Reddit mentions of General Hydroponics HGC722080 pH Control Kit For A Balanced Nutrient Solution
Sentiment score: 47
Reddit mentions: 95
We found 95 Reddit mentions of General Hydroponics HGC722080 pH Control Kit For A Balanced Nutrient Solution. Here are the top ones.
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- General Hydroponics pH Control Kit contains everything you need to measures pH levels of your hydroponic grow reservoirs
- RELIABLE RESULTS: The streamlined testing system delivers fast, accurate, and easy-to read results every time
- ALL-IN-ONE KIT: Includes 8 oz. General Hydroponics pH Up Liquid, 8 oz. General Hydroponics pH Down Liquid, 1 oz. Test Indicator, test tube, an eyedropper, and a pH level chart
- THE PREFERRED WAY OF TESTING pH: Seasoned growers prefer our pH Test Kit to expensive electronic meters because of its reliability and ease-of- use
- EASY TO USE: To use, simply fill a test tube halfway with nutrients, add a few drops of pH test indicator, and observe the coloration of the liquid; recommended pH for most plants is 5.5 to 6.5
Features:
Specs:
Color | pH Kit |
Height | 1 Inches |
Length | 1 Inches |
Number of items | 1 |
Size | Kit |
Weight | 1.5 Pounds |
Width | 1 Inches |
Pot/Planter
Soil / Perlite mix (70/30)
Nutrients
pH test kit
Lights
Should be around ~$100 and good for 1 medium plant or 2 small plants.
I spent like 30 minutes on that list for y'all newbs. When you could have just gone through the sidebar and/or used the search function. Somebody better upvote me.
Absolutely, here we go:
Essential Hardware
$80 Clones - $20 from dispensary.
$325 Lights: Horticulture Lighting Group 260 QB LED Kit
$70 2' x 4' x 5' Mylar tent
$90 4" Inline duct fan and Carbon Filter
$10 - Ducting/Clamps from ACE
$21 Osculating Fan
Already on hand: Box Fan
$25 [Humidifier] (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sunbeam-Warm-Mist-Humidifier-SWM6000-BWM/32664862)
$45Dehumidifier$184" inline duct booster fan$13 Ph Meter
$12 TDS PPM meter
$9 Soil Moisture, Light, Ph meter - Does it's job
$9 Ph Control Kit
$14 Ph Calibration solution
$6 Spray Bottles (Did not use these much, only very early during transplanting.)
$7 for 30ctStarter grow bags$18 Hygrometer for Temp/Humidity
$8 for 6ct 5 gal Smart Pot knockoff
$40 - Soil: Two bags of Happy Frog. Ocean forest was sitting around.
Nutrients: $165
$13 - Scrog net: for something like 50-100ft of plastic garden fence from Home Depot. Using a lot of it for a garden.
$15 - Miscelaneous: Eyedroppers, duct tape, zip ties, and odds and ends: Call it $15.
So to total that all out we're looking just over 1000 that I spent, could have kept it under $950 if I had not purchased the small duct fan or dehumidifier. Also: Soil and nutrients for $205. Could work that down to under $150 by dropping a couple unnecessary yet desirable nutrients.
Sorry for the formatting! I'm going to do a big post write up and this is a great place to start at least. Thanks for the motivation.
Combination of parts from Amazon and ebay. Not all of them are necessary, fittings and Brute trashcans and such are from Home Depot.
Runs the lights, pump, fans, and other electronics. Kind of excessive. 5A would be enough.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6S0JS4
Don't cheap out on these. Crappy plastic check valves really screwed me early on.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KZOCQMA
Needed for priming the pump or flushing the nutrient reservoir.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018HMFG7O
This was roughly 4x what I actually needed.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8PAAJW
Transplanting the sprouts into this was weird, but they took well to it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IAM29K
Everything I chose was 5/16 inner diameter.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CGVJ9QG
Hydroponic pots, specifically for Leca substrate.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N9AE9BE
I think that dripping from two feet aerates the water naturally, but this can't hurt.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L17IPEO
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01339F5ZO
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01339G2F6
Wait for sales on these! The 270W light is $80 now, but I got it for $60.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RWQ4B50
To make the door airtight.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011CXIPO6
This will be enough for a bunch of grows. A little goes a long way.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017H73708
Will also last a long time. Only takes a few drops to balance a gallon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNKWZY
This thing was bigger than I anticipated.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E582DV2/
For making the irrigation loops.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/302176243137
Loud as heck. Ended up using a quieter fan I had around.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272508816366
Quiet as heck. Rated for 2.1GPM. It's enough, but I think that a 5GPM pump would have been better.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272403296601
> i basically just need a light and thats it? if i want to grow autoflower only
oh boi... alright here we go.
youll need duct fans for both ventilation and heat dissipation, especially if you go with HPS/MH lights 600/1000watts will require reflectors with ducting so you can connect to it. This will need to exhaust out of your tent. Then you will need a intake fan coming preferably from outside. Youll most likely also need a Carbon filter attached in series to your exhaust fan. Your light will have a ballast as well, which creates a good amount of heat so plan for that to be located outside your tent. Youll also need smaller fans in the corners so you can keep a good air circulation going (hurricane fans are great). Also consider using T5 lights when starting your seeds off as your higher wattage lights are not good for seedlings. Also get a few supplies like gorilla tape and duct clamps and anything else you might need to secure everything together.
When it comes to growing, even if you are only doing autos youll need smart pots, fertilizer, promix HP, perlite plus both vegging and flowering nutrients. Have access to PH up and down solution, and also get a Ph Pen + PPM meter (TDS).
Ive only linked amazon, there are probably other local options for you.
There's a lot of useful info about growing in coco at Coco for Cannabis. He's all-in on using timers, automatic irrigation, and drain-to-waste with lots of runoff 100% of the time. It works really well, but it can be a bit tricky to get dialed in, and dealing with runoff can be a pain (especially if you care about disposing of it in an environmentally responsible way). I'd take his "you need to always water to 20% runoff" advice with a grain of salt; just try to water often enough that salts don't build up too much, and maybe err on the side of feeding with lower EC. Last grow I used automatic irrigation, but aimed for just barely having any runoff, and then hand-watered extra to get runoff once a week, when I felt like dealing with it. Definitely note his advice about
preparing and re-using coco, though. One of the best parts about coco is that you should be able to reuse it for a while.
