To Fox Farm Ocean Forest or not to Fox Farm Ocean Forest

[beez0404]

Fox Farm Ocean Forest it is then. I just ordered a bag (1.5 cu ft) from Walmart for $22.63 including shipping. Now I'll start saving up for a PH tester. With the pen type am I correct saying you need three different solutions on top of the cost of the tester itself?

Thanks guys for all the useful information with regard to the soil. Hopefully a 1.5 cu ft bag will be big enough to grow a few plants. I'll keep it in the basement, unopened until I manage to procure some seeds so it doesn't dry out on me.

 

[beez0404]

I have quite a number of babies nearly ready to be transplanted into their forever homes. Another week for many and two weeks for the smaller ones. They are out in the sun (rare to see the last 2 weeks) full time now. Only brought in when we get one of our monsoon thunderstorms. I anticipate a very good yield again this year.

Oh Well............they are tomato and pepper plants. I have a photo on my computer but am not able to figure out how to include it here.

 

[Chris Scorpio]

Fox Farm Ocean Forest it is then. I just ordered a bag (1.5 cu ft) from Walmart for $22.63 including shipping. Now I'll start saving up for a PH tester. With the pen type am I correct saying you need three different solutions on top of the cost of the tester itself?

Thanks guys for all the useful information with regard to the soil. Hopefully a 1.5 cu ft bag will be big enough to grow a few plants. I'll keep it in the basement, unopened until I manage to procure some seeds so it doesn't dry out on me.

As in solutions to Calibrate it?

I use white Vinegar as a calibration medium. It's PH is at 2.4, so its easy to keep your PH Tester in line with the White Vinegar. The TDC im not sure needs any calibration, dont think Mine does. Ive never needed to Calibrate my PH Meter and its just a cheap $19.99 one


One 1.5cf Bag does a few 3gal Pots, or like 2 5gal... How many plants you growing? Also did ya get any Perlite, that helps with drainage and will spread yer FFOF a little farther also


Good Luck Bud

 

[beez0404]

As in solutions to Calibrate it?

I use white Vinegar as a calibration medium. It's PH is at 2.4, so its easy to keep your PH Tester in line with the White Vinegar. The TDC im not sure needs any calibration, dont think Mine does. Ive never needed to Calibrate my PH Meter and its just a cheap $19.99 one


One 1.5cf Bag does a few 3gal Pots, or like 2 5gal... How many plants you growing? Also did ya get any Perlite, that helps with drainage and will spread yer FFOF a little farther also


Good Luck Bud

My understanding is that you need a solution to calibrate the tester. A solution to clean it, and finally a solution to store it.

I will pick up perlite when I pick up the FFOF at Walmart.

 

[beez0404]

Just a couple plants to see how they turn out and how effective they are easing back and knee pain.

 

[Chris Scorpio]

I dont use any of those

Clean in water.. let dry.. store
Calibrate White Vinigar, its always a PH of 2.4

 

[Integrum Stultus]

The tester I recommended comes with calibration and cleaning solution. You'll hafta get som storage fluid. Its relatively cheap. FFOF will buffer your nute solution to about 6.1-6.3

 

[beez0404]

The tester I recommended comes with calibration and cleaning solution. You'll hafta get som storage fluid. Its relatively cheap. FFOF will buffer your nute solution to about 6.1-6.3

Can you please explain with that means "FFOF will buffer your nute solution to about 6.1-6.3 " in English to a non grower? LOL

 

[Integrum Stultus]

FFOF is mixed with natural buffers to keep pH in the 6.3-6.8 pH range per their website. Per my experience with their soil it keeps it in the 6.1-6.3 range. Better? LoL!

 

[beez0404]

FFOF is mixed with natural buffers to keep pH in the 6.3-6.8 pH range per their website. Per my experience with their soil it keeps it in the 6.1-6.3 range. Better? LoL!

So in that case would you want to add a little PH up to get the soil up to 6.5? Is there much of a performance different in plant growth if the soil is say just over 6.0 or on the other end just under 7.0? Say 6.2 and 6.8 for example. Will there be much difference in plant growth then if it was spot on at 6.5?

 

[beez0404]

Oh, also, how are you testing your soil PH level? Sticking the tester down into the soil or from the water coming out of the bottom during watering? And is there a big difference between the two methods. Which is the preferred method.

 

[Chris Scorpio]

Ill add my Thoughts

Ive never had to adjust my PH with FFOF in 9 weeks of growing. I use Water from one of the Dispensers at the local Supermarket. My Water is right at 6.2PH, and never an Issue Yet

I usualy test, if I do test, the runnoff water PH, but I hear u can take some of the Dirt, mix with water, to test the SOil.. but never done that

Others may chime in But assuming yer Water is PH'd good, ya shouldnt need to adjust it to any Perfect PH level as far as the soil is concerned

 

[Integrum Stultus]

I aim for a range not a specific pH. Like in veg I keep my pH on the lower end of 6 pH and in bloom I keep it at the higher end.
Uptake of nutrients by cannabis happen at different levels of pH. Plants will absorb different nutrients in different amounts at different plH levels.
N is more readily available to your plant at lower pH values and P is more readily available at higher pH values.
You can do a slurry test, take a little bit of your water and a little bit of soil and mix it together and you can test that or you can test run off. Both will give you an accurate enough reading.

 

[beez0404]

That is all excellent and useful information. Thanks to both Askhole420 and Stavman for the much needed help.

 

[Chris Scorpio]

I aim for a range not a specific pH. Like in veg I keep my pH on the lower end of 6 pH and in bloom I keep it at the higher end.
Uptake of nutrients by cannabis happen at different levels of pH. Plants will absorb different nutrients in different amounts at different plH levels.
N is more readily available to your plant at lower pH values and P is more readily available at higher pH values.
You can do a slurry test, take a little bit of your water and a little bit of soil and mix it together and you can test that or you can test run on both will give you a semi-accurate reading pH.

So.. If my Tap water is about 7ph should I use that durring Flowering? Or a mix of the two around 6.8 ish

Ive played with Tap Water and RO water.. and about a 50/50 split gets me around 7 PH

?????

 

[Integrum Stultus]

I'll refer you to the chart to verify what I said about pH levels and the amounts and what nutrients are available.
Its your grow and your decision to make but in my personal experience I've seen results doing this and many experienced growers will tell you the same.
I would go lower than 7pH. Cannabis has more trouble dealing with alkalinity than acidity. If your tap water comes out like that try adding 3-5mL distilled white vinegar per gallon if you dont have pH down.

 

[Chris Scorpio]

Im gunna mess with water a bit, not with the plants, just with PH levels

Great Info Askhole... appreciate it


Stav

 

[Integrum Stultus]

No prob Stav, I use Armor SI to raise pH and Vinegar to lower it. Fuck the garbage in the up and down solutions. If you were to use one use an organic one like Nectar for the Gods offer, Olympus Up.
NfG is gonna be my next nute line. They'll send you a starter pack that includes Olympus and 6 or 7 other bottles for $28 if you're stateside.

 

[Chris Scorpio]

Il try the W Vinegar... and do some testing

Great Info

 

[beez0404]

So because this site has sponsors and I don't want to violate any rules, is it allowable to ask if anyone has ever purchased seeds from a particular site and if they were happy with both the seeds and the service?