Does RO need pH’d??

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Okiedog

Active Member
I’ve read several times no need to pH RO water. I use a rich organic soil/coco/perlite 60/20/20 mix that performed great in my first grow and I would just add say 1/3 dose Nutes... winging it really but I’ve gardened for 30 years so completely new. But with Cannibus I really have no idea. Learning everyday I can.

I’m wondering Ifn I’m doing a lot of work I don’t need to do.

Do I need to pH compost Leachate?
what if RO pH is> 8?

Plan is to stay with organics and use teas for my property is overrun with worms. I can just pick casts up off the ground. Just scrape a pile up like grains of rice off the ground. Everything is a “cast” here really— its an OLD horse farm.
Thanks
 
Bring your pH down to 6.0-6.5. Whenever adding any liquid nutrients your pH will change to some degree.
 
Water & nutrient solution needs to be pHed your goal is to set the medium/root zones pH so by not pHing say you have 8 PH tap water or 7 PH RO its not going to work good. Coco/Hydro you want your PH to be 5.5-6.00 Soil you want your PH to be 6.2-6.5. Personally in Coco I run 5.7-5.9 PH.
 
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Star Dog said:
I use hydro but from what I've read, no water does not have to be ph,d
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Water does need to be PH balanced. Where did you read that it didn't? I'd love to see..
PH is literally one of the most overlooked things by newbies including when I was a noob grower. I had no idea about PH or how important it was.
 
I'm confused, are you using time released ferts, nutes or organic soil or all 3?
If you just grow in soil that is buffered well and use teas etc, then your soil can buffer ph pretty well. Even then over 8 in well buffered soil is pretty high, I'd try to get at least right at 7 or below from what i understand
 
dbz said:
I'm confused, are you using time released ferts, nutes or organic soil or all 3?
If you just grow in soil that is buffered well and use teas etc, then your soil can buffer ph pretty well. Even then over 8 in well buffered soil is pretty high, I'd try to get at least right at 7 or below from what i understand
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It's good to PH even if the medium is buffered, while not always necessary its good preventative maintenance and takes a few seconds to do. I always always encourage people to PH even when flushing, all your doing with a high or low ph is locking out certain components from the plant & root system. There is no benefit to not PHing other than saving a couple minutes and being lazy.
 
calvin.m16 said:
Water does need to be PH balanced. Where did you read that it didn't? I'd love to see..
PH is literally one of the most overlooked things by newbies including when I was a noob grower. I had no idea about PH or how important it was.
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I've read it countless times right here on Riu?
Just recently using my bubble cloner was told I don't need to ph the water, the clones all rooted fine.
 
calvin.m16 said:
Water does need to be PH balanced. Where did you read that it didn't? I'd love to see..
PH is literally one of the most overlooked things by newbies including when I was a noob grower. I had no idea about PH or how important it was.
Click to expand...
So you're saying plain water has to be ph,d?
 
Using Cultured solutions Hydro systems, all nutes are added to the RO water and PH'd last.

This is for their DWC, Drain to waste, RDWC etc....

Other companies have their way too, but everything I've read says to PH every time to prevent any lockouts.
 
Star Dog said:
Nutrient has to be pH’d no one's disputing that, but ph,d water?
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You should check and ph your water to the correct ph whenever you water in anything.

Personally I dont ph when I flush but will when I add back in my nutes. its a lazy thing like the man said.
 
Okiedog said:
I’m thinking of no nutes.... just compost teas and let it be. ‍♂
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If you’re using compost teas, don’t PH. You’re not worried about your roots up taking nutrient water, instead you’re worried about the cationic exchange going on in your soil! I grow 100% organic and only watered with plain RO water, no PH. If you PH your water, it can kill the microbes in your soil. I think the ph of my RO water is higher than 7 as well. But that’s just fine with organics. The microbes feed the plant, not the water! Good luck friend
 

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calvin.m16 said:
Water does need to be PH balanced. Where did you read that it didn't? I'd love to see..
PH is literally one of the most overlooked things by newbies including when I was a noob grower. I had no idea about PH or how important it was.
Click to expand...
Do some research on cationic exchange. If you’re growing organically, then the microbes are what is breaking down the organic matter into mineral form. These minerals are attracted to colloids in your soil that feed your plant! Sure, you can ph your water. It is not needed and the chemicals can harm the microbes in your soil. Sounds like OP is going organic. Compost tea SHOULD NOT BE PHd. You’re creating a bacteria farm essentially. That compost tea isn’t a feeding, but it’s a way to add beneficial microbes to your soil so they can break down organic matter and feed your plant.
 
Raspberrykiwi said:
Do some research on cationic exchange. If you’re growing organically, then the microbes are what is breaking down the organic matter into mineral form. These minerals are attracted to colloids in your soil that feed your plant! Sure, you can ph your water. It is not needed and the chemicals can harm the microbes in your soil. Sounds like OP is going organic. Compost tea SHOULD NOT BE PHd. You’re creating a bacteria farm essentially. That compost tea isn’t a feeding, but it’s a way to add beneficial microbes to your soil so they can break down organic matter and feed your plant.
Click to expand...
Earth Juice Naturals has ph products that dont affect the microbial life in organics. You still might want to ph despite well buffered soil if your source water is way out of whack. I don't adjust but my water is good enough.
 
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