simple ph question. would really like a reply.

ebenezerfagglegold

ebenezerfagglegold

Active Member
ok so I tested the runoff that came out of the boom of the pot and it was around 6.4, then I tested the tapwater and its about dead on 7.0, but maybe a little higher (the changes in the blue color seem really subtle). I certainly wouldn't want to lower the ph would I? people always seem to say 6.5 is right on for the water that goes in, but if I have a good runoff ph wouldn't lowering the ph further just cause it to be too low?
 
dodgydan

dodgydan

Active Member
The run off isnt an accurate indicator of anything. Just concentrate on the PH of what you put in. If you want a proper reading of your soils PH buy a test kit online. If you bought the soil pre mixed it usually tells you the PH of the soil. JUst buy a soil with PH your happy with and water around the same PH....Easy. If you make your own then use dolmite lime to buffer the soil and you wont need to worry about its PH again.
 
ebenezerfagglegold

ebenezerfagglegold

Active Member
well it certainly says something that something that is 7.0 becomes a 6 at the end of a short trip through some soil.. but if I wanted to put 6.5 phd water in with the soil this acidic, wouldn't common sense say that it would just make it go from "acidic'" to "too acidic?"
 
racerboy71

racerboy71

bud bootlegger
dodgydan said:
The run off isnt an accurate indicator of anything. Just concentrate on the PH of what you put in. If you want a proper reading of your soils PH buy a test kit online. If you bought the soil pre mixed it usually tells you the PH of the soil. JUst buy a soil with PH your happy with and water around the same PH....Easy. If you make your own then use dolmite lime to buffer the soil and you wont need to worry about its PH again.
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i agree, all the ph of your run off tells you is the ph of your run off, meaning, it's a worthless number..
 
dodgydan

dodgydan

Active Member
ebenezerfagglegold said:
well it certainly says something that something that is 7.0 becomes a 6 at the end of a short trip through some soil.. but if I wanted to put 6.5 phd water in with the soil this acidic, wouldn't common sense say that it would just make it go from "acidic'" to "too acidic?"
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yes because it is mixing with nutrients and whatever in the soil before it runs out the bottom. Why would you care what Ph that solution was. It isnt an accurate reading of your soil PH. You really dont need to bother testing run off.
 
dodgydan

dodgydan

Active Member
If I was you id feed at 6.5, not bother with the run off and if i wanted to know my soils PH buy a cheap test kit online that will give me an accurate reading. If you continually feed soil at 6.5 its PH will become around that mark. Most premixed soils have lime and buffers already added to keep your PH around the right area and if you made your own you should have its PH pre set for your grow. Where is the need to test run off?
 
hogbud

hogbud

Well-Known Member
Testing the PH of runoff water does not test the PH of your soil, true, but does give an indication of whether or not there are salt build ups and is a valid test for such.

If you pour in 6.5 and get 6.4 out it indicates there are residual salts in the soil but not a lot, if you pour in 6.5 and get 5.7 out it is time for a flush
 
dodgydan

dodgydan

Active Member
hogbud said:
Testing the PH of runoff water does not test the PH of your soil, true, but does give an indication of whether or not there are salt build ups and is a valid test for such.

If you pour in 6.5 and get 6.4 out it indicates there are residual salts in the soil but not a lot, if you pour in 6.5 and get 5.7 out it is time for a flush
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Iv never used run off to determine anything but i can see your logic. If you test the ppm and PH of your solution there shouldnt really be any need. I usually go feed water feed water anyway which i believe helps to rinse the soil to prevent a significant build up of salts. I just go of the plants appearance and if its healthy then its healthy if something is wrong find the problem and deal with it it. I give a mini flush at the start of flower and then build my nutes ppm up steadily untill final flush. Never had to do an emergency flush inbetween.
 
Husseinps

Husseinps

Well-Known Member
Hello, i just tested my tap water ph and it says 8.5
I still havent tested my runoff water.
How can i practically lower my ph to around 6.5 for soil use?
Please help, i'm worried to water again with this water.
I'm into 1 month veg outdoor in small pots
 
ebenezerfagglegold

ebenezerfagglegold

Active Member
I just got a water ph test kit from petsmart. aquarium section. It has a testing solution and ph up and ph down soltions. Same setup as general hydroponics ph kits for $20
 
Husseinps

Husseinps

Well-Known Member
ebenezerfagglegold said:
I just got a water ph test kit from petsmart. aquarium section. It has a testing solution and ph up and ph down soltions. Same setup as general hydroponics ph kits for $20
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I really do not have this luxury to get ph up or ph down solutions where i live.
I'm doing some research and people suggest lemon juice or vinegar. Any idea if they are safe to use?
 
Husseinps

Husseinps

Well-Known Member
hogbud said:
I have been using apple cider vinegar for years, google it, it's great for plants and humans
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I used exactly this. Great results! My ph went from 8.5 to 7 with 2 table spoons 3/4 filled (i had to walk with the spoon rather than carrying a gallon of water)
 
C

canabisconsumerprotection

Member
Now yall are threw with his question, I got one, if I have store bought hapi gro- Organic Potting Soil, some scotts top soil, sta-green potting soil with 9 months of food in it,berter grow Organic Orchid Mix Soil. vermiculite, perlite and mix it all up, would I need to test the soil with a master soil kit that does all this pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium or just a PH test kit, Lowes carriers three they all suck, but tell me which is the best of the worse, and do I even need it? heres the link to Lowes test kits, I need to know quick, they got two 10% off coupons on slick deals.and everything has to come from lowe's.http://www.lowes.com/Search=soil+test+kits?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&N=0&newSearch=true&Ntt=soil+test+kits#!
 
ebenezerfagglegold

ebenezerfagglegold

Active Member
okay guys here's an update of sorts.. I brought my h20 down to a pretty dead on 6.5 and watered. Again the runoff was more acidic (which is of course natural), but it was waay down to a 6.0 or maybe even lower. Makes me kind of nervous, my little buddies are doing so well and I really try to adhere to the "if it aint broke don't fix it" model, but then again I've always heard 6.5 would be the perfect ph for cannabis. I'm going to watch my plant and see if there's any reaction to the ph change, and I realize testing runoff is redundant and won't really tell me much but I'm just trying to take care of my plants. So am I doing the right thing? Bottom line is my tapwater ph is up into the 7s, maybe 7.5 or higher even - so I really should adjust according to that alone right?
 
hogbud

hogbud

Well-Known Member
I PH my water/feed to 5.8 as there is no "perfect" spot, it is more of a range thing because if your medium is working properly it will raise the PH back up to neutral as it dries making each water/feed cycle offer a PH range for the most possible nute uptakePH.jpg
 
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