Indoor Head Start - Page 10

PureHarvest · June 20, 2016

I'm confused on trying to reconcile the 3 categories on the chart
My Hanna's ppm is close to the target if I convert to truncheon on that chart.
So why is my EC reading too low?

Ricky Shaw · June 20, 2016

I think your Hanna is set to Truncheon at a conversion of .7 and not Hanna scale of .5

The pen is set to one or the other, but EC won't change. EC is your constant.

Hanna is .5 of it, and Truncheon is .7 of it

Ricky Shaw · June 20, 2016

I think part of the confusion is how they are expressing EC on that chart, drop the decimal and add two zeros.

EC 2.0 = 2000 ppm

PureHarvest · June 20, 2016

Then why does HG say the ppm should be 1500 or EC 2.0 if that is really 2,000 ppm?

If I disregard all the ppm conversions and just press my EC button, I am back to bumping up my inputs by 25% above the recommended rates to get close to an EC of 2.0.

Maybe that is ok now that my plants are bigger and I should not have been doing that a month ago.

Ricky Shaw · June 20, 2016

EC 2.0 = 2000ppm X .7 conversion = 1400ppm Truncheon

HydroGardens was off some saying 1500ppm, accurately it's 1400.

And on having to use more ChemGro than the formula states, I've found that to be the case from the beginning. Their formulas are light, maybe to err on the side of caution.

Nematode · June 21, 2016

I may have to retract my over feeding comment, the dark and very rugose foliage of the dwarfs threw me off. I didnt realize it was normal for them. The other plants look great. Sorry if I caused any problems.

PureHarvest · June 21, 2016

My meter manual says the ppm conversion is variable from .5 to .7
Not helpful
I guess I should be using EC only
Still not sure why I was getting hooked new growth in the past.
And when following the recommended rate that my EC is still short by .4

Ricky Shaw · June 21, 2016

HydroGardens FAQ: My ppm's are low.

It is a rule of chemistry that when you add 1 pound of fertilizer to 100 gallons of water, the parts per million will increase by 1200 PPM. When adding the 3 ingredients together, based on proper mixing instructions, into 100 gallons of water, you are increasing the PPM by 1500.
12g 8-15-36 should increase the PPM by 600.
12g Calcium nitrate should increase the PPM by 600
6g Magnesium Sulfate should increase the PPM by 300
Combined increase is 1500 PPM
Your weights are correct for adjusting the fertilizer ratios down to a 5 gallon mix.
There are some source waters that have an insulating effect on a conductivity meter and will cause them to read low. I suspect this is the problem with the 8-15-36. The Calcium nitrate appears to be reading correctly. I don’t understand what is in the Magnesium Sulfate that is causing it to read so high.
I would use to 12g, 12g, 6g amounts and not trust you conductivity meter. Watch your plants, they should do just fine on the amounts of fertilizer.

Best regards,
Mike Morton

Ricky Shaw · June 21, 2016

From what I've read, and seen first hand from overdosing seedlings greatly is healthy plants can do well on moderately overfeeding. However, I'm positive the best results overall are going to come from feeding only what they need, as any excess is only going to end up unused and salting up the media.

PureHarvest · June 23, 2016

Ok, enough with the nerdy nutrient talk.
Here are some shots of fruit production on Pierce's Pride, Delicious, and Paul Robeson.

IMG_1384.JPG

IMG_1385.JPG

IMG_1386.JPG

Not sure why this Delicious has such a yellow green tint. Some of the other Delicious plants are doing this too, some are normal green.

IMG_1387.JPG

IMG_1388.JPG

IMG_1389.JPG

IMG_1390.JPG

IMG_1391.JPG

Ricky Shaw · June 23, 2016

Excellent sets and large clusters, going to be a heavy harvest. You've done well PH.

mashermike · June 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

Not sure why this Delicious has such a yellow green tint. Some of the other Delicious plants are doing this too, some are normal green.

PH, better make sure those Delicious don't glow in the dark.

PureHarvest · June 23, 2016

LOL
The plants that are doing that are abnormally short too. Like they were stunted or something. I wonder if they will ripen small. Or maybe some stray seeds or a mutation?

Gerardo · June 23, 2016

Pierce's Pride and Paul Robeson are two of my favorites, you're gonna like them.

Both relatively compact plants too.

PureHarvest · June 27, 2016

Ate my first Paul Robeson just now.
Absolutely beautiful appearance. Excellent soft and dense creamy texture and perfect juice.
However, totally lacked tomato flavor/zip/acid and almost no sweetness. Very bummed.
It was from an early started plant. Hopefully ones from my main crop will improve.
If not, I would be hard pressed to grow it again. Shame because it is producing strongly.
Also first big zac. Noticeable acid bite, good tomato flavor, moderate sweetness. I liked it.
Will be trying my first Wild Spudleaf tomorrow. It is my first to harvest out of my 9 different dwarfs.
So far, my favorite of the year is beryl beauty with rosella purple a close second.