There are other approaches, such as hempy buckets or bottom-feeding that may be simpler, particularly if you're doing a really small personal grow like I am. There's also an approach that combines them, with zero runoff. I haven't tried that one yet, but plant to try my next full size (not 1L SOG) run that way.
For nutrients, I don't know if it's available where you are, but I've been using Dyna-Gro: Foliage-Pro in veg, Bloom in flower. The only other thing I'd add is Pro-Tekt, a silica supplement that also works well as a pH Up. They're pretty inexpensive, simple to use, buffer pH nicely, great all-in-one option. People have also recommended MaxiBloom and Mega-Crop as other simple all-in-one fertilizers (both powdered). I can't personally speak to those, but worth looking into.
I use this EC/ppm meter and these pH test drops. I haven't tried using a pH meter, because the periodic calibration sounds like more trouble than it's worth. The EC meter and the test drops have worked fine for me, and in coco you'll probably only need to check pH of nutrient mixes, then compare EC going in (feed) and coming out (runoff). For that, the drops and that EC meter work great. (That EC meter probably isn't anything special, most cheap ones are probably fine.)
People will probably also recommend Grow Weed Easy, but some of their info about coco (particularly watering recommendations) is pretty dodgy. If you haven't done a full grow before, they have helpful info about harvesting and curing, though.
Strain recommendations will depend on a ton on personal taste, but I particularly like Mephisto's Fugue State. :) Good luck!
Oakton PH2
PH Up/Down
First grow.
This took 2-3 months. Seems like I ran into a number of first-timer pitfalls along the way. Good learning experience though.
Can't wait. So god damn tired of shady, undependable hook ups.
Edit 2:
Photos of my setup.
Edit 1:
Some have asked about my setup. This is about everything. This is my first grow so take my suggestions with a cup of salt but this stuff has worked well for me.
Tent:
Zero complains. Very happy with this. It just fits perfectly into a closet (had to remove the hanger bar though).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004U6WCMY
Air
Carbon filter:
The inside of my tent stinks. I smell absolutely nothing outside. Don't get caught. Get a good carbon filter. Maybe not this one, but something.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FVJK60
Inline fan:
I hand this outside the tent. No need to take up any space or add any heat inside the tent.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JQ14F8
Variable xformer for fan control:
This allows me to control the noise and airflow. Every other fan controller made the fan buzz. This thing is quality built. I keep it around 50v.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NGI8VS
Circulation fans:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RTMD8C
DWC
Bucket top net pots:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049XIIGC
Air pump:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JPEVMC
Airline:
The black just prevents light from getting into my res.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001D4XTUU
Air stones:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050HJ7Q6
Check valves:
You NEED these. Many airlines are thin enough that if the power goes out or a hose becomes disconnected, capillary action might permit water to back-flow into your electrical air pump and/or just flood your room. Don't take chances when a .50 cent valve will protect you. There are some horror stories in the aquarium hobby about this. Note, even if the air pump is higher than your res, capillary action can pull the water up through the air hose. This is the same principle that allows 100ft trees carry water from the roots to the canopy.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00977J508
Lighting
Lights:
Word of warning. Start off a good distance between the lights and your canopy. These product more light than you think and I have burned and cooked plants from keeping these too close. They don't product a ton of heat or anything. I think it's just too much light if they aren't a good foot or so away from the canopy. I assumed I could practically lay LEDs on top of my canopy. Not so.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FGFLCXS
Adjustable ropes for lights:
Chains work, these are just faster/easier to adjust.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098R0600
Tools
Temp/humidity sensors:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013BKDO8
pH pen:
I used to do chemical reagent tests (I have tons of aquariums so I had it laying around). Never again. A pen is fucking awesome for dialing in pH every morning. Get one!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EQISYQO
Pruning snips:
These are great. Sharp as fuck and solid.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SD76
Training wire:
What I use for my scrog screen and early training before the screen goes in. Also good for random shit that's temporary enough I don't want to waste a zip tie.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EXJ652
Nutes/Water changes
Pond pump:
This is another must have! I've been using these for a while now to handle water changes in my aquariums. It's also awesome for mixing nutes before they go into your DWC. I drop one in a bucket without a hose attached and then just dump all my nutes and such in. The pump does all the mixing. Then I adjust the pH a little. Give the pump about 10-20 seconds to mix my pH up or down in and test again. I don't have to worry my pH adjustment isn't probably mixed yet. I makes the mixing process so easy and fast. I also use these to pump out my res once the scrog screen is in place.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006M6MSL0
Root protectant:
One of my early problems was with brown algae. This cleared it right up after a week.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IGFH3FG
Syringes:
No guess work. I know exactly how many ml I'm adding.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RB3CV6
Cal-mag:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J2CUPW
pH control:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNKWZY
Nutes:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000COBT54
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CO7U02
Absolutely. If you have fed no nutes, I'm going to guess you haven't been checking pH? That's important. One of these will do the job. CalMg, particularly, tends to swing your pH balance. Just get feed mixture to 6.5ish before dumping on plant.
I dont know about you, you'll have to research; but your plants need around 6 if you're using coco or any other hydro medium and I believe 6.5 in soil. So use this to adjust it before you feed or water. Every time.
Also like someone said above lower your Nitrogen a lot. As in cut it out completely. Those leaves are not looking healthy.
I suggest you read, a lot that's your bible. Read it ten times then read it ten times more.
Congrats on finding the seeds and getting this far. If you are a first time grower, then I would highly recommend a controlled environment starting with a tent. I have done it both ways, and outdoor seasonally, and you will benefit a lot from having a confined space you can control as you learn. Contrary to popular belief, it isnt "just a weed that grows". To have a quality finished product you need a good amount of time and energy spent on the plants. However, because the growth takes time, as a first time grower, you can purchase the items you need as you need them to build out your grow. I have purchased a lot of my items on amazon, so I will provide some links to items I vouch for personally.
​
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I would start with a light and good soil. This is one of the most important items by far. For indoor, use LED, or a combo of T5 for veg and then LED for flower.t5: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M624OCR/ref=crt_ewc_title_oth_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1KBVFFLR1WEMK
LED: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0185OLBPK/ref=sspa_dk_detail_10?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0185OLBPK
I have both of these products and can finish 4 plants in a tent nicely in about 100 days. I know people have feelings about using off brand lights but I have had zero issues, ever. On thing to do though is to not let the plants grow too tall. Rather train them to grow like bushes by topping them early and continuing to top the new nodes at a reasonable height, Id suggest 30 inches max (from top of the pot).
