adjusting the PH

PotMonster

PotMonster

Active Member
I have a few questions, help would be appreciated and reps given!

I hear eveyone saying what their PH level is, but I don't know if they are talking about the dirt or the water.

Do you test the PH of the dirt?

I use city tap water ran through a brita filter and it is at 6.5.


When I add fox farm nutes, the ph of the soution is around 5.1.

Should I just add "PH up"(got from petsmart) to the gallon of water mixed with the nutrients and everything to bring the mixture up to 7?
 
Florida Girl

Florida Girl

Well-Known Member
The soil's PH is a result of the PH of the water going in and any food already in the soil.

Adjust the PH of the water .... start at 6.5 and water the plant... then take a PH reading of the runoff. If the runoff reads between 6.5 and 7.0 then you are golden.... if it's lower then 6.5 then adjust the PH of the water going in higher.

Also, the Brita filter won't change the PH of the water.... it will just filter out minerals and such. I run a RO machine and that gets rid of the minerals (at a higher degree then a standard brita filter) but the PH of that water is still around 6.5 and has to be adjusted.

Hope that helps :)
 
Doctor Cannabis

Doctor Cannabis

Well-Known Member
Most growers just check their water pH. You can also check the soil pH with one of those garden pH meters, but those are usually way off. That's why it's best to buy good soil with the pH specified, between 6 and 7.

Filtered tap water is just fine, it's just your pH of 5.1 that's a bit harsh. Add pH-Up till you get a 6.5. Watering solution for soil growth should be between 6 and 7, with 6.3-6.5 being perfect.
 
PotMonster

PotMonster

Active Member
Awesome, thanks! So I can add fox farm nutrients with water AND mix in the ph up with it too, correct? I just didn't want to mix the ph up with my nutrients and mess something up.

How long do I wait after I add the ph up to test the water?


I'll just make sure my watering solution is always between 6.5 and 7 everytime I water.
 
Doctor Cannabis

Doctor Cannabis

Well-Known Member
You can add pH-up and nutes together with no problem.

The nutes and pH-up dissolve almost instantly in the water. Just stir the pH meter in the water for 5sec and you'll get a precise reading.
 
Florida Girl

Florida Girl

Well-Known Member
PotMonster said:
Awesome, thanks! So I can add fox farm nutrients with water AND mix in the ph up with it too, correct? I just didn't want to mix the ph up with my nutrients and mess something up.

How long do I wait after I add the ph up to test the water?
Click to expand...

You got it....

1. Get water
2. Add nutes
3. Take PH reading
4. Add PH up or down depending on how you need to adjust
5. Take PH reading of water/nute/PH mix and go from there.

I have a digital meter and I like to let my meter sit in the mix for 15 minutes while the PH reading becomes stable. For example.... when I add my nutes I let it sit/circulate until the reading adjusts and becomes stable before I adjust PH. After I adjust PH I let the meter sit another 15 minutes to stabilize with the PH adjustment. It's not uncommon to add nutes and have the instant PH read 5.5.... after about 15 minutes it reads 5.8 and will stay there even if I leave it longer. That means the reading is stable and accurate.
 
PotMonster

PotMonster

Active Member
awesome, thanks everyone! I have a digital PH meter also, I love it but didnt really know how to use it. my runoff had a PH of 4.8 last time, I bet my plants will look a lot better after I fix the PH, although they do look ridiculously healthy.

Does everyone here water until there is some seepage through the bottom everytime?
 
Florida Girl

Florida Girl

Well-Known Member
PotMonster said:
awesome, thanks everyone! I have a digital PH meter also, I love it but didnt really know how to use it. my runoff had a PH of 4.8 last time, I bet my plants will look a lot better after I fix the PH, although they do look ridiculously healthy.
Click to expand...
Wow.... 4.8 runoff for soil it REALLY too low. If you see problems DON'T PANIC.... lockout from PH being wrong can take a while to show.... as long as you are on top of it now things should be fine.

On another note.... digital PH meters have to be cleaned and calibrated every now and then to keep their accuracy. How often is a matter for debate.... I used to do it once a week.... but that turned out to be too much.... now I do it every 3 to 4 weeks and that's about perfect.

Your meter should have come with calibrating instructions..... if it didn't then check the manufacturers website for instructions you can download. Hanna has all their meter manuals on line :)
 
Doctor Cannabis

Doctor Cannabis

Well-Known Member
PotMonster said:
awesome, thanks everyone! I have a digital PH meter also, I love it but didnt really know how to use it. my runoff had a PH of 4.8 last time, I bet my plants will look a lot better after I fix the PH, although they do look ridiculously healthy.

Does everyone here water until there is some seepage through the bottom everytime?
Click to expand...
I've read that it's perfect if 15% of the amount of watering solution drips out into the pan under the pot. Then you know that you've watered with the right amount.

As for the run off pH, it is a bit too low. You must have some really acidic soil.
 
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