Water PH - Soil grow question

[Mr GreenJeans]

I'm in the final stages on my cab ( finally ), I got a meter and measured my tap water.... pH 8.2 with 120 PPM. Let the water sit overnight, more or less the same readings.

I think now I understand why it's so easy to keep my regular bonsai small with a pH like that..... .

My question - for first grow in soil - can I get by with this water ( I can use distilled for germination / cloning ), or should I bite the bullet and get a RO setup?

Thanks! -MGJ

 

[Crazy Composer]

We have a high pH too, but the acidity of the peat moss brings it down to a workable level in the soil... I am willing to bet you'll be ok. Now if you measured the water coming out of the pot at 8.2 (after allowing the water to spend some time in the soil), you might be looking at trouble, but you should be ok.

 

[Mr GreenJeans]

Thanks CC! I'll give it a whirl.... -MGJ

 

[Guest]

I have very high ph house water too mate.
After adding to my previous soil-less grows with coco and perlite after letting it sit for 2 days it seemed much lower. Also you can adjust the ph water with ph down before adding it, that may help too.

 

[Nugs of Science]

Bubbling air through for a while will bring the Ph down alittle. That is some HARD water. Nute lockout will occur though I don't know your soil mix. RO units rock. Plants love good water. I think water quality is highly overlooked. Good luck
NoS

 

[one_eyed_jack]

R/O water does rock and if you don't have the money for a unit then spend the buck a gallon for it at your local grocery store most places that sell bottled water sell distilled,R/O,or spring water and they mostly sell for a buck a gallon.R/O seems to help with root mass and general health of the roots as well as nutriant uptake.This grow I'm using rhizotonic along with the R/O water and the plants seem to love it.Next grow i'm gonna experiment with mycorhizal fungi inocculation of my soil first i hear that it's incredible and makes your root system super healthy and restistant................good luck..............


One eyed Jack Reckem

 

[Mr GreenJeans]

Wow - thanks for all the tips men! I think I'm brave enough now to check it out first. I'm going to make up a "dummy" pot with the soil mix I'll use, and try a couple waterings checking the drainage with the meter. If the water draining out isn't down in the low to mid 6 pH range I'll spring for a RO unit.

Leeroy - I don't have any problem using pH up and down, but I'm already starting at a PPM of 120-140.... add more stuff PPM is just going to go up - rather have solutes be fertilizer than stuff the girls can't use....

Anyway - test coming up next.... Thanks again :friends: ! -MGJ

 

[Turkish Gold]

dolomite mixed into the soil will also help out...

 

[Harry Gypsna]

U might want to look into nutrients specifically for hard water. I have recently heard of a company doing"Bespoke" nutrients, u get one of their water tst kits, send in a sample of ur water, and they mix a nutrient specific to ur water conditions. expensive but i have seen a couopkle of good reviews. was going to give em a whirl some time. I will dig the literature out of my "Grow-shop leaflet bag"

 

[Mr GreenJeans]

FJ :friends: eggshells - great, now I have an excuse to eat more eggs!!!!!

Turkish Gold thanks!

Harry - you have now convinced me. Yes - there are ways to live with hard alkaline water, but they all cost money every grow... I'm going to try to get one of the smaller RO systems off ebay - I already have a freshly plumbed cold water line with garden hose thread near the grow, would be easy to add in, and they look pretty cheap, looks like I can get a 50-100 GPD model for $100 or less.

Thanks again guys - I always need a nudge when it comes to partin with my Ben Fs..... -MGJ

 

[Hitman]

Vinegar or ph down m8, no problem. They say if you use dolemite lime than you can put your pen away.