Also buy this : https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=pd_sim_86_7?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000BNKWZY&pd_rd_r=5185d750-c735-11e8-83ba-35492fd40af5&pd_rd_w=FfWzV&pd_rd_wg=5opTv&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=18bb0b78-4200-49b9-ac91-f141d61a1780&pf_rd_r=5TDAFKEPVRHZC2TKYA3F&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=5TDAFKEPVRHZC2TKYA3F
AND LEARN ABOUT pH!!!! Many young growers don't do this and it makes a HUGE difference.
For veg, you will be able to get by a few weeks or maybe a month without a tent, but the light will become annoying.
For soil. I highly recommend mixing fox farms happy frog and ocean forest. This will prevent you needing to use fertilizers really at all until flower time. Yes it is kind of expensive, but it is worth it. I have tried the experiment of making soil myself... it becomes outrageously priced so fast and unless you are really good at chemistry/botany you can totally fuck some shit up. Trust the fox farms soil. It is the best IMO. Also, I am a huge fan of cloth bags. I suggest these:
https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-5-Pack-Thickened-Nonwoven-Handles/dp/B00TF9E6XE/ref=pd_sim_60_7?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00TF9E6XE&pd_rd_r=fb2641f0-c736-11e8-8198-7d964bea5356&pd_rd_w=GtDju&pd_rd_wg=aCJer&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=18bb0b78-4200-49b9-ac91-f141d61a1780&pf_rd_r=H05JF866M3Z3Y0MEV2JX&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=H05JF866M3Z3Y0MEV2JX
So a tent should be your next purchase.
I have two of these and they do a great job.Tent: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XJQ8LPY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Shortly after getting the tent set up you need to get an oscillating fan and some regulators to tell you temp, humidity, etc.
regulator: https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-Humidity-Thermometer-Hygrometer-Indicator/dp/B0013BKDO8/ref=pd_sim_86_6?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0013BKDO8&pd_rd_r=5185d750-c735-11e8-83ba-35492fd40af5&pd_rd_w=FfWzV&pd_rd_wg=5opTv&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=18bb0b78-4200-49b9-ac91-f141d61a1780&pf_rd_r=5TDAFKEPVRHZC2TKYA3F&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=5TDAFKEPVRHZC2TKYA3F
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Now even in veg, your plants are going to begin to smell. But by flower time you will have a real problem on your hands, even with a tent. So next you will need a carbon scrubber. I use this one off amazon for a tent and have zero complaints while the tent is closed. I also have the filter hanging in the tent and venting out the side into the attic of my rental. Zero smell, unless the tent is open (which you will want to do in the beginning, but over time you will learn to not go in everyday unless you need to). With this item, every other grow you need to replace just the carbon canister part of it. It is easy to do and worth every penny.
Carbon scrubber:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XFRNPR8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Buying all this over time is pretty easy, even on a conservative budget.
Hope this helps!
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A cheaper and probably more accurate option is this.
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9JlWDbR0HD753
Also do yourself a favor and start browsing through here, theres a lot of very good information for beginners on here.
https://www.growweedeasy.com/
I actually didn't tally up the cost as that wasn't really of a concern to me, but I'll try my best to provide links to the things I bought for this. Feel free to add it up for me!
I also bought various tools, like crimpers, Dremel kit, drill, etc, but I don't consider those to be project-specific as I'll have them for the foreseeable future. Let me know if there's anything you see that you think I missed!
Buy the little kit: http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425934646&sr=8-1&keywords=ph+kit
Worth your money.
The new growth looks good, what sort of soil is it in?
When the pH rises in alkalinity above 7.5, the roots are not able to consume the available iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and boron ions in their vicinity, and when the pH lowers into acidity to less than 6 the roots are not able to access phosphoric acid, calcium, and magnesium because they lose their solubility. Get some ph up and down. 6.5-7.0 ph is right in the Goldilocks zone.
If you're on a budget and just growing for shits and giggles
get this http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453569359&sr=8-1&keywords=General+hydroponics+ph+kit
If you have a bit of money and want to take growing seriously get a PH meter pen in the 30-60 price range.
PH is probably the most important thing.
I made the system in your pic so I will answer your question as best I can:
First of all, what do you plan on growing? Leaf plants like lettuce, spinach, herbs, etc? Or flowering plants such as tomatoes? (Note, the system in that pic is really only intended for small plants, as the sites are all very close together and the reservoir is not that deep. It grows lettuce very well for example, but would not do well with a tomatoe plant. By purchasing a larger plastic tote for the reservoir but doing everything else the same, you could grow something larger though.
But yes that list has everything you will need and will last for many grow cycles. That amount of hydroton, pH chemicals and nutrients will last you for a while. The only real ongoing costs after you buy this is going to be nutrients if you continue growing multiple times. The hydroton can be re-used and the pH chemicals last forever.
Also make sure you get the 4 inch hole saw bit to cut the holes with, and also some black spraypaint or something to make sure no light gets inside the system or else bacteria will grow.
Are you growing indoors or outdoors?
I'm sure you already saw it (since the pic is from my site), but the full tutorial including a step-by-step video walkthrough can be found on my blog here.
so i would suggest a 1000w MH/HPS setup with a 6 inch inline fan and carbon filter (for the smell). you'll probably need to spend 30$ on nutrients you'll need something to adjust the pH of your feed get a good pH meter blue labs is one of the best brands for this tech, you will also need a 24h timer and then to choose a medium: soil, dwc, soilless, coco, rockwool, etc. that should bring you under budget.
Since you don't have any experience with checking PH, organics might be your best bet. Something like this. But pretty much anything that has the word bloom on the label will be fine. I'd say stick to the lower end of the recommended dosage for the first feeding or two, then ramp it up. Feed every other watering.
You need to at least get some PH drops or a meter and something to make adjustments. If your PH isn't in the correct range, your plant can't take in the nutrients it needs.
This $15
That alone would be better than nothing
This $20
So for $35 you have no mess ups, no mishaps, no confusion misunderstandings or headaches down the road. I say worth. Plus if you take care of your stuff its a useful tool outside of cannabis cultivation! :D
These are what I use. they’ve served me well. They’re pretty easy to figure out. Even comes with a testing kit so you can roughly calibrate your meter.
http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463291919&sr=8-1&keywords=ph+kit
This is a basic ph control kit although if this isn't what you're looking for I also found this tutorial
http://www.wikihow.com/Lower-Soil-pH
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BNKWZY/
This is what I use to test my water and nutrient solutions. Hope it helps. If you want to buy local, check pet stores that sell fish.
