What soil pH should I aim for?

M

MS3josh

Active Member
I'm new to the organic scene and am looking for some advice in my latest grow. I've constructed a 3x3x7 cab with a 400hps. I'm planning on growing 2-3 plants (maybe under Scrog).

My nutrient line consists of:
BMO SPT
BMO GIG
BMO FP
BMO FH
Roots Organics HPK
OregonismXL

I'll be growing in B'cuzz HydromixxHP which is 70% spagham peat moss and %30 perlite with dolomite lime added to buffer pH.

My question is should I test my RO water after I add my nutes and if so, what should I aim for?

I also have GH pH up and GH pH down, but I'm not sure if they will hurt my organic.

I currently have 2 lemon skunk and 1 purple haze vegging under a 85watt 6400K and they are looking beautiful. Only given them a water of SPT and a plain RO drink so far. They are 2 weeks old.
 
ReAVeR

ReAVeR

Well-Known Member
Yes, check your PH after making your solution, you always want to make sure you're not blasting your plants. Also, your General Hydro PH U&D will not effect your soil. But I wouldnt administer any nutes just yet, wait a week or two.
 
Roland

Roland

Active Member
6.5 is right for soil ...

I hear best pH is lower for Hydro (5.5 is right .. I think ) .. but I'm not a hydro guy
 
DubsFan

DubsFan

Well-Known Member
Roland said:
6.5 is right for soil ...

I hear best pH is lower for Hydro (5.5 is right .. I think ) .. but I'm not a hydro guy
Click to expand...
Ph and soil aren't realy a big deal. I know there are studies and what not...but picture a dude with his half acre in NorCal. You think he's Ph'ing a couple thousand gallons. Nope.

If you can drink it you can water a plant with it when in soil.
 
Roland

Roland

Active Member
DubsFan said:
Ph and soil aren't realy a big deal. I know there are studies and what not...but picture a dude with his half acre in NorCal. You think he's Ph'ing a couple thousand gallons. Nope.

If you can drink it you can water a plant with it when in soil.
Click to expand...
Plants grow better with good soil pH .. soil pH can be adjusted with Sulphur compounds .. MJ likes 6.5 - 6.8 ... just like tomatoes .... Tomatoes grown in 6.5 soil have a MUCH better flavor than tomatoes grown in soil that is 8 or higher ... sure u still get tomatoes .. but the health robustness flavor in 6.5 soil is BETTER !
 
lonleysmoka

lonleysmoka

Active Member
MS3josh said:
I'm new to the organic scene and am looking for some advice in my latest grow. I've constructed a 3x3x7 cab with a 400hps. I'm planning on growing 2-3 plants (maybe under Scrog).

My nutrient line consists of:
BMO SPT
BMO GIG
BMO FP
BMO FH
Roots Organics HPK
OregonismXL

I'll be growing in B'cuzz HydromixxHP which is 70% spagham peat moss and %30 perlite with dolomite lime added to buffer pH.

My question is should I test my RO water after I add my nutes and if so, what should I aim for?

I also have GH pH up and GH pH down, but I'm not sure if they will hurt my organic.

I currently have 2 lemon skunk and 1 purple haze vegging under a 85watt 6400K and they are looking beautiful. Only given them a water of SPT and a plain RO drink so far. They are 2 weeks old.
Click to expand...
Hey there Ms3josh, from my understanding when vegging your optimum range of a soil ph is around 6.0 and when you switch it over to flowering 6.2-6.5 would be better.
You should check out my grow I also too use the BMO line, great organic line for a really good price.

Good Luck with ur grow.;-)
 
lonleysmoka

lonleysmoka

Active Member
Here is a feeding schedule by OhsoGreen (an organic guru) the other pic is just a visual
Hope they help you.
 
DubsFan

DubsFan

Well-Known Member
Roland said:
Plants grow better with good soil pH .. soil pH can be adjusted with Sulphur compounds .. MJ likes 6.5 - 6.8 ... just like tomatoes .... Tomatoes grown in 6.5 soil have a MUCH better flavor than tomatoes grown in soil that is 8 or higher ... sure u still get tomatoes .. but the health robustness flavor in 6.5 soil is BETTER !
Click to expand...
Nobody in NorCal Ph's any water at all in any soil grow. Arguably the weed capital of the world.
 
