the exact ph using math. Get the 7.01 packets of milwalkee calibration solution.

If you've got about $90 to spend get the Hannah phep 5. It's automatic 2 point calibration with auto temp correction.

 

[Alter Ego]

I found this on Craigslist for $50. Is this a good tester? Hanna 98129.

http://houston.craigslist.org/grq/2967028787.html

 

[s_b]

That is a very good all in one meter. It measures ph/tds(ppm), and temp. It has automatic 2 point calibration, and auto temp correction.

The cons:
Never trust an ad from a stranger. These models comes with an extentable clothe junction that you can pull out to expose new if the end dries out. It may be legit, or it may need a replacement clothe thingy (forgot the name)

If you have the extra dough I would get a newish model, that will come with a manufacters warranty, instructions, and the tools you need.

 

[s_b]

The cheaper $10 knock off models are just that.. cheap, but they do work. I used mine for a long time. I packed it in a box for nearly a year, and unpacked it when new one broke. When I went to calibrate it, it was only .1 off from being accurate.

Hannah have a cheaper model.. I think called the hannah checker or something, and I've heard reviews of it being good, but no first hand experience with that. and I don't know if it auto corrects for temperature, which is an important feature since water temperature will affect the ph of the water, and it needs to be considered and calculated to determine the exact ph, which the auto temp models do (like the one you found on Craigslist, and the Hannah phep5)

Hope that helps

 

[Nelson]

Twenty years ago or maybe more this story is unfortuantely true. I dare anyone to come within 10 points of this stupidity.

I am a really cheap person who's inherent miserly instincts are the death of me. I went to the local feed and seed store in the area. The merchant knowing I am one cheap bozo told me he had a deal for me. All the ripped bags of grain fertilizer i could have for $10 and there were at least 10 of them. You betcha I said and loaded them into my pickup.

I picked one out 20-20-20 sounded about right and spread it all around all my plants just in time for the rain coming that night. A few days later I thought do the tour thinking how great the plants were going to look. When I came apon my first plant it was hanging limp and looked to be only a few days from being totally dead. All the plants were that way. I let out a moan.

I went back to the bag of fertilizer and seen the words with BLWK. What the hell is that. I phoned up the merchant and asked him. He told me that is fertilizer with broad leaf weed killer. I poisoned all my plants and my whole crop was dead.

OK now that Ego feels better. Can anyone beat that for stupidity?

Money is not the problem. I would like to stay under $100 if possible though. Let's hear your story bro, it can't be worse than mine, haha.

I appreciate the words of encouragment though. I just want the absolute best for my ladies ya know...

What should I do in the meantime? The plants are yellowing up really fast. Honestly if she makes it without herming on me, I doubt she will yeild more than an 8th, lol.

I need to learn how to grow asap because I have other seedlings growing up super fast. They will need tranplanting in the next few weeks and I am not killing those girls. I also have a WOS 100% landrace sativa Kilimanjaro and a G13 Labs OG13 (og kush) on the way that I wanted to grow. Seeds are not cheap and my skills are lacking to say the least. I studied a lot about growing but doing all this in real life is no easy task. Do
many variables...

 

[The Squid]

Yup, as stated, I highly recommend this one.>http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/hanna-grochek-phep4-phtemperature-tester-p-435.html

They make one that does ppm with all of that too, that's the one I have, Muddy uses it too, but they're over $100, so this one is great at $75 brand spankin' new and from a great company.

 

[stashmouth]

Alter-
It's gonna be fine. That Hanna that Squid likes is probably the best. Here is an alternate from Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-PH...G102/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337730820&sr=8-1
Andy Botwin(on this site) has this one I believe, and he really likes it. If you are an Amazon Prime member, it could be here in 2 days, no shipping $.
I have a Martini meter that was $80 on Amazon. I like it fine.

You never know what bottled water runs. Depends on source, I guess.
Ozarka spring water runs about 5.5
Nestlé Pure Life runs about 7.2
My tap water runs 7.8

 

[The Squid]

Man, the Spring water I get from wal-mart, which is always from a different source depending on your area, is like 8.1. Hmm. Seems to be just fine though.

 

[stashmouth]

...while you are pissin' away money, there IS a reliable soil meter on the market. It's the CWP Accurate pH 8. I got mine for $45 plus freight from www.horticulturesource.com.
It's a big motha, about 14" long. Tests ph and moisture level.