Indo Products Help Center
FAQ
Shipping Information
Is shipping free?
Do you offer discreet shipping?
Warranty Information
Do you offer a warranty on your items?
Yes, please refer to each individual item for the warranty term.
With Indo you are not dealing with an overseas company. You are dealing with a Canadian company with a Canadian presence therefore when something goes wrong we are able to better resolve the issue.
Payment Options
Online Payments
Currently online payments are being handled through Shopify.
VISA, MasterCard, American Express,Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal are all accepted forms of payment.
INTERAC eTransfers are also accepted. During order payment select INTERAC eTransfer. Then transfer the funds for the order to sales@growindo.com
Once the funds for the order are transferred we will ship out the order.In-store Payments
In our store we can accept VISA, Mastercard, American Express, INTERAC eTransfer, Debit Cards, and cash.
Return Policy
Returns and Exchanges
If you’re looking to return or exchange your order for whatever reason, we're here to help!
There is no cost for exchange or return other than the cost of shipping back to us as long as the exchange or return is requested within 30 days of receiving your order.
More details on our return and refund policies can be found here: https://growindo.com/policies/refund-policy
To initiate a return or exchange, please email info@growindo.com or contact us here.
Manuals
Location of Manuals
As we create manuals they will be put here: https://growindo.com/pages/indo-manuals
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Knowledgebase
General
What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics, by definition, is the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil.
Hydroponics does not use soil, instead the root system is supported using an inert medium such as perlite, rockwool, clay pellets, peat moss, or vermiculite. The basic premise behind hydroponics is to allow the plants roots to come in direct contact with the nutrient solution, while also having access to oxygen, which is essential for proper growth.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What is aeroponics?
Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium.
Aeroponics is an optimized form of hydroponics where the roots are suspended in air, in a dark chamber. Plant roots are fed with a mist containing nutrients. The mist has droplet sizes ranging from 30 - 100 microns.
Benefits
Reduces water required to grow plants by 95%
Reduces nutrients required to grow plants by 75%
Reduces time required to grow plants by 33%
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Lighting
What is PAR?
Plants use a process call photosynthesis (the most important chemical process on Earth) as a source of energy to make food molecules from carbon dioxide and water.
The only type of light which enables photosynthesis is defined as Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR): the narrow band of light between 400nm – 700nm.
Light outside of this range is not photosynthetically active and will not generate greater biomass for those seeking improved yield.
For further information refer to our article and link to a video on PAR.
https://growindo.com/blogs/plant-nutrition-articles/what-are-par-values
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What is PPF?
An electronic light source converts electrons into photons. Lights for human vision measure output with lumens (measured in lux or footcandles). Lights for photobiological reactions measure output with photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) or the rate at which the light source emits in the photosynthetic region.
Another way of stating it is: PPF tells us how much PAR a light source emits.
Where PPF measures total PAR output of a lighting system, Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) measures how much of that light is delivered to a given area.
For further information refer to our article and link to a video on PAR.
https://growindo.com/blogs/plant-nutrition-articles/what-are-par-values
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What is PPFD?
Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) is the measurement of PAR delivered to a specific area in a specific period of time. It is expressed as micromole-per-meter squared-per second (μmol/m2/s).
This measurement informs us of the amount of light being delivered to a crop to enable photosynthesis.
For further information refer to our article and link to a video on PAR.
https://growindo.com/blogs/plant-nutrition-articles/what-are-par-values
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What are COB LED lights?
COB (Chip On Board), is a relatively newer LED technology.
COB LEDs are basically multiple LED chips (typically nine or more) bonded directly to a substrate by the manufacturer to form a single module. Since the individual LEDs used in a COB are chips and not traditionally packaged, the chips can be mounted such that they take up less space and the highest potential of the LED chips can be obtained. When the COB LED package is energized, it appears more like a lighting panel than multiple individual lights as would be the case when using several SMD LEDs mounted closely together.
Advantages of COB LED Technology
- The light emitting area of a COB LED contains many times more light sources in the same area than standard LEDs could occupy resulting in significantly increased PPFD values.
- COB LEDs use a single circuit with just two contacts to energize the multiple diode chips it houses. This results in fewer components required per LED chip for proper operation. Furthermore, the reduced components, along with the elimination of the traditional LED chip structure packaging, can reduce the heat generated from each LED chip.
