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Pro Tekt curdled

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by JonP, Jun 29, 2010.

  1. Jun 29, 2010 #1
    JonP

    JonP all that Supporting Member

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    I FINALLY got a fertilizer injector for my greenhouse. Yesterday I was mixing up my first batch of 100X concentrated. I put the dry MSU fertilizer in the bottle and then added the water and mixed it up and everything was fine. Then I added the Pro-tekt additive and it instantly curdled. My scientist GF said that something precipitated the salts out of something or something like that. I don’t really do science…
    Anyway…if I had done this in some other order might it have all worked out or do I have to do the Pro Tekt in a separate watering?
    Also, I was wondering if there is an ‘ideal’ ph range for a mixed collection. Is there some danger point on either end of the spectrum? I got a ph meter and a tds meter and I am now concerned that I could kill my whole collection if I’m not careful what I’m doing. Did I say I really don’t do science?
    Thanks for any help.
     
  2. Jun 29, 2010 #2
    Alexis

    Alexis New Member

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    In my experience, ProTekt has to be added first or it will break. However, I use a tank sprayer and not an injector, so maybe other injector users will pipe up. I don't use PT often; but when I do, I fill the tank with plain water, add the PT, make sure it doesn't break, and then add my fert. BTW, I don't do science either, but I've found this to work in my conditions.

    The ph of my well water is pretty high at 7.8. However, I've never had a problem with it.
     
  3. Jun 29, 2010 #3
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I don't use ProTekt. Some things will react in a concentrate no matter what order you put them in. Some colorants in fertilizer form a gooey scum on the top when combined with a pH adjuster. Some ingredients form solids, drop to the bottom and will not go through. You can use a double injector system so that the two concentrates are separate, but you need a 2nd specially plumbed injector for that. Perhaps alternating at waterings or re-evaluating the importance of the ProTekt.
     
  4. Jun 30, 2010 #4
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    Actually, Pro-Tekt cannot be mixed with any fertilizer in a concentrated form, or it will precipitate, just as you saw. Alexis has not had a problem, as she's mixing it at application strength, not as a concentrate.

    Back when I used Dyna-Gro fertilizer and switched to RO (causing the resulting pH to plummet), I used Pro-tekt as a pH adjuster, but had to mix it up in a second tank and meter it with a second pump, as Marni mentioned.

    As far as the pH for a mixed collection is concerned, I think anywhere from 5.5-6.5 is great, but most plants can even handle a bit outside that range. Using the Greencare MSU RO formula, I get that with no adjustment.
     
  5. Jun 30, 2010 #5
    PaphMadMan

    PaphMadMan Member

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    Your girlfriend had it right, and Ray said it best. Pro-Tekt can only stay in concentrated solution because of its extreme high pH. Mix it with almost anything but pure water and it will precipitate. I doubt you can make your intended application work.

    Ray's advice on the pH for a mixed collection is good too. I would just add that if you have organic media (bark, sphagnum, etc.) it will help buffer the pH toward the desired slightly acidic range and you can be less precise about the pH of water and fertlizer. If you have entirely inorganic media (LECA, lava rock) there is little or no buffering and pH of water and fertilizer is more critical.
     
  6. Jun 30, 2010 #6
    JonP

    JonP all that Supporting Member

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    Thank you all! I guess I'll have to go cold turkey on the Pro-Tekt. Of course in my mixed collection I have a mix of different media and mounts. Thanks for the ph range, Ray.