PH EMERGENCY!

[mwallace]

I just finished transplanting my rooted clones, but in preparation to water them, my PH meter died. It's going to take several days for a replacement to arrive, and I am stuck in the middle of nowhere with no available transportation for another week. I have some store bought distilled water and some generic bottled drinking water on hand, but I'm scared to water my babies without being able to adjust PH. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

[Labs Dexter]

How often do you water em in a week

 

[mwallace]

I just got them from a friend yesterday; I haven't watered them yet.

 

[Labs Dexter]

I would suggest watering with the bottled water untill you get a ph pen, it won't do no harm a week or two with bottled water... They might even like it.
If you look at the nutritional information part it should say the ph when bottled if that puts you at ease.
I would wait for other suggestions but that's what I would do

 

[tangerinegreen555]

yeah, they have to have water! adjust pH later...

don't buy that damn water that says it's 9.5 right on the bottle though, try to stay close...

If you must stay in pH range without a pen...distilled is 7.0 when it leaves the bottling plant and drifts down a hair sitting on the shelf...
but I don't really like distilled for any length of time...

Fiji water is great for little plants...has a consistent pH of 7.7...and 4 drops of pH down in a 1.5 liter bottle will get you through it.
If you need a lot more water...go on line and google pH of different spring water brands...many are listed.

 

[Labs Dexter]

I use mineral water with ph of 6.2 and I'm in soil too it works awesome.. Plant grow more vigorous with the bottled stuff than the council pop lol

 

[MonkeyGrinder]

If you're in prebagged soil then chances are they've added lime to it to buffer the PH down to a good level.
Hell my tapwater is at an 8 and it does absolutely fine in Promix without doing anything to the water. It reads around 6.5 to 7 after everything is said and done.

 

[bird mcbride]

Most city water supplies are PH'd at around 6-6.5.

 

[Labs Dexter]

If you're in prebagged soil then chances are they've added lime to it to buffer the PH down to a good level.
Hell my tapwater is at an 8 and it does absolutely fine in Promix without doing anything to the water. It reads around 6.5 to 7 after everything is said and done.

My soil is mg root boost potting mix, I don't like to walk out of a grow shop with soil, too obvious lol I'm UK not very legal and I don't like attracting attention from people or pigs I do have had previous issues with em.
Tho one day when we are legalised I will do ocean forest things and what not till then it's mg root boost potting mix with little perlite. But hard water is an issue for me and my grow environment.

 

[Cl@rksville]

My soil is mg root boost potting mix, I don't like to walk out of a grow shop with soil, too obvious lol I'm UK not very legal and I don't like attracting attention from people or pigs I do have had previous issues with em.
Tho one day when we are legalised I will do ocean forest things and what not till then it's mg root boost potting mix with little perlite. But hard water is an issue for me and my grow environment.

Same shit Dex I wandered out of a grow shop with a bin liner and looked across road and noticed a black BMW estate clocking me, haven't been back since!

 

[Labs Dexter]

Same shit Dex I wandered out of a grow shop with a bin liner and looked across road and noticed a black BMW estate clocking me, haven't been back since!

I have previous assaults on five and never got sent down so they sort of stalk me lol.. But it's awesome when your squeaky clean, I buy nutes and I use some on my gardens flowers and vegg so its not too bad walking out of wilkos with the soil because my garden is green and awesome. But I stock up my soil for winter so I'm not walking in and out with soil lol.
As for bottled water I take about 28 pills a day so my excuse is I like bottled water so I can avoid problems with kidney stones and stuff plus my kids drink bottled water.
Less obvious and be careful. Attention is a problem where Im from

 

[Cl@rksville]

I have previous assaults on five and never got sent down so they sort of stalk me lol.. But it's awesome when your squeaky clean, I buy nutes and I use some on my gardens flowers and vegg so its not too bad walking out of wilkos with the soil because my garden is green and awesome. But I stock up my soil for winter so I'm not walking in and out with soil lol.
As for bottled water I take about 28 pills a day so my excuse is I like bottled water so I can avoid problems with kidney stones and stuff plus my kids drink bottled water.
Less obvious and be careful. Attention is a problem where Im from

Agreed and maybe I should start a new thread for us brits offering advice on such matters? The other threads a bit clicky and too long established to change its outlook tbf. Anyway Ph in soil ain't my bag nowadays, go hydro whether its indoor or out imo!

 

[weatwardhole]

I'd be interested to see that thread!

 

[Labs Dexter]

I was tempted hydro but you gotta be accurate. But yeah let's do the British thread because I could do with more knowledge lol.


As for ph emergency.. I found if your soil is peat dominant your ph will drop. Or if like someone said if you have pre fixed soil from your hydro shop then your ph will be fine but try to double check the water bottle or like someone said you can find online the ph of what ever it is tap or bottled to ease your mind @mwallace

 

[Cobnobuler]

......Since its soil your growing in, the whole issue of PH shouldn't be an "Emergency"

 

[Cl@rksville]

I'd be interested to see that thread!

Its up and running so get on and say yeeeaaaahhhhhhh!

I was tempted hydro but you gotta be accurate. But yeah let's do the British thread because I could do with more knowledge lol.


As for ph emergency.. I found if your soil is peat dominant your ph will drop. Or if like someone said if you have pre fixed soil from your hydro shop then your ph will be fine but try to double check the water bottle or like someone said you can find online the ph of what ever it is tap or bottled to ease your mind @mwallace

The Great British Growers Thread is now in commission and I spoke with a few guys first to get a good idea of what to lay out as guidelines, might be good?

 

[mwallace]

Thank you very much for your input. A few years ago I lost an entire crop to a ph error, so I was really nervous without my ph meter yesterday. I gave my babies bottled drinking water last night, and they still look good so far. From now on I will always have two ph meters, and fresh calibration + cleaning solution on hand! After last night, I have developed a new appreciation for this forum, and will do my best to help anyone i can.

 

[Labs Dexter]

Thank you very much for your input. A few years ago I lost an entire crop to a ph error, so I was really nervous without my ph meter yesterday. I gave my babies bottled drinking water last night, and they still look good so far. From now on I will always have two ph meters, and fresh calibration + cleaning solution on hand! After last night, I have developed a new appreciation for this forum, and will do my best to help anyone i can.

Nice one mate thanks for your appreciation... You have all rights to be worried I never had a good grow a part from this and it's ph and Pk that catches me and messes my yields. Glad it's all well and your calm, next time dot worry too much just ask there are some good people here and bad one's just read and double check from another form of information and go with it. Good luck and hope all works out for ya

 

[weatwardhole]

You can get litmus test papers for literally a quid on amazon. They are great for a backup on your ph meter and are just about sensitive enough for the job