Testing rain water and other clean waters is often time consuming and confusing. I’ve read a number of work a rounds here and there but never quite sure if these are legit. If you put something in your sample are you just reading the pH of whatever you put in there?
I found this .pdf download at ThermoFisher, I think they make pH testers. So this article describes their recommended methods of testing water when the ppm/ionic strength is too low to get repeatable, timely readings. Option 2 suggests adding .3 ml of KCl solution (storage solution) to 100 ml of test sample. I wanted to share this with anyone who might be interested and discuss the method.
I have tried this method a few times and I’m still not sure if I’m getting a proper reading.
I found a retailer nearby that sells everything for true organic growing and I’m wanting to make that switch for my next indoor grow. Their soil and amendment products are just add pH adjusted water, but I’m never too sure of the pH of my rainwater. I have some difficulty with even wanting to test it since I’ve grown outside and cannabis loves rainwater outside, why would it be any different inside?
So, I just wondered if anyone else has used this method and what thoughts you might have about it.
Hey Mateo
Do you feel your rain water is close to neutral enough to use as is, or do you adjust the pH? And do you add anything to the water when you test a sample for pH?
@indicitis ,I use it as is but I always check Ph.i have grown outdoors since the 70’s.No matter what I grow cannibus or other garden plants it seems to look as if it’s fertilizer from Heaven.I swear the plants show improvement growth.Its like you can almost see them grow.
Indoors ( just finish my third grow) I don’t see the same results. I just love to grow things.Indoors or outdoors they both have their issues.I primarily just PH everything.I use jacks and it always requires an adjustment up to the PH.
Pretty flowers.
Rainwater generally has a very low ppm, sometimes 0, which can cause problems pH testing. Most of the time I find that when I test rain water it will take forever to settle on a reading and if I test the same sample again I get a different reading. Very often folks online suggest adding something to the sample to bring the ppm up. When you pH test rainwater, do you add something to the water and what is your method?