M

MS3josh

Active Member
Thanks for all the great replies guys! I'm wondering now if since I'm growing in a soiless mix, do I need to keep my pH in the 5.5-6.2 range? Or since its not a true hydro I need to shoot for the soil pH of 6.2 - 6.8?
 
donkeyote

donkeyote

Active Member
DubsFan said:
Nobody in NorCal Ph's any water at all in any soil grow. Arguably the weed capital of the world.
Click to expand...
OP is not growing in soil, so your point is meaningless.

I thought soilless grows were supposed to be PH'd at hydro levels-5.5-5.8?
 
DubsFan

DubsFan

Well-Known Member
I keep my Rock Wool in the low 6's to high 8's. I remember reading he's growing in soil...no need for internet wars...went back and looked. He's not.

But I still stand by not Phing drinkable tap.

Edit, meant to say high 5's.
 
Roland

Roland

Active Member
Where I live ... the water company goes to great lengths to keep Municipal water supply at 7.0 ... rain water is usually pretty close to 7.0 .. unless you are in areas prone to Acid rain which is generally about the same as tomato juice ... 6.5 to 6.8
 
lonleysmoka

lonleysmoka

Active Member
[FONT=&quot]Hydro and Soil less Mediums[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Nitrogen gets locked out of Hydro, Soil less mediums at the levels of 4.5-5.0.
Nitrogen has the best absorption rate at a ph of 5.5 to 8.0
(Wouldn’t recommend having a ph over 6.5 in hydro and soil less mediums.) Best range to have Nitrogen is: 5.0-7.0. Anything out of that range will contribute to a nitrogen def.[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Phosphorus gets locked out of Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 6.0-8.5.
Phosphorus is absorbed best in Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 4.0- 5.8. (Wouldn’t recommend having a ph over 6.5 in hydro and soil less mediums.) Best range for hydro and soil less mediums is 5.0 to 6.0. Anything out of the ranges listed will contribute to a Phosphorus Deficiency.[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Potassium gets locked out of Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 4.0-4.5, 6.0-6.5.
Potassium is absorbed best in Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 4.7-5.3, 6.7-8.5. (Wouldn’t recommend having a ph over 6.5 in hydro and soil less mediums.) Best range for hydro and soil less mediums is 5.0 to 6.0. Anything out of the ranges listed will contribute to a potassium deficiency.[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Magnesium gets locked out of Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 2.0-5.7
Magnesium is absorbed best in Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 5.8-9.1
(Wouldn’t recommend having a ph over 6.5 in hydro and soil less mediums.) Best range for hydro and soil less mediums is 5.0 to 6.0. Anything out of the ranges listed will contribute to a Magnesium deficiency.[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Calcium gets locked out of Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 2.0- 5.3
Calcium is absorbed best in Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 5.4-5.8 (Wouldn’t recommend having a ph over 6.5 in hydro and soil less mediums.) Best range for hydro and soil less mediums is 5.0 to 6.0. Anything out of the ranges listed will contribute to a Calcium Deficiency.[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Zinc gets locked out of Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 5.7-8.5
Zinc is absorbed best in Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 4.0-5.5 (Wouldn’t recommend having a ph over 6.5 in hydro and soil less mediums.) Best range for hydro and soil less mediums is 5.0 to 6.0. Anything out of the ranges listed will contribute to a Zinc Deficiency.[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Iron gets locked out of Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 2.0-3.5
Iron is absorbed best in Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 4.0- 6.0 (Wouldn’t recommend having a ph over 6.5 in hydro and soil less mediums.) Best range for hydro and soil less mediums is 5.0 to 6.0. Anything out of the ranges listed will contribute to an iron deficiency.[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Sulfur gets locked out of Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 2.0-5.5
Sulfur is absorbed best in Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 6.0- 9.5 (Wouldn’t recommend having a ph over 6.5 in hydro and soil less mediums.) Best range for hydro and soil less mediums is 5.0 to 6.0. Anything out of the ranges listed will contribute to an Sulfur deficiency.[/FONT]
 [FONT=&quot]Manganese gets locked out of Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 2.0-4.5
Manganese is absorbed best in Hydro and Soil less Mediums at ph levels of 5.0-5.6 (Wouldn’t recommend having a ph over 6.5 in hydro and soil less mediums.) Best range for hydro and soil less mediums is 5.0 to 6.0. Anything out of the ranges listed will contribute to a manganese deficiency.[/FONT]
 
