Im wondering what wouldn't be too drastic of a measure to correct a high ph in soil. I've watered twice..both times I ph'ed the water down to 6.2ish as out of the tap its around 8.3ish. Checked runoff lpast time and it was right around 7. There is lime that was in the soil already..but when I water with the 6.2 water, it does sizzle a bit. By continuing to water with 6.2 water, will it drop the soil's ph eventually? Should I water with lower ph than 6.2?
Michiganjesse
Well-Known Member
I had the same problem I am running in SS ph was 8 I flushed and ph down to 5.5/6 and it helped
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
Run off pH means nothing and will have you chasing your tail.
Soil buffers itself. I don't have a pH pen. That is for hydro.
With a few extra ingredients, your soil will be stable.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/recycled-organic-living-soil-rols-and-no-till-thread.636057/
This will teach you about a good soil.
The proper way to check soil pH is to take equal parts deionized water and soil. Mix and let sit for a min or so. Check the pH of the slurry. Distilled water will work. Its pure and doesn't hold pH.
Soil buffers itself. I don't have a pH pen. That is for hydro.
With a few extra ingredients, your soil will be stable.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/recycled-organic-living-soil-rols-and-no-till-thread.636057/
This will teach you about a good soil.
The proper way to check soil pH is to take equal parts deionized water and soil. Mix and let sit for a min or so. Check the pH of the slurry. Distilled water will work. Its pure and doesn't hold pH.
240sxing
Well-Known Member
Soil does buffer itself , but at the same time you don't want to be throwing it curve balls all the time , the only way to correct ph in soil is through repetition , keep your watering roughly 6.5 on the ph scale and it will balance itself out , but there is no instant cure , unless you flush , which would be a pain in the ass and throw your soil and plant out of whack more and getting rid of all the nutrients.
Just keep doing what your doing and it will balance out , also what soil are you using?
Just keep doing what your doing and it will balance out , also what soil are you using?
Ok thanks. I know not to do anything drastic to change the ph in the soil. Its why I was wondering if 6.2 is enough or should I lower it to under 6 and for how long? i'll keep watering with low 6's. Im using pro-mix organic soil which has added lime and 30% perlite with worm castings.
The way I did the runoff I let the water sit for a couple hours prior to testing it. I will get bottled water, I think I saw it said de-ionized on it..however, the ph of that water is just above 8 as is stated on the bottle. Not sure how to calculate what the soil ph is. I'll continue to water with low ph and see what happens, thx!
Thank you! Will keep watering as I have been. Doesn't seem to be a major issue, for now anyway, though I noticed one plant, after first feeding, responded a bit negatively.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
No. Use distilled. Drinking water has stuff put in it.
It has to be pure distilled or deionized. They put minerals in drinking water for flavor.
Why are you even worried about it?
Seriously, if in soil put it up. No need for it.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
Soil buffers pH.
The pH of soil swings as it dries. It may be down in the low 6's when wet and above 7 when it dries.
The reason being not all nutrients are used at the same pH. Meaning NPK and micros will be best used at different pH's.
Unless you have done something silly you do not need the pH pen.
Sprinkle a tablespoon of pellet lime for every couple gallons of soil and never worry about it again.
The pH of soil swings as it dries. It may be down in the low 6's when wet and above 7 when it dries.
The reason being not all nutrients are used at the same pH. Meaning NPK and micros will be best used at different pH's.
Unless you have done something silly you do not need the pH pen.
Sprinkle a tablespoon of pellet lime for every couple gallons of soil and never worry about it again.
I read many times that the added stuff in tap water is actually needed by plants. We don't use chlorine up here so that's not present in water. Why im worried about the ph of my soil? I think it's a must lol.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
Run off pH is useless. Don't have to use a pH own for soil.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
No its not.
Not once did I check the pH. Not even when I mixed it.
Unless your using mud or clay, soil buffers the pH. It auto corrects.
Also that the pH moves as the soil dries.
