PH Adjustments in soil

[ApexseasOG]

Hello everyone, so i'll be starting my first organic grow soon and was just gathering info before I start. I will be using a super soil recipe and will only be using water for the entirety of the grow. I realize that most of the components of the recipe play an important role and that with these alone it should be enough to maintain a healthy ph throughout the grow. But just for shits and giggles; let's pretend at somewhere along the grow I have ph problems. What would you guys use to raise and/or lower ph organically? I would assume you can use some sort of tea for this? Is there a tea recipe to specially lower or raise ph?

Here's my recipe so far:

- 7.5 gallons FoxFarms Light Warrior
- 3 gallons FoxFarms Ocean Forrest
- 2 gallons Perlite
- 4.5 lbs EWC
- 3/4 cup Espoma Tomato Tone
- 1 1/2 cup Kelp Meal
- 1 cup Fish Bone meal
- 1 cup Seabird Guano
- 2/3 cup Dolomite Lime
- 2 tsp Humic Acids
- 1 tbsp Azomite

 

[PurpleGlurple]

Technically speaking the PH should be a stable 7 since youre adding dolomite lime to the medium.

Im kind of a PH Nazi and have found many variations to why PH changes. Even Sunlight and oxygen change PH's daily.

The best way to test actual plant PH is top water your plant with Ph'd water appropiately. Collect the run-off with a tray and test the run off water with the PH meter. This is the "actual current" ph of the medium. Use this information to adjust your Ph accordingly

 

[ApexseasOG]

Technically speaking the PH should be a stable 7 since youre adding dolomite lime to the medium.

Im kind of a PH Nazi and have found many variations to why PH changes. Even Sunlight and oxygen change PH's daily.

The best way to test actual plant PH is top water your plant with Ph'd water appropiately. Collect the run-off with a tray and test the run off water with the PH meter. This is the "actual current" ph of the medium. Use this information to adjust your Ph accordingly

And what would you use to adjust ph organically? Dolomite will keep it around 7; what else can be used to lower or raise ph?

 

[ApexseasOG]

What I don’t want to do is use things like “ph up” or “ph down”; I’m looking for an organic way to adjust ph in soil.

 

[youraveragehorticulturist]

Water until you get run off to be sure there isn't some gross build up.

Then use compost tea or earth worm castings tea or slurry or compost/ewc top dressing to make sure your microbes are kicking. When they're established and happy your pH will be good.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Technically speaking the PH should be a stable 7 since youre adding dolomite lime to the medium.

Im kind of a PH Nazi and have found many variations to why PH changes. Even Sunlight and oxygen change PH's daily.

The best way to test actual plant PH is top water your plant with Ph'd water appropiately. Collect the run-off with a tray and test the run off water with the PH meter. This is the "actual current" ph of the medium. Use this information to adjust your Ph accordingly

Testing runoff isn't a good way to measure soil pH.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

What I don’t want to do is use things like “ph up” or “ph down”; I’m looking for an organic way to adjust ph in soil.

Adding sulfur or organic matter will help bring the pH down, Citric acid will help too.

To raise the pH, I add oyster shell flour.

 

[ApexseasOG]

Adding sulfur or organic matter will help bring the pH down, Citric acid will help too.

To raise the pH, I add oyster shell flour.

Had to be a star wars fan to come through Thank you! I found Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier; which is composed of elemental sulfur and gypsum. I've read good things about gypsum, I'm surprised it's not included in more recipes.Thanks for the great info @PadawanWarrior , that's exactly what I was looking for.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Had to be a star wars fan to come through Thank you! I found Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier; which is composed of elemental sulfur and gypsum. I've read good things about gypsum, I'm surprised it's not included in more recipes.Thanks for the great info @PadawanWarrior , that's exactly what I was looking for.

Glad to help. I'll check out that soil acidifier though. I've don't have any elemental sulfur.

And I'm not really a Star Wars nut. It was just a fun name. I tried Young Grasshopper first, but it was taken. I did see the original ones in the theater though. There were lines around the block for the first one. It was crazy. That's all anyone was showing almost, lol.

My dad bought the Star Wars vinyl record set for me at the theater, and I actually still have it. At the showing of the first Superman, they sold glow in the dark Kyrptonite rocks. They were cool, but I don't have that anymore. I know, I'm old.

 

[ApexseasOG]

Glad to help. I'll check out that soil acidifier though. I've don't have any elemental sulfur.

And I'm not really a Star Wars nut. It was just a fun name. I tried Young Grasshopper first, but it was taken. I did see the original ones in the theater though. There were lines around the block for the first one. It was crazy. That's all anyone was showing almost, lol.

My dad bought the Star Wars vinyl record set for me at the theater, and I actually still have it. At the showing of the first Superman, they sold glow in the dark Kyrptonite rocks. They were cool, but I don't have that anymore. I know, I'm old.

That is truly awesome!! and you should hold on to that set; one day it'll be worth a TON of money. Trust me, no matter what condition it's in; there'll be someone who wants to buy it. Star wars fans and collectors are hard core lol. I'm a fan too but not a nut either. And you're not old! My god father, who's not much older than I, also went to that first superman showing; so none of that "o" word mess, please and thank you lol