PH adjustments

[anonamauz]

I've been having some trouble, and it appears the local tap water is around PH 8- what do I do to control this? I'm using Scott's potting soil, and haven't started any nutes yet, and want to get this under control before I do- I have some burnt leaves. Should I try to fix the Ph of the water before watering? Should I add anything to the soil?

 

[minds_I]

Hello,

Adjust your pH before watering.

Use D.lime in your soil nextg round.

minds_I

 

[Guest]

Like said above adjust the ph of your water or don't use soil with ferts included and use only Hydro ferts.

MO,

 

[anonamauz]

what's a good technique for adjusting the ph of tap water? I'm using distilled now, but don't wanna have to buy water for the remainder. Also, doesn't D. lime raise PH? my PH is already to high...

 

[bartender187]

^^^

Dolimitic Lime adjusts soil to around 7, so if your soil is higher than that it will slowly adjust it to that range.


For water, you can use vinegar/baking soda if you want... (ive never tried it, but i hear it works like a charm).... i just buy the ol two peace acid/base setup, with a PH pen and your set.

Lettin your water sit out overnight will release alot of the cholorine and other chemicals.... w/o the chemicals the water PH is alot more stable...

 

[bostrom155]

I was using the Ph down from the pet store 6 bucks for the small bottle, this time I just bought Vinegar. With the pet store Ph D it only took 15 drops to lower water to 6.4-6.8. With the vinagar its double the drops but way cheaper.

 

[anonamauz]

i need some guidance on quantities- sounds like vinegar's the way to go. I know the amount is going to be specific to my tap water, but should i be experimenting with drops? capfuls? cups?

 

[bostrom155]

i need some guidance on quantities- sounds like vinegar's the way to go. I know the amount is going to be specific to my tap water, but should i be experimenting with drops? capfuls? cups?

Measure the ph of your water, take a gallon sitting out overnite, add 10 drops then test, then 10 more test ect. till you have around 6.6 or so. Then remember most nutes are acidic, and will lower too, used to have a chart showing how many drops of ph D I needed per ml of my PBP. Looks like I need to just double it, but I like checking a few times to be sure

 

[minds_I]

Hello all,

To bring the pH down for plain waterintgs I use a touch of Alaska fish-works like a charm.

minds_I

EDIT: I use ej bloom not Alaska fish although that will bring down the pH the EJB is better at that.

 

[Guest]

Well it looks like you are using pure blend pro. My tap water is around 8 also. When I mix my PBP as directed on the container. I don't have to adjust the mix hardly at all. I use Coco with no addatives. Works great for me. You could use a peat based mix with no addatives. If you are gonna use a soil with preadded ferts then it is gonna be a little more difficult to adjust your ph. If it was me I wouldn't use both hydro nutes and soil that has added ferts in it never worked out for me.

Mo,

 

[anonamauz]

I'm not using pro blend- so far just scott's potting soil with added phosphorous, but no other nutes, and tap water.

 

[Guest]

Sorry saw the pic above, just didn't pay attention to who put it in. It's hard to adjust ph when using soil added ferts.

 

[OXOSSI]

Had the same problem myself, burnt leaves, slow growth - very annoying. Buy some HCl (hydrochloric acid) from an aquarium store, add it to your water to make (say pH 6 or lower), flush it thru your soil and measure the pH bottom. U can do this twice till the value stabilizes. third time make a 6.2-6.6 water solution and flush it with that - should be stable. Then don't water your plants for some time till they dry. this should work as a charm. lemme know.