Soil PH and Water PH

I have corrected a lot of my problems thanks to this forum. The one question i have is about PH levels. I transplanted all but one of my 7 plants to 3-5 gal pots and used FFOF mixed with perlite (MG). The plants are doing ok but after reading and reading i was now concerned with my ph levels. I found a hydro store 30 min away with someone that was very helpful. He showed me some PH down and a test kit.

I tested my tap water and its 7.5 8ish. Not knowing about the soil ph or what that level was i bought a soil test kit as well and tested that. Same reading (dark dark green). So last night i flushed my plants and used PH down testing it before i watered at about 6 6.5.

I also bought a PH tester for the soil that was electric with 2 prongs on it (got this for moisture really). That also is telling me 8ph in my soil. Im sure that is not as accurate as the $100 meters but 2 tests did tell me my soil is over 7.5.

I was wondering if i had to offset the PH in my water to lower the soil PH? Or does the soil PH even matter? Should i just keep using the PH down for my water and let them ride without adding anything else? 18 hours after my watering there was no diff in my soil at all.

Sorry if this is such a newb question. My brain is on overload from all the info i have crammed in it the last few weeks.

The soil probe probably isn't accurate, but may be useful to follow the trend. For example, if you probe your soil throughout the grow and see it going lower, that might indicate salt build up, to little dolomite lime in the soil, etc. I have a $60 "Control Wizard Accurate 8" and like it. It's pretty accurate, but requires 10 minutes in the soil. The trend is what's important to me, not a one-time reading.

You can measure your runoff ph. Again, this isn't too accurate either. But, the trend can be useful. If you want a more accurate runoff measurement, google for the NCSU PourThru Method. Time consuming, and also explains why measuring normal runoff is inaccurate (time/quantity variables).

You need to get a PH pen. Those liquid drops/strips are hard to interpret, especially if the solution being measured is colored.

Some people advocate no ph testing. But, I'm leary of that. It depends on having a properly prepared soil, not overfeeding with too-strong nutrients.

Something to remember is that the soil's ph rises as it dries. For you that might be a problem if you're already high when it's wet. For most others they see a slightly acidic soil after watering, and it rises a full point as it dries. The soil probe shows that (if it's any good).

Phing your nutrient solution will pull your soil toward the ph of the solution *over time*. It depends on how strong the nutrient solution is. If you ph plain water it won't have much effect on the soil. But, if the nutrient solution is 1000ppm, that's more likely to pull the soil's ph toward the nutrient's ph. (But, overfeeding has its consequences, like salt build up).

thanks for the info. they are due for a water int he morning and i plan on testing the ph from the run off.

side question...i just got my 2 good seeds and put them in water like i did with the last ones (100% germ rate). once i take them out i put them in a wet paper towel for a few more days then plant them. worked great last time. my error last time was using just reg dirt from a bag i had still sealed in the yard. i now have a bag of ffof and some mg perlite. should i put the young plants right in that type of soil? i have read about rockwool and plan to try it at some point but if i can put the baby plants in the ffof i have now and get good results id rather do that. just need an exp opinion.

thanks az2000

I don't have any experience with ffof. I've heard Fox Farms can be too hot. Not sure if it's Ocean Forest.

i tested my run off on 3 of the 6 i have. 3 are under cfl and 3 are under 2 150w hps. 2 of my cfl plants were replanted in ffof and perlite and tested right at 6.5ish. the other one is just in dirt from a bag in the back yard and i never transplanted it just fed it garden tone fert. it tested 8ph. but that plant is growing the best out of all 3 by far. weird huh? i transplanted the 3 under hps as well and they are being outdone by the cfl plants as well.

im going to flower all of them starting today to see what i got and make room for my hijack and purple pineberry. i put the 2 seeds in water and 36hrs later they show signs of germing. this water germing has been 100% for me with a total of 14 seeds out of 14 seeds making it to the solo cup. im so sold on this method.

az2000 what do you do when you have a seed germed for soil?

mykidshavecurlyhair said:

az2000 what do you do when you have a seed germed for soil?

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I soak in 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide, 5 parts RO water. Ph 6.5. When there is 1/8" tap root showing, I put it in soil covered no more than 1/4".