- The ceramic/aluminum substrate of COB LEDs also acts as a higher efficiency heat transfer medium when coupled to an external heatsink, further lowering the overall operating temperature of the assembly.
- Another aspect of COB LEDs that reduces failure rates is the fact that spot soldering of the individual LED chips is not necessary as each chip is directly mounted onto the substrate. The smaller amount of welding points results in lowering the rate of failure.
With regards to grow lights COB LEDs are typically biased towards the blue and red wavelengths but typically offer a much more full spectrum than lighting panels with multiple individual lights. Figure 1, below, shows the "McCree curve". This data from a 1972 paper by Dr. McCree and Dr. Inada who performed several studies in the to determine the influence of light spectra on photosynthesis. Below in Figure 2 you will see the typical emission spectrum from the Sun, an HPS bulb, and the COB design that Indo Products uses. Figure 3 shows the emission from other LED panels, which are missing much of the PAR potential of a light. You will notice in Figure 3 that the emission is missing much of the light that is part of photosynthesis and therefore will likely not be as effective with plant growth if that is the only source of light a plant receives.

Figure 1. PAR - McCree curve
Figure 2. Indo CREE COB LED Spectrum
Figure 3. Typical LED Panel
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
My seedlings are now ready to go under the grow light how far away do I keep the light?
If your roots of the seedlings are protruding outside the growing medium (cube or puck) then they are ready to be be planted into pots or other growing medium.
Typically we would keep the light at a distance of 24” (60 cm) above the newly planted seedlings. Within a few days to a week you can start lowering the lights to a distance of 18” (45 cm). If the plants are growing and the leaves don't appear to be wilted (they are pointing up) they have adapted and will do best with a closer and stronger light.
Happy Growing!
Do your grow lights work with 220V / 240V?
Yes, our lights will work with 110/120 volts and 220/240 volts; all you need is the right power cord to plug into the outlet. Our lights come with a heavy-duty 14 gauge 8-foot North American 120V cord, but we do have other styles for different voltages.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Do LED lights require a ballast like HID or HPS lighting?
LEDs do not require a ballast. You can plug Indo LED grow lights directly into your wall outlet!
High intensity lights require a ballast in order to generate the extremely high voltage required to power the bulb. LED lights use DC (direct current) which is provided by an online power converter in our LED fixtures.
Note that Indo LED lights also automatically work with any voltage all you will need is the correct power cord for your wall receptacle type.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
I have a light with veg and bloom switches, when do I turn each on?
The LED lights with veg and bloom switches are designed to provide a full spectrum supply of light throughout the grow by turning on the CREE COB lights with the "VEG" switch. Then once the plants are in the flowering stage and they are consuming more energy and nutrients the "BLOOM" switch is turned on. In addition to the VEG LEDs, the bloom LEDs provide more light in the orange/red/IR spectrum boosting the plant's flowering/fruiting response.
So the basic answer to the question: the "VEG" is used throughout the grow and "BLOOM" is turned on once the plants are in the flowering stages.
Models with Veg and Bloom switches: https://growindo.com/collections/indo-lights/products/cob-cree-plus-led-led-with-veg-bloom-switch
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How do I hang my grow lights or GrowHub™?
We get a few questions on the best practices on how to hang lights and the GrowHub so have compiled some images here.
In grow tents lights are all hung from the movable hanging on the top of the tent typically with ratcheting light hangers and wire rope. The wire rope is first attached to the light then the ratchet end of the light hangers attaches to that. The other end of the hanger is clipped around one of the poles on the top of the tent. The light is then raised using the pulley by pulling on the loose end of the rope from the ratchet. The light is lowered by slowly releasing the ratchet by depressing the tab.
GrowHub™ installed in 3x3' tent is shown below. In this case we recommend using two ratcheting light hangers and two hanging bars. The easy thing with the GrowHub™ is that the fan and filter are built in, so only one item needs to be hung in this tent. You will notice how we used one wire rope piece per corner connection on the light. This allows for a very secure connection.
Here is a 4x2 tent with two lights. In this case we only used one ratcheting light hanger per light since these lights aren't that heavy.
Here are some close up shots of the wire ropes. The first showing one wire rope per side (two in total) and the second showing one wire rope used per corner (four in total). The doubling of the wire rope allows for further adjustment of the light height.
One wire rope per corner:
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Tents
Do you have instruction manuals?
We are slowly putting together instruction manuals for each of our kits.