Here is a link
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BNKWZY/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1493008359&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=ph+up&dpPl=1&dpID=51ohG6WLUeL&ref=plSrch
I plan to grow larger variant tomatoes such as beefsteak and want to make sure this kind of layout and these components will be good enough for that purpose.
Here is the list of components I'm planning to use:
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The remaining plumbing components I need I'll pick up from my local Home Depot.
You can get strips or a liquid indicator if you are on a budget, but you can never go wrong with investing in a quality pH meter, which will be my next purchase.
I wouldn't mess with vinegar/ baking soda. Just get the PH down/up products on Amazon.
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wBh8AbEK90EGZ
That's 4ft², one plant in a 3gal will fill it up easy. That light suucks, return it and also return the tester, if you want budget stuff get this light and this pH kit.
Two days ago, the Tangilope's leaves went a little limp. Upon inspection of the soil, it appeared to me it was due to the cup starting to fill with roots and quickly sucking the cup dry of most water. I do not believe it is over-watering, but I could be mistaken. Last night, I decided to move it to a 2gal smart pot filled with approx. 3/4 Roots Organics and 1/4 chucky perlite moistened for a very light and airy mix. I then used approx. 6oz of water to water mostly around the root ball (no run-off, I didn't want to drown it). It's still growing, but I'm hoping the leaves will bounce back to their perky selves soon. I plan on letting the soil dry out quite a bit before the next watering. And as soon as it bounces back and grows one more node, the topping and LST will begin.
The Vanilla Kush is getting big quick, and I'm liking how wide the leaves are looking already. I was hoping to get a more Indica pheno to balance the tangilope. I looked at the rootball last night, and I think it could go a bit longer without transplant. I watered it again this morning, so it will be ready for a transplant tomorrow night.
Things are looking pretty good so far, and I'm getting excited now that the plants are starting to move along. I can't wait to train my first couple plants. Topping, tying, and scrogging to come. Thanks for looking
INFO
Plants: (1) Feminized Barney's Farm Vanilla Kush & (1) Feminized DNA Genetics Tangilope.
Tent: 3'x3'x6' Apollo Tent
Light: iPower 600w closed hood running at 50% for seedlings and about 14" away from plant.
Fan: 440CFM exhaust fan
Carbon Scrubber: 6"x16" phresh filter
Soil: 1/3 roots organics & 2/3 pro-mix HP for seedling stage
Nutes: General Organics GO Box
Pots: RR > solo cup > 1 or 2gal smart pot > 5gal smart pot > 7 (maybe)
PH Kit: General Hydro
Seed Starter: Rapid Rooters
http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY
Kit comes with test indicator. Although with a 50gal tank, you might want a bigger quantity than the 8fl.oz bottles there. Getting a digital pH tester will save some time as well.
Bottled water varies greatly. True Spring water can be good - though I'm not sure what kind of Ph it will hold. Filtered water is essentially tap water just with the Chlorine evaporated and has a ton of "minerals" they use for it to taste right.
I recommend this for testing. It's simple and cheap. Keep in mind, these plants can do well in nature, sure. But they're not in nature now, getting pure rain water and the natural nutrients they need. We're trying to supplement the entire process in a controlled environment.
General Hydroponics has a ph up and down which is good for starters. But you will also need a tool called a PH meter to measure where the water ph sits. If you are going to try and grow your own weed, and if you want it to be the quality of a many of the people that post on this sub, you will need to start with these tools.
As loz3vi says. This kit is cheap and it comes with the products so you can adjust the pH levels. What kind of nutrients are you giving the plant?
One thing I don't understand about this sub is the need for high priced PH testers.
I prefer to keep it simple, affordable and reliable. I've been using this for years with no problems.
In addition you can buy a cheap PPM meter if you need one. I use this one but there are cheaper options out there.
I was in the same boat, just using distilled water and didn’t think I would need to worry too much, but after nutrients etc I was in the upper 7’s.
I use this stuff for pH adjustments and use a meter similar to this one for measurements. Sets you back about $21 which I was expecting worse. As the poster before me said, test strips may not be a bad idea as they’re easier to use with no calibration. I personally like knowing exactly what it’s at. I also bought a 7.0 pH solution for calibration, and I keep a tiny bit in the cap to keep the node on the pH meter saturated when I’m not using it. Just needs a quick rinse before each test.
I think you may just have a nutrient lockout, again I’d flush the plant pretty good with stable, clean water and shoot for the 6.3-6.5 range for everything! Most of the plant looks pretty healthy still, hopefully just that small correction and you’ll be golden
You should definitely figure out your pH, you should be between 6-6.5 for optimal nutrient absorption. You don't need anything fancy, just get drops from Amazon
(like this https://smile.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3JSZLFBD5297M&keywords=general%2Bhydroponics%2Bph%2Bcontrol%2Bkit&qid=1555469142&s=gateway&sprefix=general%2Bhydroponics&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&th=1 )
to test what's going in and running off.
Dyna-gro bloom will treat you well. If you are planning another grow pick up a bottle of Dyna-gro Grow or Foliage Pro also. PHing your water is also important so grab some ph up/down and test kit.
These are small size, Probably enough for 2-3 grows or more if your plants stay small.
http://www.amazon.com/Dyna-Gro-Liquid-Grow-Bloom/dp/B014UAEPVK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1458603638&sr=8-3&keywords=dyna-gro
And these will last you a long time.
http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458603700&sr=8-1&keywords=ph+kit
use the water test kit by GH its 15 and its color coded!
http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1414465165&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=general+hydropronics
I prefer the liquid indicators for one simple reason. You never have to calibrate it like you do a digital one. I've had my digital ones get wonky and give false readings. I stick to https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=ph+test&qid=1557181931&s=gateway&sr=8-7
Bruh, holler at friend and have them spot you $20. Go buy this kit before something bad happens.
This one?
General Hydroponics GH1514 General Hydroponics Ph Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KvnazbDGD0636
I would cut back on the water a little bit. For my seedlings I use a spray bottle and mist it a few times a day. To help alleviate ph issues, I would start using a balanced water of around 6.2-6.5ph. Test kits can be found cheap on amazon along with a ph up/down kit. $30 for everything and you’ll be able to use it going here forward and help you diagnose future plant issues. Links below for items:
ph tester digital:
Cakie Digital Meter, Quality Tester Design with 0-14 PH Measurement Range for Pool, Aquarium Water with ATC, Yellow https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TY8C5J4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tTcHDb9DEP35J
ph adjustment kit:
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AUcHDbW73YT1J
Happy growing!
