Question on pH please

Hey there.. I read the faqs, and didnt really get the answer Im looking for..
I just got an electronic pH tester.. I also got some 7.0 test solution..

I have a grow video from High Times, called Ready Set Grow.. Where it says the best pH is about 6.5..

The FAQS say 6.0, for soil.. THat seems really low to me.. Im wondering which is better, or so close it really isnt going make much difference..

Now for a question about my garden.. If the soil run off water is testing about 6.8 - 7.0 is this ok?
The water Im using seems about 5.5 or so..
Which I know is too low, but the run off water of my soil is 6.8 - 7.0..
Will this work, or should I look to find a way to adjust my waters pH?
Since it seems to be so low, wouldnt raising it closer to neutral, then increase the run off water of my soil..
Which is more important a 6.5ish pH water for the soil, or having the run off water as close to neutral or 6.5ish..

I included a pic of my pH pen tester.. I also included to pic of the first sprout, to pop up.. THis little guy came up right about 12 or so hours after I planted it.. Problem is it dont seem to of growm much since..
Its been almost 3 days now, and still looks exactly the same as it did when it first came up..
Is this normal, and if not.. Any ideas?

Thx in advance

joeblow420 said:

The FAQS say 6.0, for soil.. THat seems really low to me.. Im wondering which is better, or so close it really isnt going make much difference. Now for a question about my garden.. If the soil run off water is testing about 6.8 - 7.0 is this ok?
Will this work, or should I look to find a way to adjust my waters pH? Its been almost 3 days now, and still looks exactly the same as it did when it first came up. Is this normal, and if not.. Any ideas?

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here's a ph chart to look at. you need to get some ph up and down to make any good use of your meter. 6.5 is the norm for soil, imo. some people use different ph's for different mediums. until you can get something to adjust your ph, your run-off doesn't really matter. there's nothing you can do about it until then. more details about your grow would help answer your questions.

I cant really offer much as far of details..
I just moved over seas, and everything here is in a different lang. So finding exactly what I want has been next to impossible..

I found a soil, which simply sayd organic mix.. Doesnt say the pH, or if it does that part in chinese..
I dont know what if any NPK ratio is in this medium..
I just mixed it with perlite, and verm...
I cant find LIME anywhere, so I hear adding eggshells, could help palance pH to a degree..
Anyone else know if this is true?
Only other details are that Im using 4- 75 watt CFLs. 2 2800k, and 2 6500k.
There is NO hydro, or HIDs here..
So this was my only choice.. Really this is about all the detail I can go into.. Its been really harding trying to find just exactly what Im looking for..
I am also using a B1 vit. for watering.. I use it with every watering.. Is this ok?
Here is the B1 im usingLiquinox Start (Vit. B-1)

can I get some more feed back please!???

I just moved overseas, and ONLY have a few seeds.. After THAT Im shit out of luck..

So its really really important I get this right!!!

Only thing you can get here is low grade hash, and NO buds ANYWHERE.. So I ONLY have the few seeds I brought with me..!! :!

someone, anyone???????

Would aquarium pH up, help, or be ok for plants??
There are NO grow shops here that even sell this type of thing..
So only way for me to get it would be at an aquarium shop.. Its also where I had to find my pH tester..

bump bump bump bump

I had the same problem with my soil. My runoff was worse than yours, probably about 7.8 when I first started testing it. I researched it a lot, and found that watering with a lower ph, around 6, is the easiest way to change it. I only started doing this about a week ago, and they say that it takes time to work so you don't stress your plants. I would say keep doing that, your plants are young, and by the time you start feeding them nutes your ph should be fine. 6.8-7.0 isn't that bad of a ph though, your plants should still be able to uptake all their nutes at that level. If you want, you can do what your doing to get it around 6.5.

I wouldn't recommend watering with a ph of 5.5 though. 5.8 at the very lowest because anything lower will probably burn your plants a little. 5.5 is usually used for hydro.

Thats what Im saying, my water pH is that low, but for whatever reason my runoff water is closer to 6.8 - 7.0

anyone????

I use pool ph crystals for all my ph up and down needs soil and hydro

Try flushing the soil really well. Then balance your feeding water.

Filthy, you add them to the soil,. or add them to the water you use on them?

Go on line and get PH UP&Down it aint that hard.

Thats easy for you to say.. My biggest problem is finding places that will shit to anywhere in the world.. NOT many places will ship where Im living..

joeblow420 said:

Thats easy for you to say.. My biggest problem is finding places that will shit to anywhere in the world.. NOT many places will ship where Im living..

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Ok, if you are watering with a ph if 5.5 you don't need ph up/down... it's already phed enough unless your going to bring it up a little. Flush the plants if you want, and then keep using around 5.8-6.0 This will bring your runoff down to where you want it, but like I said before, its gradual. It won't happen overnight, it takes weeks. That's ok though, because your plants are young, your shouldn't be giving them nutes, and you don't want to stress them out by a fluctuating ph (which won't happen if its gradual like your doing) IMO I wouldn't flush at all, I would do what your doing unless your ppm is way off from adding nutes and you have a nute lockout with buildup.

ok thx, but I have seen many places, including in books by Ed Rosenthal, that soil pH should be at 6.5.. Isnt 5.5 too low?

you said your soil runoff is 6.8-7.0 right? Then why are you talking about 5.5, your water? If so you medium with that pH of water is staying at a pH of 6.8-7.0 thats not that bad, if you want to up/down your pH, check out some threads for home remedys of ph up/down i'm sure you could find one that would be locally available to you. Anywho i wouldn't be too picky about your soil if the runoff is 6.8-7.0, but I'm new

joeblow420 said:

ok thx, but I have seen many places, including in books by Ed Rosenthal, that soil pH should be at 6.5.. Isnt 5.5 too low?

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That's what I said to you before. I said 5.5 was too low IMO, because that is usually used for hyrdo. If you want to bring your PH down from 6.8-7.0 then run some 5.8-6.0 through it and it will gradually lower over time.

joeblow420 said:

ok thx, but I have seen many places, including in books by Ed Rosenthal, that soil pH should be at 6.5.. Isnt 5.5 too low?

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You just said that your soil ph is 6.5 - 7.0 but your water ph is 5.5. It was explained to me that you need to measure the ph of your soil, not the run off of the water. If your soil is out of whack than you need to use your ph up or down. If your soil has a ph of 6.5 than you are fine. Pick up a ph tester for your soil and keep an eye on that.