Well I hope I get some response, because I'm on the other side of the world and everyone is asleep... anyway...

My past 2 grows have been in Batmix, with Biobizz nutes. My pH hovers at around 7.5. When I feed/ water I use pH down to correct the solution, so that my soil is around 6.8. The trouble is, it only stays at that level for 1-2 days- by the time I water again (usually ever 4-5 days) it has shot back up.

So I was wondering, is there anything I can use when mixing the soil that will stabilise the pH? Dolomite lime?

What about flushing? Is this something I should do regularly, as a matter of routine?

Or possibly, should I just correct the pH down a little more when I feed/ water- maybe to 6.2?

I have been moderately successful with my grows, and am happy with my soil and nutes; I just feel the plants haven't grown as quickly or as vigorously due to the high pH.

Thanks peeps.

Trying to get this straight---Your feed water is 7.5 after adding nutes???(seems high)----Your soil ph is 7.5???(too high)----If your soil is 7.5, a 6.2 feed will not correct the problem---please explain and we can dial you in...

Hi! Sorry I wasn't clear.

My soil pH reaches 7.5 about 2 days after feeding/ watering. I don't actually know what the pH of my feed solution is (I just have a soil tester); I just know that my soil is 6.8/6.9 after I feed/ water it. The soil inches up from 6.8 to 7.5 by the time the plants are due to be watered again. Should I just add more pH down so that the soil pH is 6.2-ish- then hopefully wouldn't inch over 7.0 by the time the next feed is due?

I was wondering if there was something I could add to the soil to make it more stable.

I am going to get a better pH meter for next time; I am just wondering the best way to control this in the future.

Thanks

You're soil is stable--it's just has a very high pH--You should mix some sphagnum peat moss(has acidic pH 3.3 to 5.5) You want your soil to be 6.3 to 7 with 7 being max. You're feeds and watering's should be with a close to 6.3PH. You could also use sulphur to lower the pH but takes longer to break down and work.

Thanks very much- I'll just try adding more pH down to keep it in the right range. I just noticed that the Batmix already has peat moss in it and it comes at 6.2 in the bag (I thought it was 7.0 for some reason). I can't remember but it seems like I didn't adjust the pH of my water the first month of growing... so maybe that allowed it to inch upwards. Maybe my problem is that I've been adjusting it to 6.8/6.9 when I should have shot lower to keep it in the right range. Anyway thanks for the help.

Add some dolomite lime. You should be able to get it anywhere. DO NOT USE HYDRATED LIME!!!!! that's for out houses. But Dolomite lime has a neutral PH and will lower your ph levels naturally. Mix it in with your soil.

And lime works great. Helps stabilize PH at 7.0. Go easy on it though - 1 tablespoon per gallon.

Sorry no idea what that is metric wise. 84 kilojiggers/34 microliters or something I suppose, lol.

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My Grow: http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/77350-stealth-wardrobe-grow.html

Dolimite lime for long term correction..... Instant Tea with lemon (Nestea Brand), the citric acid in it works great for bringing down pH. Mix three heaping tablespoons to one gallon of water. Give each plant, 16 ounces, pour it on the outside edge of the pot. The following day (24 hours later) check the soil pH and make adjustments as necessary. Always wait, until the next day to check pH (the reading will be more accurate that way). Always make small adjustments.
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Hope this helps....

Very nice idea---never heard of that--thanks for the tip!!!

You need to flush your plants then---3x/volume---1 gallon pot----3 gallons of clean 6.3PH water.