New UK grower

[Skunks]

The only reason I asked is to explain this.

That natural drift I get between 5.9-6.2 is perfect. The plants pick up different minerals at diferent ph. Calcium maybe available at 5.9 but nitrogen might not be available until 6.0 , so a drift between 5.9 -6.2 is beneficial for the plants to get all the nutrients they need. Sticking to one ph setting may lock out other nutients.
(There's a chart somewhere)

So what would u think I should do

 

[Listersmeghead]

Welcome, my first grow (Uk) also

, just tried the one to start

Alright BigGL,
Looking nice.

 

[Listersmeghead]

So what would u think I should do

When you say your ph doesn't move around much, does it rise a little by the next day?

 

[Skunks]

Welcome, my first grow (Uk) also

, just tried the one to start

Welcome biggl

 

[Skunks]

When you say your ph doesn't move around much, does it rise a little by the next day?

I’d say if I ph it @ 5.8 in a few days it wool go to 6 but no higher

 

[Listersmeghead]

I’d say if I ph it @ 5.8 in a few days it wool go to 6 but no higher

Cool, that's perfect. That will help your plants.
When it gets to 6.0 then reduce it back to 5.8 and you will have a perfect nutrient drift that feeds the plant. Just keep repeating that if you can.
Start 5.8 get to 6 then reduce back 5.8.

Now let's talk nutrient strength.
What EC does your water start at, coming out the tap? Mine comes out at 0.5 , it's got a bit of chalk and crap in it, I'd guess yours has too.

 

[Skunks]

Not to sure tbh once I fill tank up do ph then I add the nutes till it’s 1.0 so may be that’s where I’m going wrong not sure that’s how my mate told me to do it

 

[BigGL]

Not to sure tbh once I fill tank up do ph then I add the nutes till it’s 1.0 so may be that’s where I’m going wrong not sure that’s how my mate told me to do it

I do my nutrients first then my ph

 

[Skunks]

I do my nutrients first then my ph

Ah ok that might be why then

 

[BigGL]

I use coco, and my nutrients can change the ph balance, that’s why I do my nutrients first

 

[Listersmeghead]

Not to sure tbh once I fill tank up do ph then I add the nutes till it’s 1.0 so may be that’s where I’m going wrong not sure that’s how my mate told me to do it

Yeah, if he is using similar water to you then it could be like for like, that would work. But if your water comes out the tap a bit stronger than his,it's gonna make a diference.

Here's an easy way to feed your plants, I just hope I explain it well.

Right, you've just filled your tank fresh nutrient...say 1.0 ec.
Now if after a few days you read the ec of your tank and the ec has lowered to say..0.8... that means the plants have fed that missing ec, that's perfect or just under the right stregth.

Now, if it goes the other way, you start at 1.0 ec and after a few days it has risen to 1.2ec , then the nutrient was to strong and the plant is drinking water and the nutrient is concentrating. Reduce nutrient.
So the plant tells you if it's getting to much or too little.
Hope that makes sense.

 

[Listersmeghead]

I like my ec to slightly be dropping over the week so I know the plant is feeding.

 

[Skunks]

My ec stays at 1 I’ve just drained done not going to give any nutes for few days just ph then build up slowly

 

[Listersmeghead]

My ec stays at 1 I’ve just drained done not going to give any nutes for few days just ph then build up slowly

If it stays at 1 and the water level is going down, then that's the perfect strength for the plants.
Don't do hydro with just water, it needs nutrient constantly.
If you do just water the plants will eat themselves. They'll take all the green out of the leaves for food.

 

[Skunks]

What I’ve done is drained big tank left water it pots when the system pumps it all round the ec should be about 0.5 I’ll see how that goes then add little by little if there getting better if u no what I mean

 

[Listersmeghead]

What I’ve done is drained big tank left water it pots when the system pumps it all round the ec should be about 0.5 I’ll see how that goes then add little by little if there getting better if u no what I mean

Sounds like a plan, but 0.5 is still a little weak for plants your size.
Set it 0.8 and tell me if it goes up or down over the next few days.

 

[Skunks]

It’s at 0.7 now

 

[Skunks]

So going to see how that goes

 

[Listersmeghead]

It’s at 0.7 now

Cool, we will see what it does over the next couple of days.
Did you set the ph at 5.8?

 

[Skunks]

Cool, we will see what it does over the next couple of days.
Did you set the ph at 5.8?

Yeah ph @ 5.8 so should go up little bit over next few days