Watched a few youtube videos to get a high level knowledge. Checked amazon to get a rough idea of costs, Went to a local hydroponic store, asked for help and they helped me pick out the nutrient solution, ph balancer, stakes, tube etc. Bought the rest off of amazon. Read the instructions on the bottle. I'm sure there are better ways of doing things but this worked for me.
Light : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002JQBQZQ/
Shelf: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CL9204C/
Tray: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XFZHF93/
Automation: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075GWQSYH/
Ph Control: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNKWZY/
Pump (overkill): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012UZYMG/
Reservoir: Ikea storage box I had already.
White Basket (Not needed): From Target that I had already.
Rest I got from local hydroponics store.
Alright taking into consideration the 12 plant limit here, my previous setup was too big for so few plants. So with some downsizing hopefully saves even more!
Tent - GROWNEER 48"x36"x72" Lodge Propagation Tent
Lights - HLG65 lm301b and red 660nm hydroponic grow light 4000K x 2
Kingbrite 240W samsung lm301h 288v3 quantum board X1
Fan - AC Infinity CLOUDLINE S4, Quiet 4” Inline Duct Fan with Speed Controller
PH Meter - Wellcows Digital PH Meter
PPM Meter - HM Digital TDS-EZ Water Quality TDS Tester
Carbon Filter - VIVOSUN 4 Inch Air Carbon Filter
Ducting - VIVOSUN 2-PACK 4 Inch 8 Feet Non-Insulated Flex Air Aluminum Ducting
Nutrients - MEGA Crop (2500g)
Botanicare CAL-MAG Plus Plant Supplement 2-0-0 Formula, 1 Quart
PH Control - General Hydroponics pH Control Kit
Soil - PREMIER HORTICULTURE 20380RG PRO-Mix HP High Porosity Grower Mix
Pots - Gardzen 10-Pack 1 Gallon Grow Bags x 2
Cloning Machine - CLONE KING 25
Total - 880.62 (includes shipping)
So with this setup ill keep 1 or 2 mother plants and then run the rest in SoG in 1 gallon pots. Using the 2 4000k lights for the mother plant and the cloning station and the 240w for the SoG area of the tent. Its a small setup but I think it'll work. Any idea what kinds of yeilds this could achieve? Any further input would be greatly appreciated.
With a kit like this. There are some at-home methods to alter water pH, but idk what they are.
PH and TDS meter (hanna brand is expensive AF, there are cheaper ofc)
PH up / down
Hygrometer / thermometer
Worried about smell?
I got this kit locally at a greenhouse shop. Good luck.
http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY
This Is what I used to test the Ph. As you said though distilled water has a ph of about 7, but you should also test the run off Ph.
Edit:forgot yo link
General Hydroponics Flora Grow,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017H73708?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Botanicare CAL-MAG Plus Plant... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JKBMRW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Yes you can fix it but you'll need to get a few things. You need a cheap ph meter, calibration solution, and ph up/down. About $40 for all of it but controlling ph is one of the most important aspects of growing cannabis so you need this stuff in your garden.
https://www.amazon.com/Wellcows-Accuracy-Measurement-Household-2019-Yellow/dp/B07TY8C5J4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=ph+meter&qid=1565657005&s=gateway&sr=8-3
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=bmx_1/139-3647658-0439602?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000BNKWZY&pd_rd_r=d1640380-0bcc-48d6-a02e-bb55f5418b06&pd_rd_w=ihU6e&pd_rd_wg=Bmo6F&pf_rd_p=82f2651f-9a02-4fdb-a6e8-f4769253cc2b&pf_rd_r=ZQ3BRFY8HSAN38YF29E1&psc=1&refRID=ZQ3BRFY8HSAN38YF29E1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01F7OXRG2/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Sorry, I don't know how to do the fancy links.
Here's what I have so far and my quick write up.
My dad started the tomato plant that I am using in soil. He had too many for his garden, so I used that instead of starting one from seed in rockwool. My next plant will be started from seed.
I picked up a 5 gal bucket and Lid from Home Depot. <$5.
I cut a hole in the Lid to fit the 3" Net Cups. I put one right in the center. I quickly found out the cup it too small to support the plant so I had to use a support stick. I just bought this 6" net cup bucket lid.
The plant is supported in Expanded Clay balls. I chose this material as apposed to 'Hydroton, Coco coir, Viagrow stones, pearlite...' because from my very little research I found the clay to be the most environmentally friendly and easiest to use, disclaimer: I could be very wrong here.
The nutrient solution used General Hydroponics Maxi Grow. Simple to use, add X scoops per X gal of water. I am about to switch to Maxi Bloom. She is flowering and starting to produce fruit. I do now know when the best time to switch solutions. I am learning by experiment here.
To keep the nutrient solution oxygenated, I used this Air pump,two of of these air stones, and tubing. Any items will do, I used this products because I know an employee of Penn Plax and got them for cost $. Any pump will work, I got a two outlet pump for future expansion.
You should also be sure to have the correct pH for your particular plant. Here is a chart and a great site. I used this pH Test Kit and pH adjust.
It's that simple. Right now the plant is outside and gets about 8 hours of sun. I plan on keeping it outside as long as possible, then will bring it in and have to choose a light source for it.
tl;dr What I used for my first DWC tomato plant experiment. Step 1: Click all links above. Step2: Buy. Step 3: Tomatoes
Edit: Also, Watch this video
Cool little space to work with!
So first I'd like to say that we worry about light leaks because simply put, it stresses the plant. How much is too much? We don't know but when we put a lot of energy into something, we want to get more out of it, otherwise what is the point? Stress can cause herming, which can decrease yield and quality. We don't want that shit. My last harvest hermed (probably heat or light related) and I got 3 1/2 oz from 1 plant. It was dank, but it had tons of seed and frankly it was annoying. So just keep that in mind when you're improving your grow.
Next... if you don't have one yet, get a PH kit like this. You could get a PH pen, but even the good ones can fail and need calibrating often. Nothing more annoying than finding out the pen you've been using for 2 weeks has mysteriously changed calibration and having to adjust your girls. The solution is reliable and works right every time.
Lastly, have fun and don't get too discouraged if you make some mistakes! Cannabis is pretty hearty and can take some abuse. Just make sure she has air, food, water and light then leave the plant alone. The more you mess with it, the more you're bound to mess it up.