June 23, 2016	#145
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	Ok, enough with the nerdy nutrient talk. Here are some shots of fruit production on Pierce's Pride, Delicious, and Paul Robeson. IMG_1384.JPG IMG_1385.JPG IMG_1386.JPG Not sure why this Delicious has such a yellow green tint. Some of the other Delicious plants are doing this too, some are normal green. IMG_1387.JPG IMG_1388.JPG IMG_1389.JPG IMG_1390.JPG IMG_1391.JPG Last edited by PureHarvest; June 23, 2016 at 07:14 AM.

June 20, 2016	#136
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	I'm confused on trying to reconcile the 3 categories on the chart My Hanna's ppm is close to the target if I convert to truncheon on that chart. So why is my EC reading too low?

June 20, 2016	#138
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	I think part of the confusion is how they are expressing EC on that chart, drop the decimal and add two zeros. EC 2.0 = 2000 ppm

June 20, 2016	#139
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	Then why does HG say the ppm should be 1500 or EC 2.0 if that is really 2,000 ppm? If I disregard all the ppm conversions and just press my EC button, I am back to bumping up my inputs by 25% above the recommended rates to get close to an EC of 2.0. Maybe that is ok now that my plants are bigger and I should not have been doing that a month ago.

June 20, 2016	#140
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	EC 2.0 = 2000ppm X .7 conversion = 1400ppm Truncheon HydroGardens was off some saying 1500ppm, accurately it's 1400. And on having to use more ChemGro than the formula states, I've found that to be the case from the beginning. Their formulas are light, maybe to err on the side of caution.

June 21, 2016	#141
Nematode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: massachusetts Posts: 1,710	I may have to retract my over feeding comment, the dark and very rugose foliage of the dwarfs threw me off. I didnt realize it was normal for them. The other plants look great. Sorry if I caused any problems.

June 21, 2016	#142
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	My meter manual says the ppm conversion is variable from .5 to .7 Not helpful I guess I should be using EC only Still not sure why I was getting hooked new growth in the past. And when following the recommended rate that my EC is still short by .4

June 21, 2016	#143
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	HydroGardens FAQ: My ppm's are low. It is a rule of chemistry that when you add 1 pound of fertilizer to 100 gallons of water, the parts per million will increase by 1200 PPM. When adding the 3 ingredients together, based on proper mixing instructions, into 100 gallons of water, you are increasing the PPM by 1500. 12g 8-15-36 should increase the PPM by 600. 12g Calcium nitrate should increase the PPM by 600 6g Magnesium Sulfate should increase the PPM by 300 Combined increase is 1500 PPM Your weights are correct for adjusting the fertilizer ratios down to a 5 gallon mix. There are some source waters that have an insulating effect on a conductivity meter and will cause them to read low. I suspect this is the problem with the 8-15-36. The Calcium nitrate appears to be reading correctly. I don’t understand what is in the Magnesium Sulfate that is causing it to read so high. I would use to 12g, 12g, 6g amounts and not trust you conductivity meter. Watch your plants, they should do just fine on the amounts of fertilizer. Best regards, Mike Morton

June 21, 2016	#144
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	From what I've read, and seen first hand from overdosing seedlings greatly is healthy plants can do well on moderately overfeeding. However, I'm positive the best results overall are going to come from feeding only what they need, as any excess is only going to end up unused and salting up the media.

June 23, 2016	#146
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	Excellent sets and large clusters, going to be a heavy harvest. You've done well PH.

June 23, 2016	#148
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	LOL The plants that are doing that are abnormally short too. Like they were stunted or something. I wonder if they will ripen small. Or maybe some stray seeds or a mutation?

June 23, 2016	#149
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,594	Pierce's Pride and Paul Robeson are two of my favorites, you're gonna like them. Both relatively compact plants too.

June 27, 2016	#150
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	Ate my first Paul Robeson just now. Absolutely beautiful appearance. Excellent soft and dense creamy texture and perfect juice. However, totally lacked tomato flavor/zip/acid and almost no sweetness. Very bummed. It was from an early started plant. Hopefully ones from my main crop will improve. If not, I would be hard pressed to grow it again. Shame because it is producing strongly. Also first big zac. Noticeable acid bite, good tomato flavor, moderate sweetness. I liked it. Will be trying my first Wild Spudleaf tomorrow. It is my first to harvest out of my 9 different dwarfs. So far, my favorite of the year is beryl beauty with rosella purple a close second.