Our list of manuals can be found here: http://growindo.com/manuals
See our FAQ item above for hanging lights: https://growindo.com/tools/faq#!hc-how-do-i-hang-my-grow-lights-or-growhub
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Are all tents the same?
No they are not.
Tents can be made from a variety of materials. With the exception of the dryer tent, all of Indo Products tents are made from a high-quality 1680D ballistic-nylon fabric.
For more information, read this article explaining the differences in tents.
https://growindo.com/blogs/how-to-articles/are-all-grow-tents-made-the-same
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How do I clean my tent between grows?
In between grows, it’s incredibly important to clean and maintain your grow tent thoroughly before starting a new crop.
- Remove the bottom tray and vacuum all debris from the tent.
- Wipe all surfaces down with bleach or hydrogen peroxide to eradicate any lingering pathogens or diseases. Avoid using other chemicals as they could damage the tent interior, reducing reflectivity.
- Thoroughly scrub all pots and components that you plan on using in subsequent grows.
Notes:
- Hydrogen peroxide is good for sanitization and sterilization, and it is safe around plants as it degrades to just water and a free oxygen molecule.
- Bleach is best for killing everything, virii included, but Hydrogen Peroxide is better for use while the garden is up and running.
- When you are working with any chemical cleaners it is always recommended to wear gloves and goggles to protect yourself from the irritating chemicals.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How do I care for tent zippers?
Keep zippers clean by brushing or wiping them regularly to remove dirt and grit that can become lodged in and around the teeth. If a tight zipper sticks, apply a thin coating of paraffin, talc or spray lubricant to the teeth.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What if my zipper separates?
A common issue with any zipper-based closures is that over time and with rigorous use the zipper may not be closing fully.
Typically, the simplest fix is to gently compress the mouth height of the slider on the zipper along the rails.
We really like this video on YouTube, he does a great job of demonstrating how to fix a zipper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pND6-omqt4k
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How much weight are the bars rated to handle?
The bars at the top of the tent are rated to handle up to 150 lbs (68 kg) in total with even distribution of the weight.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How do I hang a light in the grow tent?
See our FAQ item above: https://growindo.com/tools/faq#!hc-how-do-i-hang-my-grow-lights-or-growhub
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
GrowHub
Do you have a user manual for my GrowHub™?
Manuals can be found at: https://growindo.com/pages/indo-manuals
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How do I hang my GrowHub™ in my grow tent?
See our FAQ item above: https://growindo.com/tools/faq#!hc-how-do-i-hang-my-grow-lights-or-growhub
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
HydroBox
What is the ideal temperature of the reservoir solution?
Although there are a variety of factors, typically, the optimal range is about 17-22oC. Within this temperature range, the dissolved oxygen content is high and the temperature is warm enough to facilitate nutrient uptake.
Too low of a temperature will slow the plant’s rate of growth and too high of a temperature will decrease the dissolved oxygen content, which allows anaerobic pathogens to make their home. Pythium, or root rot, is the most common issue the hydroponic grower with warm nutrient reservoir temperatures will experience.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What is the ideal pH of my reservoir?
The pH (or potential hydrogen) of a hydroponic reservoir is a very important factor in the garden's success. The pH of the nutrient solution will determine the solubility of the nutrients. Due to the nature of hydroponic solutions versus soil, the pH can change much more easily.
The optimal pH will depend on the the grow medium that they grower is using. For the HydroBoxTM (and other hydroponic systems), we typically recommend a pH range of 5.5 - 6.0. If you see it rise to 6 or above we recommend adding a little pH Down Solution to bring it back down to 5.5.
To avoid nutrient lockout, we recommend that you monitor your pH a few hours after changing or adding nutrients to the reservoir and daily to ensure your reservoir doesn't experience fluctuations outside this desired range.
We recommend the use of a pH pen and accurate calibration solutions to ensure you are accurately measuring the pH of the reservoir.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Growing
How do I grow Cannabis?
We have written a how-to article on this subject CLICK HERE
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
I ordered a 24" x 24" x 48" tent, how large can I grow my plants?
We personally use these to grow up to 4 plants and have quite a few customers that use these in their 4’ crawlspaces. Remember when in shorter spaces you have to switch the plants to flower sooner.
Depending on the strain, we recommend once the plant reaches 8-12” then you switch to a 12 hour light cycle. This way it ensures you have plenty of vertical space for the plant to grow and flower.
