Over fertilization?

GpsFrontier · #1 03-11-2009, 10:32 PM

I Have been reading the posts and I am a little confused, I have read that the plants will only take up the nutrients they need and leave the rest, on the other hand I have read that browning of the leaves and edges of the leaves can be caused by over fertilization. I don't understand how you can over fertilize if the plants wont absorb more than they need.

Mathmattx · #2 03-12-2009, 02:21 AM

I am assuming this question stems from your other post in which you cite that you accidentialy doubled a concentration. The plant will only draw from available nutrients what it needs so, technically, you can't over fert. Howver, in large, or specific enough concentrations, the nutrients can cause damage to the plant on the celluar level, inhibiting or even destroying it's ability to photosyntheize or preform mitosis. So you can't "over fert" but you can have a nutrient solution that's too "hot", or in which a large concentration of a particular element is having an unwanted chemical reaction binding/or restricting another element or , as aformentioned, interfering with biological a biological process. also excessive nutrient can cause ppm/TDs to increase to a level that causes nutrient lockout, ie brown leaves, etc, etc. Matt- hydroponica.blogspot.com

GpsFrontier · #3 03-12-2009, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathmattx

I am assuming this question stems from your other post in which you cite that you accidentialy doubled a concentration. The plant will only draw from available nutrients what it needs so, technically, you can't over fert. Howver, in large, or specific enough concentrations, the nutrients can cause damage to the plant on the celluar level, inhibiting or even destroying it's ability to photosyntheize or preform mitosis. So you can't "over fert" but you can have a nutrient solution that's too "hot", or in which a large concentration of a particular element is having an unwanted chemical reaction binding/or restricting another element or , as aformentioned, interfering with biological a biological process. also excessive nutrient can cause ppm/TDs to increase to a level that causes nutrient lockout, ie brown leaves, etc, etc

Thanks, That makes scene. I noticed some browning on the edges of some of the leaves and some brown spots that I don't remember seeing the other day when I transplanted them from soil to the Hydro system. So I dumped the tank and flushed it with straight water then dumped that and filled it again with fresh nutrients.

Mathmattx · #4 03-12-2009, 03:03 AM

Do you have a pH and/or tds meters? Those will help optimize plant nutrition and help avoid any losses that could otherwise be avoided. If you don't have them and are looking I have some great and very affordable recomendations. For most just the peace of mind of knowing the "exacts" are worth it. Can't tell you how many people I've seen agonize for hours trying to decipher colors on litmus paper or in ph vials, or wonder about nutrient concentrations.

GpsFrontier · #5 03-12-2009, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathmattx

Do you have a pH and/or tds meters? Those will help optimize plant nutrition and help avoid any losses that could otherwise be avoided. If you don't have them and are looking I have some great and very affordable recomendations. For most just the peace of mind of knowing the "exacts" are worth it. Can't tell you how many people I've seen agonize for hours trying to decipher colors on litmus paper or in ph vials, or wonder about nutrient concentrations.

No I don't have any meters I just have the ph testing drops. I don't know if they are not very accurate but I just checked the new nutrients after I ran the pump for 30min and it looks to be at about 6.0 and from what I have read that is just about right for peppers. I do plan to invest in the meters but right now I just cant spend much more than $20 on them and I'm sure I cant get anything decent for that but in a few months I hope to get them.

Mathmattx · #6 03-12-2009, 12:05 PM

Science and Medicine have used litmus and chem pH tests for decades with excellent and reliable results. Just takes some patience and training (both of which it seems you have), so that is excellent. As I was reading your posts, etc, the only other issue you may want to get out ahead of is Transpiration and evaporation. You said you live in a very arid climate, is your hydro setup out of doors? Your plants might be prone to excesive transpiration that would certainly require TDS monitoring so you can balance evaporated/transpired H20. I would lastly recomend keping a "log" of all that you do. It will help you learn how adding chemicals, time, temp, etc affect your setup. The idea bening it will get infinitly easier and cheaper as you learn what works, how your plant resond to your water, nutrient, etc, etc. The best log I have found (because i wrote it) can be found at Hydroponica.blogspot.com. Its easy to copy and paste the jpeg or as I say I can e-mail it. Matt- hydroponica.blogspot.com