Hi
When I first started this grow adventure i read that citric acid would lower PH. So instead of buying PH down I bought some and low and behold it did indeed lower PH quite well. Of course eventually i ran out and bought some more from Amazon. The name brand of this last batch is Spicy World. Well when I used this new brand I used what I would have with the old brand. This stuff took the PH from over 700 and put it into the 380 range with just a pinch for approximately one gallon of water. I added some garden lime to get it back up to see how much it would take. A lot. It amazes me the difference from one manufacturer to another. Who would have thought.
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I was using vinegar as well to lower. My numbers started changing and it turned out to be the well water we have. I guess it makes sense that it would fluctuate? Anyhow I got the pH up/down and its made it much easier to predict the changes.
I might need to break down and buy some PH up and down. Citric acid and garden lime are a lot cheaper but if I can’t learn to gauge the amount needed better it could take 30 minutes to get the water where I need it.
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I was having a constant battle. First with photos in soil. Was trying to stay around 6.5 and well was around 7.0-7.2. Learned that 1/2 tsp vinegar would get it down there. Once the water started fluctuating I was kinda lost. Now I’m in coco and need to get lower. Got the pH up/down. Got it dialed in that about 30 drops of down, get me to about 5.0-5.2. I check it before and just calibrate depending on how far I need to move.
So if you go from soil to coco it changes the needed PH? I am coming to the conclusion that nothing is uniform in growing. I found out last year that if you get the PH in your water where you want it and then let it sit for an extended period of time the PH changes. So all of those gallons I prepared ahead of time needed to be gone over before again.
Coco is basically hydroponic and has a soil pH 5.5-6.5. Soild tend to be a little higher. Im getting to where I’m treating each plant as a different kid. There are many variables from genetics to environment. Im learning from the experts around here that the plant will tell you its needs. There are some basic starting points though. Just search out what you can.
I was premixing gallons of the ILGM nutes as I had plants in various stages. Over time the mix began to stink. It takes more time but now I check pH out the tap, mix my nutrients and then adjust after nutes are added. After that I’m trying to learn to read the leaves. Pun intended…
And of course I found out the hard way on this as well. Ad the nutes before you adjust the PH. The nutrients change it.
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Use vinegar or lemon juice brother. Hell of alot cheaper
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I’m using rice vinegar acidic 4% a few drops and bam pH drops fast
I use 81% phosphoric acid, one drop is usually enough per 20 gallons or so…
Garden Lime is calcium carbonate and doesn’t dissolve quickly in water. If you need something to raise the pH you can use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). It dissolves quickly and easily in water and is cheap and available from any supermarket.
White vinegar is cheap and also available from supermarkets and can be used to lower the pH.
In relation to citric acid, different companies used different concentrations. If they use a highly concentrated form it will affect the pH more than a lower concentrated form.
When testing the pH, add liquid fertilizer to water and mix it up then test the pH and adjust if necessary.
If testing water on its own, test, add buffers if needed, stir it up and wait 30 minutes and then test again.
If you have tap water and let it sit for a few days, the pH can change over 24-48 hours just from being exposed to the air.
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It amazes me how many tricks of the trade there are to growing. Thanks for the reply’s.