In our how-to article we describe how to calculate approximately what size to grow your plant (and other helpful information). https://growindo.com/blogs/how-to-articles/how-to-grow-cannabis-with-indo-complete-grow-kits
This is how we recommend the calculation graphically:
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Do I have to exhaust outside or can I exhaust into a room?
We get this question quite a bit.
The short answer is you can exhaust into either.
However the key things to remember is that plants need fresh air and you want to regulate the temperature of the growing environment.
In addition to light, plants use CO2 out of the atmosphere as their fuel source and thrive in certain temperature ranges. Also the air coming out of the tent can be slightly humid and warm.
Therefore you just want to make sure that the room regularly gets a source of fresh air through some means so that the plants have access to CO2 to keep feeding and the temperature/humidity is in the right range. So ultimately, the key is to keep the air circulating in the room and tent and your plants will be happy.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Happy Growing,
The Indo Team
How do I clone my plants?
We have written a how-to article on this subject CLICK HERE
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Nutrients
How do I mix nutrients?
We get the question on how to mix plant nutrients a lot.
It does not matter which order you add the concentrated nutrients to water, just as long as you add them into your water bucket and don’t combine in the concentrated form. You may have heard before that you need to add the nutrients in a certain order so that they mix together properly, but that's not an issue with the Indo Easy Grow System. The nutrients are made from high quality, chelated ingredients, so they will mix up regardless of the order you add them.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Do I combine the three components together as a concentrate and then add them to water?
No. Do not the nutrients together in their concentrated form. Add them into water one at a time.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Can you provide a link to the feeding instructions?
We get this question a couple times a month.
The instructions can be found written on the bottles.
In addition, a worksheet is posted here: https://www.growindo.com/EasyGrowWorksheet
Further growing instructions can be found in this how-to article: https://growindo.com/blogs/how-to-articles/how-to-grow-cannabis-with-indo-complete-grow-kits
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How often do I feed using the Easy Grow System?
We typically recommend feeding every other day or as needed with the mixed nutrient solution. You can use straight water once in a while but the Easy Grow System is designed for use each watering.
The key is not to over water - wait until the top of the growing medium is dry about an inch deep (up to your first knuckle – just use your finger to poke a hole in the soil and see if it feels dry).
Target to feed equal to plants consumption. Once potted, start with 1 cup and increase as plant consumes more throughout the growth stages. If your plants are very small compared to the container they’re in, give water more sparingly until the plants get bigger and are transplanted to a larger container.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Do I need to supplement with CalMag alongside the 3-part Easy Grow System?
We get this question often.
The simple answer is, NO.
We have formulated the system to contain just as much Calcium and Magnesium as other nutrients that require additional CalMag solutions. Between Max Grow and Max Minerals there is enough in there without adding any supplement.
We did this to make it easier and save our customers money.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Do I use Max Bud only in the flowering stage?
The Easy Grow System (Max Grow, Max Bud, and Max Minerals) were designed as a system to all be used throughout the growth stages of the plant. As the plants grow, the amount of each of the 3 will change.
The instructions can be found written on the bottles. In addition, a worksheet is posted here: Worksheet
Further growing instructions can be found in this how-to article: How to Grow Cannabis
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What is the shelf life of the Easy Grow System?
The shelf life is approximately 2-3 years if kept at room temperature and unopened. Once opened they should be used in 6-12 months, but that would depend on the environment.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Can you provide a feeding schedule with your nutrients for autoflowers?
The Easy Grow System worksheet can be found here: CLICK HERE
The feed with autoflowers is the same with any plant. Just with autoflower they tell you when they are moving to the flowering stage rather than you controlling that. When you see pistils/buds starting to form, plan on switching to flowering stages of feed – no rush, use up whatever nutrients you have pre-made then switch to week 1 of flowering.
We have written a how-to article on growing here: CLICK HERE
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Do you add dyes or colorants to your nutrients?
We add no colorants or dyes to our nutrients and actually don't understand why other manufacturers need to since most minerals have natural colors so the chemists at Indo Products take advantage of those properties.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What is IndoOne?
IndoOne is an all-purpose plant nutrient solution similar to many single part plant foods on the market, like Miracle Grow and others.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
pH Information
What is pH?
A pH (potential of Hydrogen) measurement reveals if a solution is acidic or alkaline (also base or basic). If the solution has an equal amount of acidic and alkaline molecules, the pH is considered neutral.