Good luck!
ph testing fluid to calibrate ur ph meter, ph meter storage solution, ph up & ph down,(i suggest this kit cause it has both and ph test drops, good to have a low tech 2nd option JIC). A TDS ppm meter would be nice too. Dont forget a notebook to keep track of everything, I regret not recording a lot of stuff, or set up something in google docs on ur fone and take lots of pics. Most importantly, love.
For soil, 6.2-6.7 is best.
If you want the cheapo route to control pH, grab one of these:
GH pH Control Kit
|318.366|212.244|530.61|385.44
|Item|Price|Link|
possible to replace or modify|32G Wheeled Trash Can|20|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B071CZ4BWD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
fabric bags also work|Air-Pruning Pot|13.98|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BFISHS2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|Mylar Blankets|6.69|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GLCYR5S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
NSN|Velcro tape|16.49|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007OXK330/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|Plant Ties|7.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B071CZ4BWD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|Happy Frog Soil|11.95|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01508YKY8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|FoxFarm Trio|33.95|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D93NIFY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|Fem Blue Dream Seed|23.68|https://www.seedsupreme.com/blue-dream-feminized-seeds-20604.html|
|2 Free Fem Seeds|0| |
|pH control & testing kit|18.5|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNKWZY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
not strictly necessary (NSN)|Submersible pump|7.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EWENKXO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
NSN|2Liter bladder|12.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B075RWCXWZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
NSN|Clear Tubing|7.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W6W10TK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
NSN|tubing switch|7.95|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L45TLPK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
NSN|Funnel|10.96|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OKXZL8O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|Humidity & Temp Sensor|12.82|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013BKDO8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
NSN|Rechargeable AAs|13.8|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JHKSN76/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|Inline Fan|17.95|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CQBFOTS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|Carbon filter|33.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CJ5D4AG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|Ducting hose|10.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B076S6KHB4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|ArcMyn Vent|14.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0793HH4GD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|Axial Fan|11.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009OWRMZ6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
NSN|Fan Speed controller|17.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B6VV6GL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
|HGL 100w|149|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C59J8L2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
NSN|Smart Power Strip|32.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C1ZSCYV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
may keep for lights, might get rid of it.|Light Timer|12.99|https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MVF16JG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1|
I would be growing one plant at a time. 3 ounces would last me way longer than it would take to grow another plant so I think it fits my needs for the time being.
As for the pH pen, do you have any recommendations? I've always heard those pens aren't great unless you're constantly calibrating them. I was originally planning on using this pH kit.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNKWZY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Your link to the ph tester is exactly what I use but for those on a budget the dropper method is easy and inexpensive. It requires a bit of visual coding to determine the ph but is better than nothing. At least get a baseline on the water you are using to rule out those issues. The drop/test tube is what I started with until I could afford a better meter. testing
If you’re doing soil I like the general hydroponics pH kit . Easy to test, easy to use. Found it local for 25 bucks tho so I’d look around town if you don’t need an electronic one
If you want something cheap but incredibly reliable get the General Hydroponics PH test kit. You basically put the water in a little vial that comes with the kit, put a few drops of their PH solution inside, close up and shake, look at the color under natural light like the sun or a bright white light. The color you're looking for is really close to the color of beer. Theres a color strip that shows PH to color correlation on the bottle hard to screw up.
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Edit - I would get this entire kit. comes with PH test kit as well as PH down and up so you can properly adjust your PH to what it needs to be. https://www.amazon.ca/General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=PH+up+and+down&qid=1555392612&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-3
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Since you are growing in promix that is the equivalent to a hydroponic grow so you want your PH to be 5.8 for optimal growth. If I had to guess you're probably just giving this thing tap water at the moment?
Honestly, buy gallon jugs of each nutrient. Runs like $40 a pop but is significantly more cost effective.
If the pH isn't 6.4 then use something like this to adjust the pH?
Note - the amazon link is for hyproponics. I'm in Fox Farm Ocean Forest Soil.
A ph pen will work or test strips you can get online, or just use this, check your ph going in and also your runoff to give you an idea of where your at , idealy youo want it to be in the 6.3 to 6.8 range, you also have some mites on the plant from what i can see so that needs to be dealt with also.
Pick up temp/humidity gauge:
AcuRite 00613 Indoor Humidity Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013BKDO8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3VCKzb0EBE5QT
And get some ph stuff:
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EXCKzbSN733SB
You can use the ph tester drops instead of a ph meter.
Then once you know your environment you can adjust what you need to adjust. Later down the line get stronger lights. And then add mammoth p and recharge.
I was typing up my list of shit for my second grow. Lets see if I got my Reddit Formatting Correct. :)
The Details
Seeds
Gear
Veg/Flowering
Seedlings
Medium and Nutes
Meters
Pots
Misc
You can use distilled, but unless your dehumidifier is creating over a gallon of water every other day, that won't cut it during later stages of growth. In the long run you definitely want something like this to manage your pH, because then you can easily use water from the tap.
That's gotta be it.
Get a kit on amazon or something.
You need a kit to test the water before you put it in.
https://www.amazon.com/VANTAKOOL-Measuring-Household-Hydroponics-Aquariums/dp/B071GKP4CT/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1502566464&amp;sr=8-17&amp;keywords=ph+test
Then use this to balance your water to around 6.5 (some people do it differently)
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1502566438&amp;sr=8-13&amp;keywords=ph+test
Finally, get a test kit for your soil:
https://www.amazon.com/Luster-Leaf-1612-Rapitest-Tester/dp/B0001LEPYA/ref=sr_1_4?s=lawn-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1502566523&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=ph+test+soil
This is what I've been using to alter PH levels, and it is working great for me. Just add in a cheap PH meter instead of the strips they come with and you've got a super easy and fast way to check and alter nutrient solution PH levels.
I honestly don't know how much time I spend with it but i doubt it's much. I check water levels, test it with digital meters, and make any adjustments based on those readings 3 or 4 times a week. I don't really do a "harvest" because we just grab what we need when we need it.
In terms of cost, it can get somewhat expensive if you don't do your homework. For example, buying pre-mixed liquid fertilizer like this is easier to use but you're paying a premium for water and food coloring. You can get water soluble powdered fertilizers and add epson salt, which provides micros. I can't make a recommendation on those yet as I'm still testing various blends. I'm also going to try compost tea soon.
