Hello everyone. I am just approaching the end of my first grow in a 2x2. Moving too fast, I upgraded to a bigger tent and better light. I purchased living soil and want to go organic this trip. I also purchased a blumat watering system. I found most of the info needed to reach success but i could not find out how to ph my water being that i will be using tap. I hear that normal ph down isnt organic and also can disrupt your medium. My other problem is deciding when to start using the blumat for watering. I am growing autos. Is seeding stage too early? I am wondering because i believe you need the whole pot soaked before those can work properly and at the seedling stage I have heard that only the surrounding soil should be wet. Any insight for a rook ?
For a organic grow the ph isnt so different you still aim for 6.3-.65 in ur water ph for the soil u want just a little on the acidic side say 6.5-5.8 .i grow with organics i use live worms in my pots my soil has alot of beneficial bacteria in it which will keep ur soil ph correct and also feed ur plant and control the nutes to send it where it needs go in the plant
What do you use to alter your ph?
I think it’s vinegar and maybe citric acid? I use General Hydroponics and am not organic so I’m really not sure. I have read people say they tend to drift out of range pretty quickly with the organic methods as opposed to “chemical” I guess.
Was it @JaneQP who was talking about those once?
I smoke a lot of what I grow so sometimes it takes a few minutes for the old synapses to break loose of the resinous ooze that is my grey matter so I might be wrong!
But Jane is super-smart and a recently less employed scientist, cause let’s face it retirement is just the first day of the next job!
But I bet she’ll know!
You can use lemon or bicarbonate soda to fix ph
I used to use lemons, now i use the citric acid you use for canning… (bananas soaked in water in tbe fridge works also ( during flowering )
Thanks for the tag @Tylersays. For lowering pH I use citric acid. $4 in the grocery ailse. Only takes an itty bitty pinch. Others have used lemon juice or vinegar. For increasing pH you can use baking soda. Just be aware it is sodium bicarbonate and the sodium can lead to SAR (sodium absorption ratio) imbalance in soil possibly making it inhospitable to plant life.
Tyler, the day I was set to retire I received a job offer! Sixteen minute commute, okay coin, and a line of work I know I can do well. I am a client services project manager for an environmental laboratory. Place has a good vibe. Team is talented and friendly. Free coffee and free lunch every day!
Excess sodium can throw off the calcium and magnesium balance.
If your tap water is clean and below 200 ppm or so, it will not affect the pH of your soil. If it is below 200 ppm though, you might need to supplement calcium.
You get what you pay for with the pH meters, don’t go adding vinegar unless you’re pretty sure your pH meter is calibrated correctly and that you actually have a problem.
Forgot to add use a diluted silica solution for pH up.
Thank you all !!!
I will be purchasing some citric acid first thing in the morn.