Doc Bud's High Brix Q&A With Pictures

[weenmeoff]

Use Cat Drench! Spray with Brix.

they'll fruit up.....

Awesome, will do. Suggestion for timing and frequency?

Thanks!

 

[Doc Bud]

Awesome, will do. Suggestion for timing and frequency?

Thanks!

Monthly on both. Is the soil alive? If not, use a bit of Tea.

When you're ready to kick it up, let's test the soil and make a custom amendment.

 

[Duggan]

 

[weenmeoff]

Monthly on both. Is the soil alive? If not, use a bit of Tea.

When you're ready to kick it up, let's test the soil and make a custom amendment.

Excellent, thanks again! I just used what leftover putting soil, coco, a little ewc I had on hand at the time so guessing it's not alive? The roots have gone through the fabric pots into the soil.

 

[DopyLemontree]

I love blueberries, and grow my own high bush varieties as well, Bluecrop, blue jay, blue ray, Jersey, Elizabeth, Chippewa, even a pink variety. The last 5 years I have been transforming my property to an edible landscape (Permaculture), similar to what Krip describes. Each year there is less and less lawn to mow, and I use no pesticides or chem fertilizer. I’m working on letting the microorganism do the work, planting nitrogen fixing plants, dynamic accumulators like Russian Comfrey, and compost tea (Although this year I’m gonna do some testing with Docs tea). I need to do a soil test next and start taking the soil seriously- I’ll be in touch soon Doc.

Here’s a link to a high Brix blueberry grower.
A lot of common parallels to what we do, only difference is that Doc has done the heavy lifting for us on our system.

 

[weenmeoff]

Awesome, thanks for posting that Dopy! I feel like a complete failure Looking at those blueberry plants. I'm certain one of the varieties I have is Jersey! I'd love to grow more like you and Krip! The small garden we have always seems like so much work with either too little or too much of a return, too much and we wind up waisting a lot of produce. Something to work on!

 

[Amy Gardner]

How fantastic. Ask a question about a conversation someone else is having, get an awesome response and get a whole set of resources about growing blueberries as well! My garden partner is having some challenges with blueberries

Organic nitrogen---stuff that comes out of an animal or from a decaying animal or other organic matter---is NH3....the ammoniacal form of nitrogen. Urea breaks down to this form as well....being "organic." (using the non-political version of the word organic here)

Nitrates occur in rock and clay deposits or are manufactured.

So.....EWC has a the NH3 form.....mostly. If the dirt that goes in one end and comes out the other is also rich in CaNo3 (calcium nitrate) then the worm castings will also have some of that.

But we aren't really using the castings as a source of NPK. We use them to increase CEC, provide a long term slow-release source of nutrients and soil energy and also to help the biota.

As for pH....ignore it. It's a fool's practice to worry and fret over the pH of soil. There are so many buffers in the soil that a few drops of Sodium Hydroxide (Lye or pH up) or Phosphoric Acid (pH-down) won't change a damn thing!

The soil is either created with the proper pH or it is not.....with the sole exception of using aluminum sulphate to lower soil pH and make hydrangea's blue. You certainly don't want to do this to any food/medicine crop!

You can also lower pH "organically" by using elemental sulfur, but all this should be done when the soil is being amended.....

You don't change anything but massive overdose to the plant with something it doesn't need if you try to "pH" your feed water, etc. It's mythology....the kind that isn't true.

Obviously, Hydro and sterile mediums are different.

Wonderful response thank you Doc. I havent checked my soil Ph since mid 2017 when I discovered this thread These folk are discussing Ph using soil (Pro Mix HP to be precise) as medium for growing with commercial synthetic fertilisers. I guess they’re in a kind of middle zone between a living soil and a sterile medium.

Of all the things you describe, explain and teach us...i like your PH rants the best.

