Raise the PH of soil?

The run off water of my soil is scary low - 5.5ish PH.

Is there an easy way to raise it with a fluid or something?

Im using a mix of Kelloggs and MG organic potting soil. I know this isnt the best stuff but oh well live and learn.

Im currently 2 months in, using 5g buckets so AFAIC a re-pot isnt realistic.

Thanks for any ideas.

if you have access to wood ashes, they are excellent
i'm growing with MG organic, and the combination worked well for me

You'll need a pH kit and some pH Down. You can get both at a pet store or possibly a pool supply, though I'm not sure they would carry ph Up.

growone said:

if you access to wood ashes, they are excellent
i'm growing with MG organic, and the combination worked well for me

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Thanks for the reply.

Is "wood ashes" just a generic term or something specific?

Is it something I can add while watering or do I have to dig up the soil?

Thanks.

Cr8z13 said:

You'll need a pH kit and some pH Down. You can get both at a pet store or possibly a pool supply, though I'm not sure they would carry ph Up.

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I have a PH kit. Ive seen PH down but not up. If I used PH up in a watering, would it successfully raise the PH of the soil, and not just the water?

tomato worm said:

Thanks for the reply.

Is "wood ashes" just a generic term or something specific?

Is it something I can add while watering or do I have to dig up the soil?

Thanks.

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wood ashes are ashes from burning firewood - guessing you don't have any - i heat with firewood so have plenty
there is a ph up, or so i've heard, think it's essentialy the same ingredient that wood ashes give you

growone said:

wood ashes are ashes from burning firewood - guessing you don't have any - i heat with firewood so have plenty
there is a ph up, or so i've heard, think it's essentialy the same ingredient that wood ashes give you

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I know someone with a wood stove they use for heating in the winter, its likey still gobbed with ashes.

So can I just add it to water or do I have to somehow mix it in soil?

Thanks. +REPd.

tomato worm said:

I know someone with a wood stove they use for heating in the winter, its likey still gobbed with ashes.

So can I just add it to water or do I have to somehow mix it in soil?

Thanks. +REPd.

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i added to water, then filtered with a bit of tissue paper, just neater i guess
be quite careful with the quantity - they are very effective in raising ph
i added 1 tbsp to 2 quarts of water - 2 gallon pot so that worked out
that raised ph just up to 6, suspect my ph was close to yours

tomato worm said:

I know someone with a wood stove they use for heating in the winter, its likey still gobbed with ashes.

So can I just add it to water or do I have to somehow mix it in soil?

Thanks. +REPd.

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get you some hydrated lime from your local garden center and mix one tbls per gallon. that should raise your shit.

just a second thought - wood ash is pretty much potassium carbonate
excellent source of potassium for flowering

Fuck the wood ash shit! Get some lime at your local garden center.

Dirtyboy said:

Fuck the wood ash shit! Get some lime at your local garden center.

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make sure its "hydrated"

Dirtyboy said:

Fuck the wood ash shit! Get some lime at your local garden center.

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he did say he was about 2 months in, flowering should happening soon
lime is slow, doesn't have the potassium the plant will crave soon
potassium carbonate is very fast, which is what wood ash provides

Flushing with properly PH'd water will raise your soil PH also. Add powdered Dolomite lime to your soil mix when mixing & it'll help balance the PH. 1-2 tbps/gallon of soil.

You could order some PH up online too, its like $20.00 for a big bottle

Sheepdog420 said:

Flushing with properly PH'd water will raise your soil PH also. Add powdered Dolomite lime to your soil mix when mixing & it'll help balance the PH. 1-2 tbps/gallon of soil.

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highly agree with dolomite in the soil - buffers ph, adds calcium and magnesium

growone said:

he did say he was about 2 months in, flowering should happening soon
lime is slow, doesn't have the potassium the plant will crave soon
potassium carbonate is very fast, which is what wood ash provides

Click to expand...

Use ph buffered nutes until harvest. You dnt have to worry about ph.

wood ash will work. Hydrated lime will work as well

Good Luck

Get PH up and PH down and a tester kit..
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002FD1RIO/ref=asc_df_B002FD1RIO854310?smid=AGIKQXQ1E9Q2&tag=nextag-lawngarden-mp-delta-20&linkCode=asn

Well.. I do need to raise the PH of my soil. Some interesting feedback, I thank you all.

Still not sure on using "hydrated" lime vs wood ash. I believe that regardless, one of them should be used for a semi-high PH of water... (Im thinking 7.5ish to start?) to add to soil slowly and then measure run off. For a 5g bucket I usually use I dunno, about 1g of water unless I want to flush a little.

Plants still need a few days to dry up before next watering. I will post results.

Thanks again.