PH in soil

[pablohernandez]

Hi guys, so when i test my water for PH with test strips it's between 6 and 7 but when i test the soil with a soil PH meter the soil is 8, how can this be, which is right and which is wrong???

 

[Wizzlebiz]

Your soil pH is going to be different than the water pH.

Some soils are pH balanced and buffered some aren't. For those that aren't just focus on the water pH.

 

[SimonD]

I've been growing commercially for 17 years and have never measured pH. Not once. I use a pH balanced medium and a pH balanced fertilizer. Water from the tap. It's that easy. You can see examples of my plants in the Free Seed thread linked below. Good luck.

Simon

 

[BBQtoast]

pH meters are not going to read soil ph well, meters and tests only read certain things and won't account for the organic side or the ability to buffer.

 

[pablohernandez]

Thanks everyone, so i guess i won't stress too much about it

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

Thanks everyone, so i guess i won't stress too much about it

More than likely you are testing the soil with one of those cheap 3-in-1 meters. Only thing those might be good for are shish kabobs or maybe roasting marshmallows.

In soil water at 6.5 pH and don't worry about the soil pH.

 

[pablohernandez]

More than likely you are testing the soil with one of those cheap 3-in-1 meters. Only thing those might be good for are shish kabobs or maybe roasting marshmallows.

you nailed it !!

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

you nailed it !!

I bought one for my first grow. Wasn't long before it was literally thrown in the trash.

 

[BBQtoast]

With the buffering capacity of soil and the larger and different pH nutrient availability range in soil environment, pH adjustment of any water or feed solutions is not necessary and only adds un-necessary elements to the water and feed.

 

[cody.young11]

I've been growing commercially for 17 years and have never measured pH. Not once. I use a pH balanced medium and a pH balanced fertilizer. Water from the tap. It's that easy. You can see examples of my plants in the Free Seed thread linked below. Good luck.

Simon

So you use tap water and don't ph balance it? What is the natural PH of your tap water?