Ph Question - Tap water is 8.9 -Clackimus Coots Organic Soil

H

Hazephase

Active Member
Hello everyone,
I had a quick question and I was hoping to get some help from some experienced individuals.

I was told with my soil I don't need to keep adjusting my PH.
(Clackimus Coots Organic Soil but with added dolomite lime)

I was adjusting it down with Lemon juice to 6.5 but I just watered in my Coots Organic soil with dolomite lime and my water was 8.9 - 9.1 PH tap water.
Is that going to be an issue?
Would I be better lowering the PH with something other than organic lemon juice?
Any other tips or tricks?

On week two since breaking through ground.
Thanks Everyone
 
NaturalFarmer

NaturalFarmer

Well-Known Member
Water looks okay aside from the pH to me. Looks like they don't use chloramine so you can let it sit for a day and the chlorine should dissipate some and you are good to go.
I think the lemon juice should be fine to get you down, although I have never done it long term, but don't see an issue.
 
H

Hazephase

Active Member
NaturalFarmer said:
Water looks okay aside from the pH to me. Looks like they don't use chloramine so you can let it sit for a day and the chlorine should dissipate some and you are good to go.
I think the lemon juice should be fine to get you down, although I have never done it long term, but don't see an issue.
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Yeah I'm going to check the ph of water I left out for 30 hours to see if went down at all.

I'm going to look into the lemon juice more as it works but don't want any issues from it. - open to suggestions.
 
ShLUbY

ShLUbY

Well-Known Member
here is something to consider....

the higher pH water will likely not have an affect on the soil if you have a peat based mix. there are so much H+ atoms in peat (which is why bogs are so acidic) that your water is likely just going to be neutralized by the acidic protons (H+). I honestly think if you do nothing that you will be completely fine. the plant will regulate more H+ ions into the soil as needed, and try and control the pH on its own if necessary.

if you want a little background on how pH in the soil works, I did a simplified explanation of it here https://www.rollitup.org/t/help-me-with-application-rates-frequency.934800/
 
H

Hazephase

Active Member
ShLUbY said:
here is something to consider....

the higher pH water will likely not have an affect on the soil if you have a peat based mix. there are so much H+ atoms in peat (which is why bogs are so acidic) that your water is likely just going to be neutralized by the acidic protons (H+). I honestly think if you do nothing that you will be completely fine. the plant will regulate more H+ ions into the soil as needed, and try and control the pH on its own if necessary.

if you want a little background on how pH in the soil works, I did a simplified explanation of it here https://www.rollitup.org/t/help-me-with-application-rates-frequency.934800/
Click to expand...
Thank you I will check out your link for sure.
Any feedback on lowering PH with organic lemon juice as that is very easy to do.
 
H

Hazephase

Active Member
ShLUbY said:
why would you prefer to lower it. what is your reasoning?
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My reasoning isn't that I have dolomite lime but I don't feel confident watering with 9.1 as I feel it's too high even with my Soil - will it still grow - yes. Will it grow as best as it can - probably not with 9.1.

The person who got me into this soil mix who's been doing it for 15+ years told me should be fine but not the best I would lower it a bit.
 
majins

majins

Well-Known Member
Check PH of run off to determine if you need to keep PH downing.
Using Lemon juice worked ok for me in 100% perlite, Failed in Soil and DWC.
 
ShLUbY

ShLUbY

Well-Known Member
Hazephase said:
My reasoning isn't that I have dolomite lime but I don't feel confident watering with 9.1 as I feel it's too high even with my Soil - will it still grow - yes. Will it grow as best as it can - probably not with 9.1.

The person who got me into this soil mix who's been doing it for 15+ years told me should be fine but not the best I would lower it a bit.
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this is not reasoning; this is a feeling.

don't bother checking runoff ph, as you don't even want runoff in the first place or you're leaching things from your soil, and it's not the most accurate way to test for soil ph.

if you want to know whether or not your water is affecting your soil, the only way to determine that is to know what the ph of your soil actually is. Then you can decide on changing ph of your water.

it's also important to understand how soil ph works in the first place and this will help you understand the reasons to make changes. Do you know the chemical reactions that are happening in your soil when dealing with ph?
 
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