Don’t overcorrect for pH. A proper pH balance is essential because it affects nutrient availability. Because growers know how crucial this factor is, Mojave Morelli, director and head grower of Grow Op Farms, says many overcorrect when they see any slight changes in levels. “One of the biggest mistakes [that] new and old growers alike [make] is chasing incoming pH and outgoing pH,” Morelli says. “We’ve found that we grow a much healthier, happier plant when we allow our nutrient solution to move a few points in either direction without correction over a 24-hour period. Reading runoff and adjusting according to the results is also problematic as it can be difficult to discern what the results actually mean.”

Plants can readjust their own pH if they aren’t getting the right balance of macro and micronutrients, he adds. Correcting the situation before plants have a chance to adapt can lead to problems, such as nutrient lockout.