I’m so glad I asked

Hi Meds....have an idea for you i used years ago when making a quick portable type grow room.
Yes...without a tent can work most awesome....you know that 1/8th inch thick masonary board.....comes in 4x8 sheets like plywood. . ..well u can get that stuff white on one side. It can be cut in half or whatever ,and simply hung wherever suits your needs with a couple pcs of string or wire... its very light weight and it works awesome. What i did was hang two sheets on either side and cut another one in half for the ends....presto.....a grow room in less than an hr.......that stuff is available pretty cheap at any big box store too.!!
You like??

I like too! My future veg space will be this.

 

[DopyLemontree]

Awesome, thanks for posting that Dopy! I feel like a complete failure Looking at those blueberry plants. I'm certain one of the varieties I have is Jersey! I'd love to grow more like you and Krip! The small garden we have always seems like so much work with either too little or too much of a return, too much and we wind up waisting a lot of produce. Something to work on!

I hear ya, vegetable gardens are hard work, with uncertain returns. I gave up most of that, and by from a local farm CSA. I like focusing on edible tree fruit/nuts, berries, herbs, and keepers like squash, root crops. It’s been working out good the last 4 years.

Worked in my favorite year round garden tonight harvesting some Headband OG...yum

3ADA7C61-C040-4F68-9516-6F4D6F799625.png

• DopyLemontree
• Feb 5, 2019

 

[JustMeds]

Duggs I got tents, I was curious if it would be better to just get them out of there and use the whole room. Them insulated panels would make some real nice little veg huts.

 

[Doc Bud]

Wonderful response thank you Doc. I havent checked my soil Ph since mid 2017 when I discovered this thread These folk are discussing Ph using soil (Pro Mix HP to be precise) as medium for growing with commercial synthetic fertilisers. I guess they’re in a kind of middle zone between a living soil and a sterile medium.

.

I don't know these nice folks, but if they're discussing soil, they're my kind of people.

However, Promix HP is buffered like all soils, except Promix is buffered at the factory in order to achieve a narrow range of pH AND KEEP IT THERE. It usually comes in at right around 5.8 without amendments.

AFter amending the Promix with High Brix products, pH is 6.4. Full Stop. That's the pH. It doesn't change.

Trying to alter pH of a bale of Promix by adding a few drops of pH down is is like trying to fill up a swimming pool with a coffee cup. (I was going to say spoon, but when doing the math I realized I would be exaggerating) Yes, over time.....a long time.....a year or longer.....you might be able to lower pH with pH down products used in Hydro.

On another note, did you know that if you go swimming less than 40 minutes after eating you'll get cramps and drown? I was told this at one time. I learned it wasn't true, despite adults using this myth to keep me out of the ocean....

Adjusting pH via feed water is kinda like that.

Now, if you amend the soil you can change pH....and buffering ability. It simply doesn't change.

But if folks want to play with the meters and droppers go right ahead.....just realize that while pH isn't changing, the amount of Phosphorus certainly is, which will upset the P/K ratio and the Ca/P ratio.....which will decrease the effectiveness of the biota....which will lower brix and nutrient density. In other words, please don't fuck up your grow! Unless you want to.

Again, hydro is different.

 

[weenmeoff]

Grabs rake with 1/2 handle......

 

[Duggan]

Man...i just love when u speak of...and explain PH. I hope all those PHers out there see this stuff you put up Doc. Very cool to read it...always! Thanks for taking the time AGAIN Doc! U rock.....as always!

 

[Duggan]

Duggs I got tents, I was curious if it would be better to just get them out of there and use the whole room. Them insulated panels would make some real nice little veg huts.

Hey Meds...yup..if it were my choice , i would scrap the tent. Grow using the panels i suggested . Just make sure to 'light proof ' the room that your 'new portable' space is in. Wat i do for my situation , is to just unscrew the light bulbs in there...so they can't be turned on mistakenly while the new space is in it's 'dark' period. I really liked that set up i had ...frig sakes ...that was 17 yrs ago i did that ..when i was growing the original Kali Mist from Simon at 'Serious Seeds'. Also , please remember what Doc said too , about being able to control the enviro better in a bigger space....way more forgiving than a lil 4x4 tent. cheers bud!

