PH of Soil too high... Help!!! :D

[Gamera00]

Hello everyone,

I just took a PH reading of my soil and its like7.5 to 8 I really need to lower the PH immediately I think. Can anyone tell me the easiest way to lower the PH? I am a very very noob grower (this is my first grow) so the simpler the better. I have heard that the PH up/down stuff from a pet store would work fine but for the life of me can't figure out how I would go about it. I mean do I add the PH down to water and then water the plants? Ahhhhh, I am worried!!!

 

[acer]

yeah i need to know the same thing i just ran in to that problem somebody please help us before we loose our plants

 

[bobharvey]

vinegar will work

 

[KAOSOWNER]

This is simple and you answered it in your question. What you want to do is make some ph'd water at around 6.5 - 6.8 and flush your plants until drainage reads in the right level, then dont water again till soil is dry. really simple, also if you are using one of those soil ph meters i wouldnt trust its reading, i would switch to a meter or litmus paper at the least. Ph Up and ph down are what is used to adjust ph but you want to get the right kind alot of ph buffers out there are crap and just plain bad for your plant. I suggest using phosphoric acid for ph down and sodium hydroxide for ph up. I hope this helps....

 

[KAOSOWNER]

Vinegar is unstable and is ok for a temporary fix but will cause fluctuations that a beginner will have a hard time working with.

 

[Gamera00]

Yes , I have read that vinegar will lower the PH but how to apply it I guess is what I'm needing to know. Should the vinegar be added to water then applied to the soil? Thank you by the way bobharvey, any and all assistance is GREATLY appreciated

 

[Gamera00]

This is simple and you answered it in your question. What you want to do is make some ph'd water at around 6.5 - 6.8 and flush your plants until drainage reads in the right level, then dont water again till soil is dry. really simple, also if you are using one of those soil ph meters i wouldnt trust its reading, i would switch to a meter or litmus paper at the least. Ph Up and ph down are what is used to adjust ph but you want to get the right kind alot of ph buffers out there are crap and just plain bad for your plant. I suggest using phosphoric acid for ph down and sodium hydroxide for ph up. I hope this helps....

THANK YOU MAN!!! I'm going to get on that ASAP So what I'm going to do is make the PH'd water using the phosphoric acid, flush the plants until the PH reading of the drainage is in the correct level. then leave em be allowing the soil to dry... Genius pure Genius!!!

 

[Gamera00]

To my newest friend Kaosowner,
I did some pondering as to what you said about the meter I am using and decided to further follow your advice. We have a garden center not far from my home and you can bring in soil samples for analysis, so I did. And TAAADAAA!!! You were right, the meter I am using is a piece of poop!!! It does fine as far as reading the moisture but absolutely wrong on PH readings. My soil is at a comfortable 6.2 PH, whew am I ever relieved I can't tell you how priceless your help was man, you probably saved the little hair I have left on this old head from falling off LOL Blessings to you and in all you do bro!!! Now for those like myself that are thinking a moisture/light/PH meter for 8 dollars is a bargain think again. Spend the extra and get a good PH meter and you will keep your hair in tact LOL

 

[KAOSOWNER]

Im really glad to hear everything is good, i also have one of those crappy meters but i only use it for moisture as well. If in the future you find yourself looking for a meter i would reccomend either a bluelab truncheon ph meter and my second choice would be a hanna. The bluelabs is quite expensive around $150 - $190, but in my opinion one of the best out there. But if money is tight just use ph test strips you can find these at walmart or a pet store fairly cheap and accurate. 6.2 is ok but if you could try and get it to around 6.5 your plants will love it and nutrients get absorbed the best at this ph level. Good luck and hope all grows well.