How do I fix the ph on my tap water out of the hose for watering my plants?

[MatthiaZ]

Hello everyone. Had some big healthy plants and now after a few waterings from my outdoor hose I’m getting some new growth turning yellow. I need to test my ph run off and tap water first to make sure that’s my culprit but how do I treat my hose/tap water in a 50 gallon trash bin before I use it to water the plants. I’ve been just watering directly from the hose. I’m in Southern California. Have mostly landrace crosses.

 

[Red Hard Head]

Rez. You got that.
Test strips or pH meter.
A pH buffer, likely down.
A sump pump to water if you don't like schlepping buckets.

Since you got the rez, you can make compost extract too.
Fill with water. Put 5 gallon compost or EWC in strainer and shake it in the water till runs clear. Use immediately. Weekly to twice a week. If its microbes you want this is the easiest most effective way. Bubbling teas is cute, but unless you have a microscope, a cytometer and can ID the microbes you're getting more water soluble nutrients than a huge colony of soil microbes in a beneficial ratio. Compost and extracts will also buffer your soil to around neutral as well as have humates added to soil.
Compost fixes everything.

 

[MatthiaZ]

Hell yeah! Thank you. An old friend just gave me some ACT? Compost tea that he swears by and they look better over one night. He also said to treat my water with a little lemon juice to drop ph and possibly kill any root rot etc. What’s y’all’s thoughts on Boogie Brew?

 

[MrBeach]

Boogie Brew is good stuff.

 

[hazeman1911]

Hell yeah! Thank you. An old friend just gave me some ACT? Compost tea that he swears by and they look better over one night. He also said to treat my water with a little lemon juice to drop ph and possibly kill any root rot etc. What’s y’all’s thoughts on Boogie Brew?

Juice works just not cost effective limonene dominate strains likes lemon juice

 

[Hugo Phurst]

...can you collect rainwater?

 

[MatthiaZ]

...can you collect rainwater?

I’m in California, would have been great to do this winter but unfortunately not now. I’ve made compost tea that has helped but I think it’s been an issue with the root system. Sounds simple but I am gonna try just flushing them and puncturing new air holes in the bottom of the pots.

 

[Budzbuddha]

What is your medium ?

I live in California and i use TAP .

 

[MatthiaZ]

50/50 promix coco and FFOF w/added worm castings. I purchased a hose filter and added some lemon juice in the 30 gallon for a little PH down. I think I figured out what I was doing wrong. I was watering too fast and my pots weren’t laying even on the ground, so the water and nutrients were t getting evenly distributed and some soil probably wasn’t getting soaked long enough. I water slower now and rotate the pots just a bit and go through again for a second time lightly. It’s getting hot and I’m misting my plants now as well. Starting boogie tea brewing as well.

 

[1212ham]

50/50 promix coco and FFOF w/added worm castings. I purchased a hose filter and added some lemon juice in the 30 gallon for a little PH down. I think I figured out what I was doing wrong. I was watering too fast and my pots weren’t laying even on the ground, so the water and nutrients were t getting evenly distributed and some soil probably wasn’t getting soaked long enough. I water slower now and rotate the pots just a bit and go through again for a second time lightly. It’s getting hot and I’m misting my plants now as well. Starting boogie tea brewing as well.

If I didn't know what the ph was, I sure wouldn't be adjusting it! I've grown in soil and coco, but would never mix the two.

 

[MatthiaZ]

If I didn't know what the ph was, I sure wouldn't be adjusting it! I've grown in soil and coco, but would never mix the two.

I tested it and it’s 6.8 so I’m trying to bring it down a bit. They seem to be doing good now. I prob should have just stuck with the FFOF but it’s spendy and I was gifted the Promix. It’s probably more like 70/30 Promix. I’ll keep an eye on them and start my compost tea cycles. Trying to focus on the future and not get stuck on shit and get tips for fixing the now.