Very soft water is commonly acidic, while very hard water is commonly alkaline, though unusual circumstances can result in exceptions.
The pH scale is logarithmic and runs from 0.0 to 14.0 with 7.0 being neutral. Readings less than 7.0 indicate acidic solutions, while higher readings indicate alkaline or base solutions. Some extreme substances can score lower than 0 or greater than 14, but most fall within the scale.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How to calibrate a pH pen?
The great thing about pH pens is that they are easy to use, calibrate, are portable, and inexpensive.
We found this video does a good job of explaining the calibration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnFbfjRSP5Y
She shows calibrating up to the pH 10 (9.18) solution however this isn't really necessary since for growing we only work in the range of 5.5-6.5. Therefore calibrating with the pH 7 and pH 4 solutions is sufficient.
You can find Indo's pH calibration solution kits here: https://growindo.com/products/indo-ph-calibration-solutions
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How often should I calibrate my pH meter?
It can vary depending on your meter, probe, solutions the probe is exposed to, and accuracy requirements. However, by performing periodic checks with fresh calibration solution you can determine when and how often calibration is necessary.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How do I use Indo pH calibration solutions?
Indo’s pH calibration buffer solutions deliver value and provide an accurate pH reference. These pH calibration buffers can be used with any pH instrument: meters, probes, pens, etc. and are versatile for any application.
Calibration Instructions:
Note: The pH calibration solutions are used “as is”, no dilution is necessary. Always start with pH 7 then move to pH 4.
- Pour out a small amount into a clean cup or other secondary vessel.
- Rinse off pH probe, pat dry with a paper towel, and immerse in fresh Indo pH calibration solution.
- Gently swirl the probe or solution then allow the measurement to stabilize for 60 seconds prior to beginning calibration.
- Once the pH meter has completed its calibration remove the probe, rinse it off, and pat dry again.
- Move to the next pH calibration solution, measure samples, or return the probe to the storage solution.
Notes:
- Do not freeze
- Store at room temperature or slightly cool, out of direct sun and heat.
- Do not do measurements or calibrations directly in this bottle.
- Always pour out a small amount of this into a small cup for use.
- Keep container closed, only open to pour out.Do not return solution to this bottle.
- Always calibrate your meter with fresh solution and begin with pH 7.0.
- Always rinse and pat dry the pH probe between solutions.
You can find Indo's pH calibration solution kits here: Indo pH Calibration Solution Kits
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What is Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC)?
When measuring pH using a pH electrode the temperature error from the electrode varies based on the Nernst Equation as 0.03pH/10C/unit of pH away from pH7.
The error due to temperature is a function of both temperature and the pH being measured. Temperature compensation can be achieved manually or automatically.
Manual temperature compensation is usually achieved by entering the temperature of the fluid being measured into the instruments menu and then the instrument will display a "Temperature Compensated" pH reading.
Automatic temperature compensation requires input from a temperature sensor and constantly sends a compensated pH signal to the display. Automatic temperature compensation is useful for measuring pH in systems with wide variations in temperature.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Does my pH electrode have to be wet?
All glass electrodes have a bulb which must be kept hydrated and a reference junction which must be kept wet to prevent excess leakage of the internal electrolyte solution from the reference junction.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What should I store my pH electrode in?
Ideally, storage solution since it has the same chemical make-up of what is in the electrode itself, but if that is not available use our Electrode Storage Solution (ESS). Alternatively a buffer 4 or 7 solution can be used.
NEVER STORE IN PURE (DISTILLED) WATER!!!
In the case of electrodes that are continuously immersed, storage is not an issue since they are constantly wet.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What if I see white crystals on my pH electrode?
If you are using Indo's Electrode Storage Solution (ESS) it is electrolyte salt and is normal. Rinse well with water and the salt will readily dissolve.
If not storing the electrode in an electrolyte it could be internal electrolyte (salt) and by soaking the electrode for a couple of hours in our ESS the electrode will be fine - unless it has been dry for long periods of time.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How should I maintain my pH electrodes?
Periodically clean your electrode with mild acid, professionally formulated cleaning solutions, or rinse well with distilled water, and of course always properly store your electrodes in our Electrode Storage Solution (ESS).
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Can I use Distilled or Deionized water to store my pH electrode?
No, never use this for storage it will damage the electrode.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Does calibrating a pH pen with 7.0 instead of 6.86 matter?