You'll also need a material to start seeds in. Rockwool is the most common but it can get expensive if you're just getting started because you'll likely kill a lot of plants. There are alternatives like coconoir but it is the easiest substance I've found thus far.
Finally, you'll need balancers that you'll use to adjust PH levels. That's something you won't need to buy often though.
I have this one and this I have been happy with both also I hear the strips are the way to go if you want the cheapest most reliable
Yes ph up and down
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_86_bs_tr_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=P9R0FPEWXWSMQ7HRFS6C
get a digital ph pen though or you wont be able to measure accurately.
Also when you are adjusting your water with PH, only use ONE of the PH up or down at a time in your water.
Example if you have 7.0 water before adjusting, then you put some PH down in and you put too much and bring it to 6.0, don't use PH up to bring the PH up to where you want it, just add more water to bring it up.
you can use lemon juice, vinegar, etc., those are very short term so you are better off using a product like ph up/down.
If you aren't using super high intensity lights, move them closer to the seedlings.
You might need more light overall. My flowering room has a 1000w HPS light, and my veg room has a ~190w LED and a 135w CFL.
pH and EC is critical in hydro. Get a cheap test kit if you don't want to buy a digital probe. Google around to find the right values for your plants.
I stick the grow cubes in a simple plastic seedling starter tray until they have a set of true leaves and roots come out the bottom of the cubes then I transplant them to the hydro system. I only feed the seedlings water (no nutes), and only maybe once every other day. You don't want the cubes to dry completely, but you don't want them soaked all the time either.
In my experience basil is a huge pain to grow in hydroponics. I had good success with leafy greens after incubating the seeds in one of these and then transplanting the spouts into simple DWC systems I built. I use a mix of vermiculite and perlite for the substrate with greens. Hydroton for everything else.
I'd recommend starting simple and focusing on only one or two types of plants until you know how they like to grow in hydro. I also had a disaster grow once because I tried too many new species at once and couldn't keep up.
For my prized grows, I use RapidStart to promote vigorous early plant growth and big, healthy roots. You don't need this but it really does work.
e: Using water from your fishtank is awesome, but aquaponics is really an advanced technique. You might consider using a separate reservoir for your plants with standard hydroponic nutrients and an airstone until you are more comfortable with hydro growing overall.
e2: Also, with traditional NFT systems the roots should sit in a very shallow film of water at the bottom of the pipe. You either need some way to start the plants until the roots get long enough, or you need to adjust the water level in the pipe downwards as the roots grow. Tomatoes are a lot more resilient in this regard, in my experience. In fact tomatoes are outstanding for indoor hydroponics if you select the right cultivar (small hybrids), can avoid pest problems, and have sufficient light for flowering stage.
General Hydroponics GH1514 General Hydroponics Ph Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6IN9ybA0556F4
Jellas Pocket Size PH Meter / PH Tester / Mini Water Quality Tester for Household Drinking Water, Hydroponics, Aquariums, Swimming Pools, PH 0-14.0 Measuring Range, 0.1PH Resolution (Yellow) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YBUH4RC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pJN9yb3VW64TM
Probably your nutrients are pulling down your pH causing a nutrient lock out. Read this article on GWE explaining pH. At a minimum you need one of these pH kits. It would be better if you also got one of these pH meters. Good luck!
Thanks for the heads up - I will get the Ph Up/Down kit and just use the testing kit they provide instead of a Ph pen. Eventually will take the plunge and get one of the nicer models mentioned in the thread.
the rooters have been by FAR the easiest method, coir can rot pretty quickly if overwatered. You should rinse the coir out completely so theres no salt left behind.
here is a pH control kit if you have hard water. https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY
Also, do yourself a real favor and take a look through these. http://thehotpepper.com/forum/27-glogs/
I use that pen, it works pretty well for the price. I do double check it with some pH test indicator solution, like this [one] (https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=pd_bxgy_60_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B000BNKWZY&amp;pd_rd_r=Q0H7MTD84BNB4KF96SQ4&amp;pd_rd_w=xt7nT&amp;pd_rd_wg=PTPHx&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=Q0H7MTD84BNB4KF96SQ4).
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=ph+kit+plant&amp;qid=1558322192&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;psc=1
This is one of my favorite set of tools in my plant nutrient artillery. If you’re not about it, consider using limestone. The main thing is that you add a base, as opposed to an acid.
Edit: Also, check this picture out. You’ll see why you don’t want your pH at 6. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-effect-of-soil-pH-on-nutrient-availability_fig2_277669269
This is exactly what I was hoping to find on here! thanks! I spent an entire day looking up pH pens but calibrating it every time with the packets (which only came with 2 per order) seemed like a hassle and some people said they werent as accurate as they would like. I found the following:
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1541447353&sr=8-1&keywords=general+hydroponics+ph+control+kit&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011
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Would this be fine? also for the vial, is there a specific amount of water it can hold (can it hold enough for 1 watering sesh) or is it small and would i just have to keep adding water into the vial to adjust pH until i have given the plant enough water.
If this isnt good would you mind linking the one you use. Thanks again!
I'd water every 3-5 days. I mostly checked by weight
I have strips and this
Water going in was just below 7 (or as best as income tell) and coming out right around 6.5. I took the ph of the runoff after it had been going for a bit
What are you using for a grow medium?
This is my 3rd grow with both Durban Poison and Blue Mystic and they've both been super easy, to be honest. I had some PH issues on my first grow because I over analyzed my meter and fucked with the PH down too much. I also treated the coco like soil and only watered every 4-5 days, AND I used plain PH'd water with just CaliMag added every other watering.
Now I just add 1ml of PH down per gallon every time regardless of what nutrient ratios are, and I water with nutrients every time, every other day. I only check PH every other or every third watering with the test solution, and as long as it's yellow-ish without too much of a green or orange tint I don't worry about it.
Flora series, I balance the PH with General Hydroponics control kit. The lettuce has gotten bigger since this post. I should be able to harvest in 2-3 weeks. The lettuce is 2 weeks old.
As for the res, I've been topping it off with RO water every once in a while. I filled the res with well water, which is high in iron sadly. So as the water goes down I just replace it with RO water. It only gives 2 gallons at a time though.
I also have 2 AeroGardens (Ultra and the 7), they suck for production though. I only find them useful for herbs. As soon as the lights burn out I plan on selling them.
