Hello all, thanks in advance for any advice. The soil I am planning to use, states I need to use water that has Ph levels between 6.5 and 7.1. My rainwater measures start at 6.2 my filtered water for tap drinking is around 7.3. Would like to use rainwater, but need to get ph up. I read to use potassium bi carbonate? Any one know how much I need to add to a gallon to get it moved up, or just play w it? Kindsoil is what I am using, they recommend using potassium bicarbonate to increase. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
1 Like
1st thing…get a good ph pen (aperia for example) get “ph up and Ph down” . You test ph before watering after all additives. Then adjust ph up or down according the the reading. 6.5 is the target with soil. Its not difficult as it sounds, very straightforward. Just get a good ph pen as it will be used every time you give water of any kind.
4 Likes
@Audiofreak thank you. I bought an electronic ph tester, and calibrated per instructions. My rainwater is reading 6.2. Is postassium bicarbonate good to use as far as getting ph up to range of 6.5? My soil company says that product is ideal and they don’t recommend ph up/down products, but potassium carbonate. Was curious how much potassium bi carbonate is needed per gallon? Just play w it and test?
I have only used the standard up/down liquid. It’s just to easy to use (imho) it’s not worth trying to mess with anything else to do the same thing. 2 small of bottles on a shelf as opposed to a bag of power I have to mix and store. Just saying, I freely admit to being a bit anal.
Great. Thanks. Appreciate your feedback.
1 Like
Welcome BTW. this site is an invaluable source of knowledge.
1 Like
Welcome to the community !I am going to Echo my friend @Audiofreak Buy you some pH Up and Down. If you can get the brand blue lab. I like it alot.
Kind soil is a water only soil . Their directions say not to use liquid up or down PH adjusters . I think it kills off all the good stuff in their soil . I found this on How to PH their soil …If your tap water/well water/carbon filtered water comes out with a natural PH of around 6.3-7.0 you will not need to PH adjust your water. Should your water have a higher PH level than 7.2-7.3 we do recommend PH adjusting the water. You do not need to get to 6.5 or any specific PH, just getting your water into the neutral to slightly acidic range, is all you will need to do. DO NOT USE PHOSPHORIC ACID TO PH ADJUST YOUR WATER! Always use earth juice citric acid crystals (PH down) or earth juice Potassium bicarbonate (PH up). Others here on the forum might have more information on how to PH kind soil .
3 Likes
Thank you. I will get potassium bicarbonate and adjust rain water accordingly. Thanks again.
1 Like
I’m using Kind Soil for a grow and I have Citric Acid crystals I mix with RO water to knock down my tapwater.
But I have a buddy who is a water chemist and he says there is no difference between using phosphoric acid or citric acid crystals to knock down your water pH. He likened it to personal preference cosmic newage jazz. Like companies that claim “All natural” or “Organic”
I do like the citric acid crystals though and epsom salts.
2 Likes