M

MS3josh

Active Member
so basically I should be shooting for the 5.5-6.2 range that hydro users aim for since i'm growing in a soiless mix. Just to remind everyone my medium is B'cuzz HydromixxHP (70% spahgahm peat moss, 30% perlite & dolomite lime)
 
M

MS3josh

Active Member
I think I have problems. First I went and bought a pH/moisture/light meter from my local garden supply shop. Stuck the probes into the soil with tab on moisture. Great. Stuck with tab on pH and it stays in the 8+ range and just chills.

Returned to garden store, this time purchasing a soil pH test kit. Took sample from 4+ inches deep and based on my eye (and my wife's) I am way above the 7.5 pH color.

How should I lower this soil-less grow to the proper 5.8-6.2 level? Or at least closer.

I want to stress I did not add anything to this "Hydromixx" soil and it stated it was 70% sphagnum peat moss and 30% perlite. Also said lime was added to buffer pH. I'm using the BMO line of nutes (100% organic), and am growing two Lemon Skunks and one Purple Haze. All three from seed, all three have already showed signs of female. Sitting under a 400MH with canopy temps no higher than 80*F and no lower than 65*F. One Lemon Skunk looks amazing. Great color and growing strong. The other skunk's steam is all purple? Weird. They look exactly the same except one has a purple stems. Keep in mind all 3 plants (2 strains) have been given the exact same of everything.

The Purple Haze has showed some leaf discoloration on the lower fan leaves but everything above them looks great. I went ahead and chopped two fan leaves that appeared to be 50% or more damaged today.
Please help. Thanks!

(Sorry, I can't get pics)
 
DubsFan

DubsFan

Well-Known Member
MS3josh said:
I think I have problems. First I went and bought a pH/moisture/light meter from my local garden supply shop. Stuck the probes into the soil with tab on moisture. Great. Stuck with tab on pH and it stays in the 8+ range and just chills.

Returned to garden store, this time purchasing a soil pH test kit. Took sample from 4+ inches deep and based on my eye (and my wife's) I am way above the 7.5 pH color.

How should I lower this soil-less grow to the proper 5.8-6.2 level? Or at least closer.

I want to stress I did not add anything to this "Hydromixx" soil and it stated it was 70% sphagnum peat moss and 30% perlite. Also said lime was added to buffer pH. I'm using the BMO line of nutes (100% organic), and am growing two Lemon Skunks and one Purple Haze. All three from seed, all three have already showed signs of female. Sitting under a 400MH with canopy temps no higher than 80*F and no lower than 65*F. One Lemon Skunk looks amazing. Great color and growing strong. The other skunk's steam is all purple? Weird. They look exactly the same except one has a purple stems. Keep in mind all 3 plants (2 strains) have been given the exact same of everything.

The Purple Haze has showed some leaf discoloration on the lower fan leaves but everything above them looks great. I went ahead and chopped two fan leaves that appeared to be 50% or more damaged today.
Please help. Thanks!

(Sorry, I can't get pics)
Click to expand...
Hydro stores sell Ph down liquid. Mix up one waterings worth and water your plants at whatever ph you desire. Mix nutes first then Ph.

Don't mix many gallons at a time unless you're gonna use it. Ph will rise naturally to what ever the water is out of the tap.

Becarefull with Advanced Nutes gel. I put just a few cap fulls in a 70gal res to lower it a half a point :shock:
 
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