Soil ph?

[gliders420]

I'm pretty confused and highly frustrated that I try and research soil runoff testing and everybody seems to copy and paste the same article!

This article doesn't completely explain how the testing is done.

"Just add lime" they all pretty much say in the exact same way as the other articles/threads


I added 5.9 water to my soil it cam out at 6.3. What does that mean? I know the ph is on the highs side maybe like 7-7.5 but how do I calculate the exact number and what I should now adjust water to. To balance out what's happening in the soil.

 

[gliders420]

Since it came out at 6.3 is it ok now? Can I continue added water at 6.3-6.8 for a week or two before I test it again?

 

[Wayzer]

yes... but what phase of growth are u in and what is ur medium?

 

[gliders420]

2nd week flowering, and some unknown soil mix given to me with the plant...

 

[Jhhnn]

I had trouble getting consistent results with the runoff test, but a method I picked up from some gardening site seems to work well.

Dig down into the soil a ways to get a sample, less than 1/4 cup. Pack it like you were planting into a measuring cup, then add an equal part of distilled water. Stir vigorously, wait 5-10 minutes. Strain the liquid through a coffee filter, measure the ph. I use an Oakton meter, but I'm sure other methods would work.

Dunno about the right on the nuts accuracy, but multiple samples from the same soil are consistent.

 

[Eureka Springs Organics]

Why are you testing the PH of soil?

 

[aridbud]

pH in soil and water....equally important to grow the most robust.

 

[Eureka Springs Organics]

pH in soil and water....equally important to grow the most robust.

I suppose so. I have not ever tested the ph of my soil, and I have not tested the ph of my water in years.

Things seem to be very robust without doing it.

With proper organic soil you don't have to bother with the hydroponic mind set.

 

[aridbud]

I suppose so. I have not ever tested the ph of my soil, and I have not tested the ph of my water in years.

Things seem to be very robust without doing it.

With proper organic soil you don't have to bother with the hydroponic mind set.

Crappy water (too alkaline, too many minerals...iron, manganese, sodium, etc.) and organic soil don't mix. THUS, balanced pH, balanced soil.

 

[RoadRash]

I suppose so. I have not ever tested the ph of my soil, and I have not tested the ph of my water in years.

Things seem to be very robust without doing it.

With proper organic soil you don't have to bother with the hydroponic mind set.

I was warned by a gardener at the grow shop that my use of small amounts of Wood Ash (for Potassium) could make the soil too acidic.

Mixing it up, About 1 cubic foot of Happy Frog (20 double-handfuls), 24 ounces of Bone Meal (for Phosphorus), and 8 to 12 ounces of Wood Ash.

He said I could water it using normal water (well water in my case), then bring in the run off in a jar and they would measure the pH at the store.

Actually, he wasn't trying to sell me anything, just being helpful. I have a pH meter somewhere, but Jah knows when I will find it.

The plants in that soil mix are Muy Happy, so I'm not worried.

Anyway, I thought that might be a legit application for measure the pH of the run-off.


But I also feel that "The Plant is the Meter" - if the Plant is happy, you are in the Zone soil-wise.

I have a feeling I would have to add more wood ash for it to present a problem acidity wise.

 

[Jhhnn]

Why are you testing the PH of soil?

I had some issues with this last grow- classic nitrogen deficiency symptoms of yellowing & dropping fan leaves. Even supplementing that, I didn't completely turn it around.

I think that I just didn't re-amend recycled soil properly. OTOH, I read that improper ph will lock out nitrogen, so I had to check. Denver water has fairly high ph, so I thought I might have altered soil ph that way.

I'm sure my inexperience is showing, but I work at doing this well.