Does anyone know how to raise and lower ph in soil?

keepinkiefin420

Active Member
my plants are growing in just a basic potting soil and i was just wanting to have a little more controll of the ph of the soil, i have a probe to test it easily. what can i do to safely raise and lower the ph in safe incriments.:blsmoke:







im a big fat lier and am in no way breaking any law, i just want to fit in............somewhere. lol
 

el1

Well-Known Member
buy some ph up and ph down. At any garden store.

That way you can ph your water exactly and itll slowly change your soils ph to that of the water.
 

ccodiane

New Member
my plants are growing in just a basic potting soil and i was just wanting to have a little more controll of the ph of the soil, i have a probe to test it easily. what can i do to safely raise and lower the ph in safe incriments.:blsmoke:







im a big fat lier and am in no way breaking any law, i just want to fit in............somewhere. lol
To raise PH, I use hydrated lime at a teaspoon a gallon. I first water with plain water, then flush with the hydrated lime water, a few times, then finish with a final watering of slightly fertilized solution, about half strength of normal. Baking soda also works.
 

keepinkiefin420

Active Member
thanks bro, thats a good idea. i didnt think of just adding a base like bakeing soda to the watewr, i have no idea why. i think i remember the math from hign school, thanks again
 

faralos

Well-Known Member
Vinegar and baking soda, one brings it up, the other brings itdown. Damn I actually remember something from the 70's holy s**t! (MY middle school days)
 

hom36rown

Well-Known Member
A LITTLE tad of phosphoric acid at the time!!! This stuff is powerful. "Calcium carbonate"? Somebody already said baking soda.
Baking soda and calcium carbonate are two completely different things. Baking soda is sodium hydrogencarbonate NaHCO3.
 

Hydrotech364

Well-Known Member
have i got questions for you.i was always a scientist,but took smoking herb as a chem class can i ask you questions from time to time.the question was easy i may be over expectant of you.
 

ddimebag

Active Member
I got a hold of some calcium carbonate ( Na2CO3) recently. How would I go about using it as a pH buffer? Do I mix it in with the soil when I transplant the plants, or do I dissolve it and water them with it? Also, how much/liter? Thanks :D
 

Hazmat

Well-Known Member
I got a hold of some calcium carbonate ( Na2CO3) recently. How would I go about using it as a pH buffer? Do I mix it in with the soil when I transplant the plants, or do I dissolve it and water them with it? Also, how much/liter? Thanks :D
Calcium *bicarbonate is Ca(HCO3)2 and is way different than sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3, the later of which is common baking soda. The only real way to really judge how much you need is by buying a pH testing kit/tester. It all depends on what the original pH was/is. Also, I would not add baking soda straight to soil as a buffer, you will have a lot of excess sodium in there messing things up. Just add a little to your watering if you feel that your pH is low, don't add a lot, then wait and see if there is a positive result. pH tester/kit would really help you out, and cheap kits are like ten bucks at a pet store, grocery store, pool store, hydro store. If you just need to test the water and don't need the up or down chemicals, get the cheap ones at first.
 
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