How do i properly bring down ph in my soil...?

cresiendoLaYerba

cresiendoLaYerba

Member
i am open to any suggestion been cooking this batch of soil since the beginning of april april 1st to be exact ph is at 7.0 today was like at 7.7 last week so i guess something is happening in there first batch of soil i guess i"m just a lil bit anxious and i have a lot riding on this grow:-P am i just being impatien?

thank you all for any advice i have learn more on this forum then i have in any other site or book!!
 
Sincerely420

Sincerely420

New Member
cresiendoLaYerba said:
i am open to any suggestion been cooking this batch of soil since the beginning of april april 1st to be exact ph is at 7.0 today was like at 7.7 last week so i guess something is happening in there first batch of soil i guess i"m just a lil bit anxious and i have a lot riding on this grow:-P am i just being impatient?

thank you all for any advice i have learn more on this forum then i have in any other site or book!!
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Yes you are haha! Let the soil sit another month! The pH should end up somewhere around 7. It'll come down!
You can add some peat if it doesn't!
 
W

waktoo

Well-Known Member
I've never checked the pH of my home built soils. I'd definitely let it cook for another 1-2 weeks. If you're into monitoring the pH of your soil mix, I think you'll find the the pH drops significantly after you've introduced plant roots into the equation. Cook your soil a little longer. Put a plant in it. If you've built your soil correctly, you needn't be concerned with pH. My .02c
 
AliCakes

AliCakes

Well-Known Member
There are LOTS of ways to properly bring down the pH in your soil.


Micro Bacteria inoculants bring pH down
powdered sulfur - a little goes a long way
Apple cider vinegar
Humic acid
more organics like Earth worm Compost

to raise pH
I use fungal inoculants or
a mix of rock dust and dolomite lime

Usually 420 is right - a well balanced soil will often auto correct itself, but by 7.7 I usually try to slowly fix it myself. I have a friend who didn't ever check his soil. He just killed a plant two weeks from harvest - soil was just over 9. He now checks.
 
2

215roller

Well-Known Member
Use that dolomite lime in the the soil and you don't even have to worry about checking the pH. Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe egg shells have pH regulatory benefits as well..ive used them in my soil before..just wash them off first so you don't attract pest.
 
hyroot

hyroot

Well-Known Member
brotherjericho said:
While lime is good for buffering soils, it will not bring down pH from 7.7 to 7. Lime increases alkalinity, reduces acidity, thus raising the PH.
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Yes it will. Its oyster shell flour and silica that brings up ph. Dole lime brings it to 6.5 and is a buffer . Coco and compost is a buffer too. Read any horticulture or botany book. Any university study. Any mj book or video will all say the same thing.
 
brotherjericho

brotherjericho

Well-Known Member
hyroot said:
Yes it will. Its oyster shell flour and silica that brings up ph. Dole lime brings it to 6.5 and is a buffer . Coco and compost is a buffer too. Read any horticulture or botany book. Any university study. Any mj book or video will all say the same thing.
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Sorry, but you are way off on this one.

http://www.oakgov.com/msu/Documents/publications/e1566_soil_acidity.pdf

1. What is lime?
According to chemical definition, lime is calcium oxide (CaO). In agriculture, lime is usually defined as calcium or calcium-magnesium containing compounds capable of reducing harmful effects of an acid soil by neutralizing soil acidity and raising the soil pH.
 
hyroot

hyroot

Well-Known Member
Agriicultural lime raises ph and is calcium only. Dolomite lime regulates ph to around 6 and has mag and other trace minerals. Hydrated lime has high alkalinic properties which is used as a pest control.
 
brotherjericho

brotherjericho

Well-Known Member
I can do this all day (but I won't)

http://www.grow-it-organically.com/changing-soil-ph.html

Ways to Make Soil More Alkaline (Reduce Acidity)

Dolomite Lime, (calcium magnesium carbonate), is the most common soil amendment for raising soil pH (reducing acidity). It’s used by both organic and conventional farmers, but should Not be used in soils with adequate or excess magnesium.

Plants need magnesium in small amounts, and excess magnesium stunts and kills vegetables. Where a soil test indicates adequate or high magnesium levels, use an alternate calcium source for changing soil pH.
 
PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
brotherjericho said:
While lime is good for buffering soils, it will not bring down pH from 7.7 to 7. Lime increases alkalinity, reduces acidity, thus raising the PH.
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Lol I thought the op wanted to raise his ph!!! so lime is absolutely a cost effective solution in MOST conditions........but yes you are correct, to lower ph sulfur/peat/ferts(salts) will work...

hyroot said:
Yes it will. Its oyster shell flour and silica that brings up ph. Dole lime brings it to 6.5 and is a buffer . Coco and compost is a buffer too. Read any horticulture or botany book. Any university study. Any mj book or video will all say the same thing.
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I think our good buddy is stoned here........he wants to LOWER his ph hyroot!! yes it is a buffer, but it will make the soil ALKALINE. he's asking for an effective ACIDIFIER! I didn't even notice until brotherjericho brought it up
 
AliCakes

AliCakes

Well-Known Member
PLEASE...don't try to use any kind of lime to lower your pH. While dolomite lime won't spike your pH like some other forms will, it still raises the pH. Organic colonies do help buffer pH making it an issue less often, but no one ingredient is a magic cure. If you think like that, you are sure to fail.

You need something acidic to bring soil pH down. The list I gave earlier will not only do that, but each choice has added benefits. Sulfur will deter bugs, apple cider vinegar is a mild all around fertilizer, etc.
 
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