Im using a pool ph test kit to test water..but will get a pen eventually as its handy to have. I know nutrients are taken up in different ph ranges. As for the lime..the soil already has lime added to it..and I also was told many times not to use pelletized lime as it takes over 6 months to break down. Also, lime buffers the soil to around 7..from what I read..marijuana is better with a slightly acidic soil..closer to 6.5. I know the soil is slightly high as again, the water at 6.2 sizzles when I water the soil with it. Hopefully wont be a major issue.
That's the first time I ever read that ph doesn't matter!!! lol. The fact that you didn't check it ever doesn't mean its irrelevant and it doesn't need to be monitored
maybe you just got lucky and everything worked out..im not using my own super soil...so yes I do check ph..not constantly..i did it once to get an idea.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
I give up. Have fun chasing an issue that doesn't matter.
Exactly the reason I use pellet lime. It last longer.
I can repeat that every time. Do you plan on throwing your soil away? Reuse it.
So if I add 6.2 and it buffers to 7 or I add 7.4 water and it buffers to 7, what's the point?
Soil pH does matter, but not the way your are thinking. You don't test it every day. Farmers check it once or twice a year. Maybe more on some of the higher tech farms.
You check it when you start. To see what is needed to correct it.
You are using a premade so that buffers itself.
You are not even checking the pH right.
They key to good pot is KISS. Kelp it super simple.
The more gadgets and toys and things you worry over is what causes new growers to screw up.
Don't go looking for problems or you will find them.
Oh, and that's not luck, its understanding how soil and plant nutrition work.
Read "teaming with microbes" to learn bow soil works.
Exactly the reason I use pellet lime. It last longer.
I can repeat that every time. Do you plan on throwing your soil away? Reuse it.
That makes no sense. It has lime that buffers it to 7.
So if I add 6.2 and it buffers to 7 or I add 7.4 water and it buffers to 7, what's the point?
Soil pH does matter, but not the way your are thinking. You don't test it every day. Farmers check it once or twice a year. Maybe more on some of the higher tech farms.
You check it when you start. To see what is needed to correct it.
You are using a premade so that buffers itself.
You are not even checking the pH right.
They key to good pot is KISS. Kelp it super simple.
The more gadgets and toys and things you worry over is what causes new growers to screw up.
Don't go looking for problems or you will find them.
Oh, and that's not luck, its understanding how soil and plant nutrition work.
Read "teaming with microbes" to learn bow soil works.
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whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
@Blitz35
I'm not trying to be a dick. It may seem that way.
Its crazy at the amount of misinformation and flat out myths when it comes to growing cannabis.
Of course ph is important. The wrong pH can cause lock outs. We all know this.
The part I'm getting at is with a good soil, store bought or homemade, pH is not a concern.
I can see on a new batch of soil testing just to be sure. After that though its not an issue. Soil takes care of itself.
I sent a sample of the soil here when I moved. It gave me a base line. From there I haven't checked it again. I can turn a shovel full over and it has a dozen worms.
I think maybe you would like growing in coco. It requires you to have the right pH.
I'm not trying to be a dick. It may seem that way.
Its crazy at the amount of misinformation and flat out myths when it comes to growing cannabis.
Of course ph is important. The wrong pH can cause lock outs. We all know this.
The part I'm getting at is with a good soil, store bought or homemade, pH is not a concern.
I can see on a new batch of soil testing just to be sure. After that though its not an issue. Soil takes care of itself.
I sent a sample of the soil here when I moved. It gave me a base line. From there I haven't checked it again. I can turn a shovel full over and it has a dozen worms.
I think maybe you would like growing in coco. It requires you to have the right pH.
Michiganjesse
Well-Known Member
I am no expert by far newbie here I have heard it both ways in growing in SS and I'm having major nutrient or ph problem no one can seem to figure it out for sure not me
greasemonkeymann
Well-Known Member
if by "ss" you mean "supersoil', then that's the problem.
Supersoil is a shitty technique, and a shittty recipe.
No offense intended.
did you layer the nutrients?