How Do I Adjust the Ph in My Organic Soil?

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beartrapgeorge

New Member
Hello everybody so here is my problem. The runoff of my irrigatiion water is at 7.4.
I fertigate at about 6.5 ph. But my runoff is still at 7.4.
By the way i should tell you about the make-up of my soil.
I use about 50% native soil, 30% perlite, 25% worm castings, 10% vermiculite, 4 bags of guano, gypsum, hi-mag, and hydrated lime.. I think all the guanos and worm cast is whats causing the run-off ti be so high... Any suggestions on how to correct my ph????
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
Hydrated lime isn't the best soil additive, it is much more potent and faster acting; it can actually burn roots. Dolomite lime would have been a safer bet, but that isn't what you want right now. Are you actually adjusting the pH of your fertigation mixtures? If so that isn't necessary. Certainly don't use any pH Up in it.
Not all guano is alkaline, I find that seabird guano is while bat guanos seem to be acidic. You can safely forget about trying to make your fertigation solution 6.5, just let it be and even if it went in at a pH of 5 that would be just fine. As long as you keep everything applied on the acidic side it should balance out just fine.
 
C

Cannabisculture

Active Member
I mix in Organic sulfur pellets and that lowers the pH run off considerably
i had the same problem when first working out the kinks in my special soil blend. Whats causing your soil to be high pH is all that guano and possibly your native soil
you just need to balance your nutes
 
ClosetSafe

ClosetSafe

Active Member
Lime usually brings the ph up. I use something acidic like Humic Acid or Fulvic Acid to bring it down. Citric Acid is also commonly sold in the garden section to lower ph in soil.
 
RoloTomassi

RoloTomassi

Active Member
Nullis said:
Hydrated lime isn't the best soil additive, it is much more potent and faster acting; it can actually burn roots. Dolomite lime would have been a safer bet, but that isn't what you want right now. Are you actually adjusting the pH of your fertigation mixtures? If so that isn't necessary. Certainly don't use any pH Up in it.
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What happens if you use PH up in it?

Errr, do you mean just in his case or in general?
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
Synthetic pH Up (like the General Hydro pH Up) reduces biological activity; too much may also result in soil that is too wet with reduced oxygen content.
 
RoloTomassi

RoloTomassi

Active Member
Nullis said:
Synthetic pH Up (like the General Hydro pH Up) reduces biological activity; too much may also result in soil that is too wet with reduced oxygen content.
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Ah good to know, so I guess the alternative is baking soda or tap water; presumably those won't reduce biological activity in the same way that GH pH up will ... are there other brand name pH adjusters that don't have that downside?
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
Earth Juice makes natural Up & Down, never used it personally though (although I use their nutrient line). Dolomite limestone prior to planting raises pH, and it should stay fine for several weeks at least (with adequate liming). Most fertilizers tend to be acidic, but this shouldn't be a problem given enough lime. I never alter the pH of anything I put into the soil, although I will use certain ingredients/practices that I know to help balance the pH of the final solutions a bit. However, I routinely put in solutions at pH 4-5 and the run-off still comes out at least 6.
 
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beartrapgeorge

New Member
It's been a week and my run off is still 7.4:evil: bongsmilie :eyesmoke: I use compost tea in 5.8-7 range and they seem to be loving it. I would still like to get my run-off at 6.5.. Citric acid sounds good, but will that kill biological activity in my soil??:peace:
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
7.4 is really fine; N-fixing bacteria like the pH around there. If you're concerned about it try to make your fertigation/tea solutions a bit more acidic. Citric acid is safe as far as I know if used sparingly, but it isn't something I use.
 
<Grasshopper>

<Grasshopper>

Active Member
I have silica blast that raises the ph right away. 1/4 teaspoon in 5 gallons will rais it from 6 to 6.5 if its only water in solution....but I suspect the silica blast may hurt the microbes in the soil....but not sure on this. I just usually choose the silica instead of ph up as the silica is supposed to strengthen stems and make the plant more hearty....better yeald. But thats just things Ive read on the internet and nothing is taken to seriously without my own trying to see if it works myself.
 
<Grasshopper>

<Grasshopper>

Active Member
I know that earthjuice catalist if measured right after mixing with water will have a ph of 4.5....aerate it for 24 hours and its in the 6 range. Mabey make a tea with earthjuice, castings and guano and use it when it reaches 5.5.....to lower the ph of your soil into the 6-ish range? I dunno...just thinking outloud..
Grasshopper
 
M

Mr.Therapy Man 2

Active Member
PH up and down has to be used with earth juice nutes,your ph will be under 5 useing the grow,bloom,catilyst,meta-k,micro,all these fuck your ph up
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
Lol... so how is it that I use the Earth Juice line ( Grow, Bloom, Catalyst, Microblast, MFP) without any kind of liquid pH Up? Sure you know what you're talking about?

RoloTomassi said:
Why wouldn't Earth Juice's pH up/down work with any nutes ? or any liquid solution for that matter?
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He's saying that if you do use the Earth Juice line you have to use some kind of pH Up because the EJ Grow/Bloom are quite acidic. This is BS though, all you need is dolomite lime in your soil. You also have the option of aerating the fertigation solutions to help raise the pH, but this is also not an absolute necessity.

Earth Juice Natural Up & Down can indeed be used with any nutrient line; I just don't use those products from them because I have never had to despite that I use the rest of the line.
 
I

IVIars

Active Member
I dont like EJ Natural up. It comes in crystal form and takes alittle while to dissolve. I use Fulvic Acid to lower my PH and Dynagro Protekt for my PH up. Fulvic Acid is the same as Humic Acid, Light brown color is Fulvic acid, and dark brown is Humic Acid
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
Humic acid is not really the same as fulvic acid, although you're partially correct (about the color of each). Fulvic acids are lightly colored and soluble in water at any pH while humic acids are dark and will participate out of solution at a pH < 2. Humic acids also have a higher molecular weight.
 
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