 

[Amy Gardner]

I don't know these nice folks, but if they're discussing soil, they're my kind of people.

However, Promix HP is buffered like all soils, except Promix is buffered at the factory in order to achieve a narrow range of pH AND KEEP IT THERE. It usually comes in at right around 5.8 without amendments.

After amending the Promix with High Brix products, pH is 6.4. Full Stop. That's the pH. It doesn't change.

Trying to alter pH of a bale of Promix by adding a few drops of pH down is is like trying to fill up a swimming pool with a coffee cup. (I was going to say spoon, but when doing the math I realized I would be exaggerating) Yes, over time.....a long time.....a year or longer.....you might be able to lower pH with pH down products used in Hydro.

On another note, did you know that if you go swimming less than 40 minutes after eating you'll get cramps and drown? I was told this at one time. I learned it wasn't true, despite adults using this myth to keep me out of the ocean....

Adjusting pH via feed water is kinda like that.

Now, if you amend the soil you can change pH....and buffering ability. It simply doesn't change.

But if folks want to play with the meters and droppers go right ahead.....just realize that while pH isn't changing, the amount of Phosphorus certainly is, which will upset the P/K ratio and the Ca/P ratio.....which will decrease the effectiveness of the biota....which will lower brix and nutrient density. In other words, please don't fuck up your grow! Unless you want to.

Again, hydro is different.

Yep -thanksDoc. They are mostly growers using commercial fertilisers in soil. InTheShed had a failrly in-depth email exchange about it with a soil tech at ProMix who said pretty much what you’ve said here (and numerous times before) about the PH of their products (and any buffered medium). So the growers discussing it are not growing with biota as such, but the principles about ph remain, as you say. I guess they’re somewhere between living soil and hydro/sterile.

It’s been good, and what I’ve been able to share form you has been useful, so thanks. I‘m pretty sure Shed has stopped ph-ing his nutes...

Man...i just love when u speak of...and explain PH. I hope all those PHers out there see this stuff you put up Doc. Very cool to read it...always! Thanks for taking the time AGAIN Doc! U rock.....as always!

They have this time, because Archi and I have shared it with them

 

[1bean]

Hey everyone, me again. I’m a bit bummed because I’ve got my grow environment set up, but now noticed my fuse box is humming fairly loudly when everything is set up. I have no electrical knowledge and a quick google search indicates this may potentially be serious. I’ll be contacting an electrician, but I wanted to check in with you all about it too. Anyone have anything similar happen? Or recommendations?

 

[Mr. Krip]

Hey everyone, me again. I’m a bit bummed because I’ve got my grow environment set up, but now noticed my fuse box is humming fairly loudly when everything is set up. I have no electrical knowledge and a quick google search indicates this may potentially be serious. I’ll be contacting an electrician, but I wanted to check in with you all about it too. Anyone have anything similar happen? Or recommendations?

@Duggan is a "sparky" and can help!

 

[DopyLemontree]

Hey everyone, me again. I’m a bit bummed because I’ve got my grow environment set up, but now noticed my fuse box is humming fairly loudly when everything is set up. I have no electrical knowledge and a quick google search indicates this may potentially be serious. I’ll be contacting an electrician, but I wanted to check in with you all about it too. Anyone have anything similar happen? Or recommendations?

Yes get it checked pronto! There should be no humming from the breaker box. They are breakers? Right? Not fuses? When there are loose or worn connections or contact points either internal or external to the breakers, micro arcing can result, creating heat and noise. Hopefully it’s just a breaker going bad, an easy fix/ replacement

 

[Duggan]

Good morning Bean.....wat DL said...get it checked today...asap! No matter wat kind of panel . Weather it be a breaker panel..or fuse panel there should be NO humming from it ,no matter how heavy the load.Yoy prolly have a loose connection insidw that panel or like DL menrioned ...a breaker is failing.Whatever the reason i would not use it until it gets checked.

 

[JustMeds]

DL and Duggs here this is for you.

 

[DopyLemontree]

I’m at work...but...ok I’ll take a toke