GrowMan333

So I have read and read about flushing plants, and still have questions so decided to register and ask.
Growing Lambs Breath in a soil-less tropical mix with 50% pearlite. The plants are 20 days into flowering. They show no deficeincies, and have very thick stems that did not stretch at all. Right now I'm using chemical nuts, the cuttings I have are on organic, but they are not flowering for another few weeks. I did a flush of my last harvest at about 45 days...the pH of the run-off water was 4.8 before the flush, and 4.9 after the flush, so I'm not sure the flush did anything. Also, after the flush I saw deficeincies in the new growth, and the stems all seems sort of weak and floppy.
I'm under the immpression that flushing a plant puts high stress on the roots, not to mention, keeps the soil wet for so long I can't water them again for like 6 days.
So my questions are: Should I flush the 4 plants that are at 20 days at all? If so, when? and once I switch to organic, is there any need to flush?
Thanks guys.

The Bong Master

Flush only when you need to, such as when the plant has signs of overnuting. Flushing 7-10 days before harvest is ideal also to rid the nutes. How are you flushing? Running lots and lots of water through the soil in a tub? If your medium is light and airy it shouldnt take that long to dry, unless your pot was too big for the roots.

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Xgone.

I would only recommend flushing about 2 weeks or so before harvest, anymore is overkill unless you are attempting to correct and nutrient toxicity/problem.

moved to plant food and nutrients!

GrowMan333

Thanks guys. It is now day 21, and I think I am seeing Mg and K deficeincies. I think it is because the pH of the soil is too low (4.8) which leads me to another question. Is pHing the run-off water an accurate way to get soil pH? If not, what is?
Also, can you use a diluted solution of nutes to flush, or is this a waste of time?

I have two plastic cups with pin holes in the bottom that I set on the soil while the plants are in the tub. I repeatedly fill the cups and let them drain. I use 3x the amount of soil. Last time I flushed it took a few days to dry, not too long.

b4420

For some reason that doesn't work. To test soil, mix one part soil with one part distilled water, shake it up for half a minute and let it sit for half an hour. Then stick your pH tester into the slurry at the bottom of the cup.

You don't have a pH tester, you say? Well, you need one. The kits don't work, for me anyway.

Time and nutes.

GrowMan333

Thanks....I do have a pH pen, but until now have only pHed the run_off water, and not the distilled water/soil mix. I will try that.
Any other methods or pH testers I should try??

Also, when I flush, what pH should the water be?

The Bong Master

I don't use a pH tester and I know I should. I can't really help on that aspect. If you have a pH lockout issue I am of no assistance because ever since I've been growing I just flush my pots if they aren't looking right. I flush them with cup after cup of water and lots of yellow runoff comes out. Real noticeable if your pots are in a white tub. When the yellow runoff gets fairly clear I stop flushing. This keeps my problems in check if I am in flower. If the plant is small enough and in veg., I just dig it out of the crap soil and transplant into fresh soil.

__________________
F**k milk, got weed?

My 2nd grow
1st Outdoor Grow
3rd Harvest Pics

GrowMan333

so you don't ever pH your water???

johnny-0

I use bottled drinking water(contains trace elements)with 2 drops of PH down and when I fert.I dont use the PH down because most fert.s are acidic.This results in a workable PH without having a PH meter.Iv e bought 2 PH meters and neither one was any good.I grow organic and with my soil(Fox Farms-Ocean Forrest) and their nutes it seems to come out right.It really helps to know your soil.