I'm in Key West. Started 4 tomato plants late December.
Planted as a Dutch Bucket. 5 gal pail -- half filled with drainage stones and top half in perlite.
Water tub holds 12 gallons and is currently at 82.2f for temp.
I use Jack’s Professional 5-12-26 Hydroponic and
Jack’s Professional 15-0-0 Calcium Nitrate mixed 1:1 ratio.
I use a bluelabs EC/
pH meter -- calibrated every week.
I use RO water and PH is around 6.8 - EC 0.1
Water flow off of the 4 buckets is about 1/2 to 2/3 gallon per minute.
The bottom leaves look wilted and are dry. They are spotted white and I think that is from rain water --- it's been wet in the keys.
They started to flower 2 weeks ago and 2 have a single fruit growing.
I started 12/27 with 12 gallons, EC of 2.9 and PH of 6.3
1/11 EC was up to 3.1 and PH 7.3 --- I added PH down to bring PH to 5.8 -- added 4 gal water
1/28 EC 3.2, PH 7.7 -- added PH down to bring tank to PH5.6
2/1 EC 3.44, PH 8.2 --- and leaves are as explained above. --- I added 4 gal of straight RO water -- will measure EC and PH after is flows through the system a while
Plants do not seem to be consuming much water. -- 4 gal in 3 weeks --- seems low
I googled PH going up and found that the most likly reason is that the plants are consuming nitrogen - which is good.
The PH is creeping up but I found papers stating that an EC of 4 will slow growth down as it puts the plant is a slight water starved mode but increases the quality and taste of the fruit.
Issues as I see right now:
1. Wilted-dry bottom leaves.
2. PH going up every day.
3. Low water consumption.
Any help or comments would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Joe