As soon as we released our Indo pH Calibration Solutions we had a couple questions and comments around calibrating an inexpensive pH pen with pH 7.0 when it is asking for pH 6.86 (from a powder-based buffer).
So our chemist loves being able to break out chemistry and math to describe how even when using a pH 7.0 calibration solution with a pen that asks for pH 6.86 is of no real consequence for the average grower.
One must consider for the purposes of growing plants and most things we do with pH measurement using this quality of a pH meter we are just looking to be within an acceptable range. For growing plants we want our grow media to be within a desirable pH range of typically 5.8-6.2, or 0.4 pH units (this can vary by growing media, plant species, and even strain).
We have created the chart below to assist in the visualization and discussion around the bias when calibrating a pH pen with pH 7 solution instead of pH 6.86. The mV readings wouldn’t exactly demonstrate a pen response (also they have other biases and ATC to factor in) but do a good job to illustrate the insignificant bias that is derived from this calibration. Especially if you consider the typical application of our customers - growing plants. If greater accuracy is desired we most certainly suggest purchasing a more expensive pH electrode and meter that can calibrate to 7 and not 6.86 – just remember to keep that wet with our Electrode Storage Solution (ESS)!
Side Note: Regarding accuracy of our buffers. They are checked against secondary sources to ensure accuracy. In addition, we use a relatively strong molarity in our buffer to assist in the accuracy of adjusting highly ionic nutrient solutions.
Side Note 2: Regarding the use of an alkaline buffer to "check" or calibrate your pH pen/meter. The pH 9.18 (or 10) isn’t a good way to check a calibration between 4 and 7. Good laboratory practice is to calibrate for your working range, and for plants this is slightly acidic therefore no need for an alkaline standard and in fact due to non-linearities that practice would be discouraged (but that’s a whole other discussion).
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
What is the shelf life of the Indo pH 4 & 7 buffer solutions?
For unopened bottles the Indo pH 4 & 7 are higher concentrations of buffer and total shelf life is greater than two years.
Shelf life of a bottle once opened is impossible to determine due to variability in environmental storage conditions and usage procedures (Temperature/Elevation/Pressure for example all have an effect.)
We recommend that the date the
bottle is opened is written on the bottle and that the pH 4 & 7 buffers be
used within six months.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
Miscellaneous
How do I use a heating mat?
If the ambient temperature is less than 24C (75F) we recommend using a heating mat. Heat mats are used to increase the temperature and humidity inside of the dome. Heat mats can also create a lot of problems – they can easily get too warm for clones and precautions should be taken.
Placing a towel between the heating mat and the bottom of the tray will help dissipate the heat inside of the tray. Another good method is hooking the heat mats to a timer. Have them turn on and off every 5-15 minutes.
Use a temperature and humidity monitor with a probe inside of the dome to dial in the proper levels of 24-27C (75-80F) and 70-80% RH. You will want to visually see some condensation on the sides of the dome.
Leave the new clones alone and re-check the temperature and humidity levels every 2-12 hours for any potential issues that may arise.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.
How do I set my analog timer?
How to Set Timers and Connect ComponentsSet timers to the desired ON/OFF settings by pushing pins down for ON Pins are set by toggling them off or on, or in or out. For example, if you want the timer to turn a light on at 7 p.m. and off at 7 a.m., push all of the pins down between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- Set the current time Rotate the dial clockwise so that the dial's pointer (arrow) aligns with the current time on the clock.
- Select the Timer Setting Move the red button on the side of the timer to the position for timer, showing a clock symbol.
- Plug in the Timer Insert the timer into the outlet, aligning the three prongs on the back of it with the outlet.
- Plug in lights and fans Plug in your light, exhaust fan, or other electrical item you want to control into the plug socket of the timer, found on the bottom sides of the timer.
- Test It Test the timer by manually advancing it to the first ON pin (or DOWN pin) to see if the light you plugged into it comes on. Advance it to the Off position to verify the light turns off. Reset the timer to the current time after testing.
Notes on timers:
- To keep temperature down it is recommended to have the exhaust fan synced with the light cycle.
- The fan can also be turned ON periodically during the lights off to refresh the air and keep humidity down.
- The timer can be set for 15-minute intervals or alternatively on for 24 hours.
- Ensure the RED timer switch is turned to the TIMER symbol
- Each timer can control 2 components
If you have any other questions that aren't answered in our FAQ please Contact Us.