Nutes: http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-Flora-Series-FloraBloom/dp/B0024NDVRA
PH kit: http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=pd_bxgy_lg_text_y/180-9766400-6084003
PH differs plant to plant, but should be around 5.5-6. You just get PH up and Down kits (which is what the upvote and downvote arrows in the sub are) http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1409423480&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=PH+up+and+down
As for seeds, I have gotten seeds from... everywhere. Honestly, for lettuce and basic greens, Walmart is just fine. There are not special hydroponic seeds or anything.
As for starting from seeds vs starting from a growing plant, there are pros and cons of each. If you start from a plan, of course, it's much faster, your time until you can eat is shorter. However, and it doesn't matter as much in a DWC but is something to consider, it's dirtier. You have to was the roots, re test the water after planting, the plants can die from shock, etc, and they won't be in the medium so they can fall over, have trouble getting nutrients, and sometimes simply have trouble growing out.
But seeds are easy to kill, so its sort of up to you. You can start a seed in a wet paper towel then transfer it to a rockwool cube where it will remain for it's life. Also, it's more controlled, you know exactly what chemicals came in contact, what light conditions, how it is grown. I prefer starting from seeds just because to me that's part of the fun of it.
How big of a reservoir do you have? The bigger the reservoir the more stable the pH will be. Also here is a kit that is only $19.
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1467387734&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ph+kit
Me personally I would just go with the kit, I like simplicity. KISS (Keep it simple, stupid) is something I try and follow as often as possible. Good luck.
Linking http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1462550109&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ph+up
Here's one I use for $20: http://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Skies-Limit-0-00-14-00-Resolution/dp/B00WCXXPGE
You should also get some ph up and down: http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-GH1514-Control-Kit/dp/B000BNKWZY
It only takes a few drops. The size bottles in that link will last years.
I ended up getting this pen from Amazon
Amazon Link to Product
I have used the drops before but it gets difficult to read especially when your nutrients add to the color.
This is the drops that I used to use link
I just comanded this [kit] (https://www.amazon.ca/Hydrofarm-Kit-GH1514-contr--pH/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1463173833&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ph+up+ph+down) on amazon
Should arrive by 16th of may !
Don't use those sticks. They are slow acting ferts and will mess your plants up.
To PH balance your water you will need some PH Indicating solution, PH Up, and PH Down. You can get one of These which has everything you will need. You just take the little vial, fill it with the water you are planning to use, and drop about 5 drops of the indicator solution in. You shake it up and compare the color to the bottle. You adjust the PH by slowly adding a few drops of PH up or down depending upon the reading. You then mix it thoroughly through the water in the can and retest until you reach the desired PH.
The desired Ph is different depending upon growing in a hydro setup or soil. For hydro you want the PH to be around 5.5-6.0 with a slight emphasis on below 6. For soil you want your PH to be around 6.0 - 6.5.
I just use tap water. I haven't had any real issue with it. I usually try to be proactive and refill my watering can right after a watering. This way the water can sit for about 2 days and let the chlorine burn off. You can without a doubt use distilled water but unless you have a source really close to you this gets to be a real pain in the ass. In my opinion constantly getting distilled water ever 2-3 days would be time consuming considering that I haven't seen any issues with using my tap water.
As for ferts, pull out those sticks. You will only see issues with those. I am currently using the roots organic nutrient line. I use their Buddah Grow for veg and their Buddha Bloom in flower.
For feeding my nutrients I don't follow the nutrient schedule. I followed a schedule previous grows and it just ended up with nutrient burn. What I do is feed nutrients every other water. I have 2 plants in 5 gallon smart pots. I have a 2x3 gallon watering cans. I will put one tablespoon (a lot less than advised) in the bottom of each can, fill with water making sure to swish around to distribute the nutrients. Then I will PH balance the water (at least with the buddah grow it will naturally bring down PH so be aware). For reference I have been growing in roots organic. I planted seedlings into the 5 gallon smart pots from solo cups April 21st. I have only fed them that really diluted solution of buddah grow 3 times so far. I rarely now ever feed the plants with the recommended amounts on the bottle. I always start with 1/4 strength the first time and then 1/2 strength max. If I see deficiencies I will increase as needed.
For your water use a basic PH Kit. They also make soil PH meters however I have never found them to be very accurate. Testing the run off might be your best bet if you are really concerned.
Thing about tap water is the pH is generally too high. I use this for adjusting my pH, it comes with pH up and down and a testing solution. I also use a digital pH pen to ensure my water is where I want it. General Hydroponics pH Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kYWsDbTKEBZ3Z
-ph water lets your plants eat-
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNKWZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zVzvDbFX5A0C5
-nutrients covering you from grow to bloom-
General Hydroponics Flora Grow, Bloom, Micro Combo Fertilizer set, 1 Quart (Pack of 3) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017H73708/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.VzvDb8A2PJR8
-keeps your plants looking great basically-
General Hydroponics GH5312 CaMg+ Plant Nutrition, Quart https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002R1MDQE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VWzvDbFFE34SN
A test drop kit and some PH up and PH down to get you started with proper PH. It isnt difficult, or expensive.
I thought I'd share my experience for the community, and hopefully my experiences help or encourage others to give this a shot on their own. I had absolutely no experience growing anything when I started, so if I can do it, so can anyone else!
I've got an equipment list of the stuff I'm using since it took me a long time to figure out what to buy. This doesn't include the $1.50/week for RO water from the local grocery store, the electricity, or the other stuff I ended up buying afterward for my clones.
No grow tent or ventiliation is needed for my scenario since I have full access to a basement. It's perfect since there is a water heater and a boiler in the same room so the temp is always pretty constant, there is plenty of CO2 from the gas that the appliances burn, and the humidity is also pretty constant.
A few of the mistakes I made that I'd fix next time:
The images have some details about my grow, but I'll be happy to answer any other questions folks might have.
Item | Cost | Product Link
---|---|----
Seeds (OG Kush Feminized, 20ct) | $80 | Marijuana Seeds NL
Coco Coir | $17 | Kempf Coco
300W LED Lighting | $80 | GalaxyHydro
Plastic Pot | $0 | Craigslist - Free
Light Timers | $12 | Light Timers
pH Tester | $18 | pH Pen
pH Up and Down | $16 | General Hydro
Jeweler's Loupe | $6 | Magnify Me
Nutes | $35 | Canna Coco 1 & 2
Perlite | $13 | Black Gold
CalMag | $17 | Botanicare Supplement
TOTAL | $294
Also, THANK YOU to everyone in this sub. There is a ton of info out there about growing, but this place is the best location I found for timely info related to my new hobby.