Why do you always meet us only when there's a problem?
Yes, first post... Halp Please?

I have a youngin' in soil and orchid moss (2/3 potting mix, 1/3 perlite, some? moss) and I think I've got a low-pH problem.

I've got a couple days pH measurements
1. Feed @ 6.8; Runoff @ 5.2
2. 1/2 Feed @ 7.0, 1/2 Distilled @ 8.2; Runoff @ 5.0

Yikes! And a leaf discoloration with light edges and dark veins. Double yikes!
(pic link: Snapshot20080909-001.jpg)

So I looked through the nutrients faq and figured that I might have low calcium, or at least low pH (duh, it's like cofee in there).

Today, I fed lightly with a solution of Pennington Fast Acting Lime--tsp to quart (I couldn't find Dolomitic Lime in less-than-huge quantities, but this claims to be mostly calcium carbonate).

This feed came out as follows
Feed @ 8.8; Runoff @6.3

Right now I'm planning to run distilled only on the next feed and check the runoff, but I've got a couple of questions....

First, am I off base thinking it's a calcium linked deficiency (locked fe or mg)?

[edit: Duh. Thanks to Stinky's sticky about soil runoff I know it's 6.3-6.8 for soil ] Second, what pH should I be looking for in soil (with these drops during feed, I figure it must be 4.8 in there)?

More posts to come, hopefully in happier forums!

Attached Images

Snapshot20080909-001.jpg (706.7 KB, 5 views)

Well first transplant that thing into a new pot with some good fresh quality soil and if you ph your water or nutes to 6.2-6.8 BEFORE YOU WATER YOUR PLANT you should end up with a lot less troubles than you have going right now.

A good quality soil will buffer your ph, keep your roots, happy, give your plant needed nutrients and make your job a LOT easier!!

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No orchid products EVER. They like a pH MUCH MUCH lower than pot.

Flush well with water at pH ~7.5 (pH up, like potassium hydroxide from the hydro shop) until the runoff is 6.8, and then re-pot into correct potting mix that has a bit of lime in it, either pre-packaged like promix or add it yourself.

__________________
"Careful what you carry- 'cause the Man is wise- you are still an outlaw in their eyes" -Steely Dan
"Multiple pieces of anecdotal evidence do not equal scientific fact." -Rhizome
"If the Queen Bee ain't happy... the hive isn't happy!"-Dutch Pimp
http://boards.cannabis.com/basic-gro...e-harvest.html<-It's a grow guide! Enjoy!
http://boards.cannabis.com/plant-pro...hy-how-do.html <- all the boring stuff about soil chemistry you never wanted to know
http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...ml#post1837597 <-how to make canna caramels
http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...ml#post1820481 <-illustrated cloning guide permalink
Contacting Her Dankness: stinkyattic at hushm4il-please use the same discretion you do on the boards, thanks.
I don't claim to know the first thing about growing anything; hell, I can't make a Chia pet sprout.