PH issues. Please help.

[Mr. Big Bud Good]

Is there a product out there that I can add to my soil to keep my PH close to 6.5 regardless if I add water with high PH or low PH? For some reason I thought that's how lime worked, but I tested it and it only raises the PH. I'm looking for something that will adjust it to 6.5 regardless of where it starts.

 

[Wetdog]

Yeah, it's called dolomite lime. Gardeners and farmers have been using it ever since they could crush up rocks,

2tbl/gallon of mix, or 1cup/cf of mix. Best if added before use, but a top dress will work also.

Wet

 

[ak.fortyseven]

Good soils will have additives that help keep PH more stable. But, at some point you will need to adjust it some yoourself, especially when the plant is growing vigorously. If you use PH adjusters designed for growing, hydro stores sell them, they have more of a lasting affect.

 

[silentmercy]

There is no magic bullet to adjust your waters PH to 6.5 regardless of where it starts. I wish there were. Take your water (1 gallon), add your nutes, test PH with strips, meter, or vial with ph testing drops. Record your results. Most people will have a high PH if this is your case go to the local hydro store and pick up a bottle of PH down. Add 1/2 tsp or whatever you measure with, 10 drops from a dropper, etc, mix well and test again. Still to high? Add a little more and test again. Once you realize that it takes 30 drops, 2 tsp or whatever it took to achieve your desired results record this information. Next time you can just add the same amount of nutes/ph down and bam... there ya go. Multiply this by the number of gallons of water you need to treat.

Good luck bruh

Damn weed, soil PH Sorry dude, you probably already knew that part did'nt ya?

 

[Mr. Big Bud Good]

Ok, as an example, my runoff ph is 8.5, dolomite lime used in the correct dosage will reduce the ph down to 6.5? Same goes if my ph was 3.0, dolomite lime will raise it to 6.5 if used correctly?

 

[tommyo3000]

If you are growing in soil, you don't need to adjust the pH. The microbes and fungi in the soil break the nutrients down and create wastes that the plant eats. The soil has buffering capacity to handle all types of pH.

It is not like hydroponics, where it is sterile and you give the plants the macro and micro nutrients and nothing else.. There is no buffering capacity in hydro media, so that is why we keep on top of pH.

 

[Mr. Big Bud Good]

If you are growing in soil, you don't need to adjust the pH. The microbes and fungi in the soil break the nutrients down and create wastes that the plant eats. The soil has buffering capacity to handle all types of pH.

It is not like hydroponics, where it is sterile and you give the plants the macro and micro nutrients and nothing else.. There is no buffering capacity in hydro media, so that is why we keep on top of pH.

I've seen too many soil grows with nute lockout and would like to avoid it if possible. I have PH up and PH down, but my ph meter just took a shit on me and I don't intend on dropping another $100 on a new, decent one. I bought the ph testing drops from a pool store but the lowest that the scale goes to is 6.8. Besides that the color of the tested water never matches exactly to a number on the color scale and it is really eating at me not knowing exactly what my ph is before watering.

 

[Mr. Big Bud Good]

Anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[tommyo3000]

you could buy one of these: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS446US446&q=gh+pH+kit&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=4445435306908348614&sa=X&ei=0c1eTqiUAeatsAKi_ZgJ&ved=0CEMQ8wIwBA

Seriously, though, until you get a GH ph tester or an electronic meter, you can use the pool tester and achieve 6.8

Don't your nutrients mix up on the acidic side, anyhow?

You could also mix up a batch of nutes, pull out a cup, take it to the grow store and have them test it for you.

 

[Wetdog]

Ok, as an example, my runoff ph is 8.5, dolomite lime used in the correct dosage will reduce the ph down to 6.5? Same goes if my ph was 3.0, dolomite lime will raise it to 6.5 if used correctly?

It will get into the proper 'range'. close to 6.5. Mine is 6.6. Dolomite has a pH of 7 and will stabilize the soil at that or a bit below. Soil pH fluctuates and what you shoot for is 6.2-~7.0. Try and maintain a constant pH in soil and you'll go crazy and likely fuck up the plant dumping shit on it.

I use tap water and don't pH anything. No need when you use the lime. Add it once and forget about it.

Wer

 

[Mr. Big Bud Good]

I use tap water and don't pH anything. No need when you use the lime. Add it once and forget about it.

Wer

Yeah man, that's what everyone is telling me. I thought it would be too good to be true. Gonna pick myself up some dolomite lime it looks like. Thanks.