Does RO need pH’d??

[Wizzlebiz]

Do some research on cationic exchange. If you’re growing organically, then the microbes are what is breaking down the organic matter into mineral form. These minerals are attracted to colloids in your soil that feed your plant! Sure, you can ph your water. It is not needed and the chemicals can harm the microbes in your soil. Sounds like OP is going organic. Compost tea SHOULD NOT BE PHd. You’re creating a bacteria farm essentially. That compost tea isn’t a feeding, but it’s a way to add beneficial microbes to your soil so they can break down organic matter and feed your plant.

This is also a used theory during veg with bottles nutes. Unfortunately the synthetic nutes kill off the last of the microbes in the soil by flower.

This is why I tell everyone who uses fox farms nutes to pH during flower at least. Without it the plants are gonna be missing alot of needed supplements.

 

[Raspberrykiwi]

Earth Juice Naturals has ph products that dont affect the microbial life in organics. You still might want to ph despite well buffered soil if your source water is way out of whack. I don't adjust but my water is good enough.

That’s earth juice... they have their own product that they sell.. not knocking them, but if you’re making your own tea and you’re not feeding a bottled nutrient, don’t ph. Ph is not needed if you’re doing organics right. My single plant has been growing for about 6 months now, and I added not one drop of PH up or PH down. I got all my water from a RO filter and watered straight in. I fed one compost tea my whole grow and just top dressed with more soil and EWC and compost. My plant never showed a sign of deficiency or toxicity. My plant has not burnt up or anything

 

[Raspberrykiwi]

This is also a used theory during veg with bottles nutes. Unfortunately the synthetic nutes kill off the last of the microbes in the soil by flower.

This is why I tell everyone who uses fox farms nutes to pH during flower at least. Without it the plants are gonna be missing alot of needed supplements.

Well... with my growing application I added a lot of fertilizer to my soil when I mixed it. I made sure it would be enough for my plant. I mixed FFOF as my base soil with Perlite, Malibu compost, EWC, and dr earth 4-4-4 and 3-9-4. I can’t Vogue for the OP, but if you’re adding the food, the microbes break it down and feed your plant.

 

[Wizzlebiz]

Well... with my growing application I added a lot of fertilizer to my soil when I mixed it. I made sure it would be enough for my plant. I mixed FFOF as my base soil with Perlite, Malibu compost, EWC, and dr earth 4-4-4 and 3-9-4. I can’t Vogue for the OP, but if you’re adding the food, the microbes break it down and feed your plant.

Let's not forget many of the pH up and down products affect microbes as well.

There are alot of factors that can kill off the microbes.

 

[Raspberrykiwi]

Let's not forget many of the pH up and down products affect microbes as well.

There are alot of factors that can kill of the microbes.

Exactly why you shouldn’t PH if you’re growing organics. Again, my plant has been grown seed to just before harvest with only watering RO water. No ph, no bottled nutes, just watering my soil when dry. And my occasional molasses, fish and kelp fert that I have. But that is just microbe food lol

 

[Raspberrykiwi]

This doesn’t explain the science of it, but it does give you an idea of what’s going on.

How do I grow organic marijuana? | Grow Weed Easy

So you want to grow organic? Learn how to mix up your own organic super soil! Just add water and grow...

www.growweedeasy.com

even has a good soil mix that you can replicate!

 

[Pfortyseven]

So if I'm reading this correctly... Stop PH adjusting my RO water? I'm technically organic I'm growing in FFOF

 

[Pfortyseven]

I'm really interested in growing organic haven't fed them yet.

 

[Raspberrykiwi]

So if I'm reading this correctly... Stop PH adjusting my RO water? I'm technically organic I'm growing in FFOF

Don’t ph if you’re growing organics. Organic means NO BOTTLED NUTRIENTS! You pretty much feed the bacteria in your soil(water) and they go to work breaking down all the organic matter(poop, bark, moss, etc.) in your soil. You can mix in some molasses to your RO water to help feed the microbes better. But if you’re using bottled nutrients at all, then you should probably ph. If not, don’t ph and enjoy!

 

[Raspberrykiwi]

FFOF has enough organic matter in it. If I were you, I would go buy some organic worm castings and organic compost to mix into some soil. That’ll provide more food and nutrients to be broken down and absorbed by your plants

 

[Okiedog]

Yes it needs ph down, but it need alot less then it does with tap water

yes I noticed! like literally 3-4 DROPS for 3 gallons.

 

[Okiedog]

Water does need to be PH balanced. Where did you read that it didn't? I'd love to see..
PH is literally one of the most overlooked things by newbies including when I was a noob grower. I had no idea about PH or how important it was.

theREV over at Skunk Magazine

 

[Okiedog]

I'm confused, are you using time released ferts, nutes or organic soil or all 3?
If you just grow in soil that is buffered well and use teas etc, then your soil can buffer ph pretty well. Even then over 8 in well buffered soil is pretty high, I'd try to get at least right at 7 or below from what i understand

in my first grow I used organic soil and a little nutes say a 1/3 dose and not always anything but always pH'd

 

[Okiedog]

my last grow was great....giant, fat, frosty......, I guess. first time grow so dont know what to compare it to or if i could do it better with fewer liquid nutes (sure I could, trying to learn how). For my own medicine

 

[Okiedog]

I've read it countless times right here on Riu?
Just recently using my bubble cloner was told I don't need to ph the water, the clones all rooted fine.

the REV said in organics the pH is set at the roots surface by microbes in the bartering process....even capitalized NOT TO DO IT...went on to say that adding phosphoric acid kills untold beneficial microbes....but I dont know....just what I read

 

[Okiedog]

and I know that you must pH with Hydro..... there is no soil to fix the pH.

im asking in regards to organics. living soil and RO water

 

[dbz]

the REV said in organics the pH is set at the roots surface by microbes in the bartering process....even capitalized NOT TO DO IT...went on to say that adding phosphoric acid kills untold beneficial microbes....but I dont know....just what I read

Thats true. Its also true that using salt nutes can f up the microbial life as well. So if you're going organic or soil just wanted to make sure you were adding nutes healthy for the soil as well.

 

[Okiedog]

You should check and ph your water to the correct ph whenever you water in anything.

Personally I dont ph when I flush but will when I add back in my nutes. its a lazy thing like the man said.

so plain water doesnt always need pH'd

 

[Okiedog]

If you’re using compost teas, don’t PH. You’re not worried about your roots up taking nutrient water, instead you’re worried about the cationic exchange going on in your soil! I grow 100% organic and only watered with plain RO water, no PH. If you PH your water, it can kill the microbes in your soil. I think the ph of my RO water is higher than 7 as well. But that’s just fine with organics. The microbes feed the plant, not the water! Good luck friend

appreciate that and I will. thanks everyone for the tips. one can never know too much

 

[Okiedog]

If you’re using compost teas, don’t PH. You’re not worried about your roots up taking nutrient water, reainstead you’re worried about the cationic exchange going on in your soil! I grow 100% organic and only watered with plain RO water, no PH. If you PH your water, it can kill the microbes in your soil. I think the ph of my RO water is higher than 7 as well. But that’s just fine with organics. The microbes feed the plant, not the water! Good luck friend

I am just beginning to use compost teas.... about a cup of EWC, tsp of bio-char, a smidge of RAW Cal/Mag, a cup of fungus laden forest floor and a couple of days of bubbles.... some of these compost teas ive seen are really extensive.... mine is simple I guess....not sure how well it works but we shall see. The soil on my property is incredibly fertile I figure would be wise to figure out a way to tap into it.

any tips on compost teas?