Alkaline Water

[Man at Arms]

Has anyone had experience using Alkaline Water to help raise the PH if it drops? I saw this as well as Alkaline water with a PH of 9.0.

 

[troutman]

Check the label to make sure it's not too rich in sodium. As long as you use it in small amounts and
don't bump your grow pH too much it will be ok. Getting regular pH up for growing will be cheaper in
the long run though.

 

[Man at Arms]

Check the label to make sure it's not too rich in sodium. As long as you use it in small amounts and
don't bump your grow pH too much it will be ok. Getting regular pH up for growing will be cheaper in
the long run though.

Thanks troutman! I’m using MediOne organics from Green Planet and reading up on it, it tends to drop the PH down to around 6.0 and under. I figured this could help bring the PH back up. Any recommendations to help bring the PH back up naturally?

 

[troutman]

Limestone is an inexpensive way to bring raise the pH.

They sell it at gardening stores, plant growing shops and almost anywhere you can buy soil.

 

[stinkyattic]

Troutman is right on about the possible sodium issue with bottled drinking water.
Alkaline water is among the most expensive and least efficient things you can use to adjust pH. The amount you'd need to balance whatever you have in your water supply could be more than the amount of water you are trying to adjust!
Since you ideally want to make your final adjustment after adding fertilizer, by the time you add all that water, you've got a totally different dilution from what you intended.
PH down (phosphoric acid) is cheap and easy and completely compatible with the needs of your plants. And it may only take a few drops!

 

[Man at Arms]

Troutman is right on about the possible sodium issue with bottled drinking water.
Alkaline water is among the most expensive and least efficient things you can use to adjust pH. The amount you'd need to balance whatever you have in your water supply could be more than the amount of water you are trying to adjust!
Since you ideally want to make your final adjustment after adding fertilizer, by the time you add all that water, you've got a totally different dilution from what you intended.
PH down (phosphoric acid) is cheap and easy and completely compatible with the needs of your plants. And it may only take a few drops!

Thanks Stinky! I’ll stay away from the Alkaline Water. Currently using distilled water now. If I am trying to raise my my PH wouldn’t I want PH Up? What about Dolomite lime to raise PH?

 

[Mr. J]

Use potassium hydroxide to raise the pH of water.

 

[troutman]

Thanks Stinky! I’ll stay away from the Alkaline Water. Currently using distilled water now. If I am trying to raise my my PH wouldn’t I want PH Up? What about Dolomite lime to raise PH?

Distilled water has no buffer and why it's pH can fluctuate wildly.

Dolomitic lime will work and will supply both calcium and magnesium to your plants.

 

[stinkyattic]

Thanks Stinky! I’ll stay away from the Alkaline Water. Currently using distilled water now. If I am trying to raise my my PH wouldn’t I want PH Up? What about Dolomite lime to raise PH?

Yes you would lol my typing got on the freeway in the wrong direction.
If you start with distilled water, your first step should be adding CalMag to about 100ppm before you even start worrying about other ferts or pH. 1) calmag. 2) ferts. 3) check pH, adjust if needed 4) tell your plants 'you're welcome!' : )

 

[Man at Arms]

Yes you would lol my typing got on the freeway in the wrong direction.
If you start with distilled water, your first step should be adding CalMag to about 100ppm before you even start worrying about other ferts or pH. 1) calmag. 2) ferts. 3) check pH, adjust if needed 4) tell your plants 'you're welcome!' : )

Thank you sir. I got the dolmite lime yesterday. It’s a powder. Should I just add directly to Soil or mix with water?

 

[slownickel]

Be real careful using Dolomite. Lots' of magnesium that is often hard to get rid of.

Quick lime aka hydrated lime, at 0.5 to 0.6 gr/gal will bring the pH up quick. Plus a great calcium source.

If you want to mix in calcium carbonate, get a thicker grind and it will last longer. But it will have to be mixed in.

 

[stinkyattic]

Thank you sir. I got the dolmite lime yesterday. It’s a powder. Should I just add directly to Soil or mix with water?

It's typically considered a soil supplement for folks who are using a peat based medium. It acts as a buffer against the pH drop associated with aging peat media. You definitely still want to have liquid up and down available to adjust as needed based on runoff values. Lime (calcium carbonate) is a buffer, and has a very interesting equilibrium when dissolved in water, I still remember my old phd chemist boss/mentor explaining it to me when I was a young lab technician. Limestone in nature is the buffer against acid rain impacting surface waters. Lime in your potting mix minimizes the effects of soil souring over time. Just remember to check it periodically to be sure that you haven't gone past the buffering capacity as the soil ages. This is also a good PSA moment to say how important it is to grow in the smallest pot for the size of your plant, and pot up frequently to let fresh roots find fresh soil.
Many potting mixes have lime in them already so read your labels and dont overdo it.

 

[slownickel]

I suggest folks learn their lessons and not listen to anyone. Try more and more high Ca lime and gypsum. I would not recommend using Dolomite unless you are trying to plug up your soil. Usually the issue is getting rid of Mg not adding more. If you do ever see what you think is a Mg deficiency, apply it foliarly (MgSO4 @ 1.0%). Mg is 100% mobile in the plant and you only need tiny quantities. Unless you are on a super porous soil that drains out in 2 minutes, apply drops of Mg if you must. Not the stupid levels that are atypical in the woo woo juice formulations.