Ganjamann2020
Active Member
If I use white vinegar to lower the PH in my tap water will it hurt my plants? And will apple cider vinegar be better than white vinegar? I am using coco/perlite medium.
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PH'ing tap water
- Thread starter Ganjamann2020
- Start date
I've used white vinegar and never had a problem. You won't need much per gallon.
MickFoster
Well-Known Member
What is your tap water's pH and what pH are you shooting for?
Ganjamann2020
Active Member
Tap water PH is 8.4 trying to get to 6.2-6.5, 30ml of white vinegar does the trick but haven't used it until I get some more advice
MickFoster
Well-Known Member
It won't hurt the plants but you would be better off using a pH down product..........it's more stable and doesn't require near as much to change the pH.
Ganjamann2020
Active Member
Would apple cider vinegar be better, it has some nutrients in it. I calculated how much per tblspn. 1 mg of calcium, .021mg iron, .7 mg of magnesium, 1.14 mg of phosphorous, 10.4 mg of potassium, and .7 mg of sodium, it takes 2 tablespoons to get from 8.4 to 6.2-6.4.
Ganjamann2020
Active Member
stevekrell
Member
Is this calculation with organic or non-organic fertilizers?
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
You want to aim for a ph of 5.8 - 6.2
Blue_Focus
Well-Known Member
White Vinegar works great if you have hard water.
I tried PH down with my tap water and it caused the calcium to separate from the water and turned my water cloudy like skim milk.
White Vinegar doesn't do this. So I use White Vinegar.
I tried PH down with my tap water and it caused the calcium to separate from the water and turned my water cloudy like skim milk.
White Vinegar doesn't do this. So I use White Vinegar.
bigboerboel
Well-Known Member
Exactly!
Just go to Amazon and buy tthe two pint kit of General Hydroponics Ph Down and Ph Up. I think it’s under $15. It’s only takes a couple drops. I’ve been using this for years and it’s great.
stevekrell
Member
I've had problems with ph down also. I prefer not to use it. I've been using my organics to reduce ph but haven't achieved below 6.8. Thank you
Ganjamann2020
Active Member
From what I have experimented with it drops 1 point per tablespoon of vinegar in one gallon. I am using PH strips to test the water, I let them sit out overnight chlorine was gone PH was over 8 I tried one tablespoon, shook it up then measured with PH strip, and it dropped to the middle around 7.4, so I added another tbsp. and it dropped to the lowest which my strip says is 6.2, but you know it's +/- a few tenths. Have not used it on a grow trying to switch from jugs of distilled water. still not sure what other minerals in the water PPMs are measuring around 430.
Ganjamann2020
Active Member
so I should try an extra teaspoon?
Ganjamann2020
Active Member
This is based on the amount of nutrients in 3.5 OZ of apple cider vinegar, which equals 7 tablespoons. I divided the amount of each nutrient by 7 to find out how much would be in 1 tablespoon. I was just curious as to how apple cider vinegar would work and would it be better, than white distilled vinegar which has zero nutes. 0 fertilizer yet, just ph'ing the water and that's what would be in apple cider vinegar if I used it.
Ganjamann2020
Active Member
will this water hurt my plants? I ph'ed it with white vinegar to 6.2, PPM meter reads 426 after adding vinegar.
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Budzbuddha
Well-Known Member
If your lawn is good - your indoor weed will be too.
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
If that's what it takes to get it to that range, which is correct for coco
Ganjamann2020
Active Member
Well my tap water has a PH of 8.4 so I think I need to. The water here is extremely alkaline.
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