Watering with ph down

If anyone could answer this question for me that would be great, the ph of my tap water is 7, can I add general hydroponics ph down to regular water feeding instead of just with nutrients? Also is it possible for a plant to show nitro def, at the same time as toxinity? I grow in soil.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
You can, but it's pointless. It will take very little ph down to change plain water's ph because plain water doesn't have the ppms/buffers to hold ph. What that means is, water doesn't have much "ph power" (for lack of a different term) to pull the soil's ph to it. The soil will pull the water's ph to it with similar ease (as adding a drop or two of ph down).

If it makes you feel better to adjust plain water's ph, go ahead and do it. But, leaving it high isn't going to do much. Considering soil's tendency to acidify due to salt buildup, etc., a weak 7.0 water would be better than a weak 6.5. But, like I said, it doesn't matter much because it's weak (no buffers). The soil will hold its ph more than weak water will hold its ph.
 

BenRipped

Well-Known Member
DO not ever ph water for soil grows guys. There's a lot of idiots out there that watch some first time youtuber saying ph your water, and its obviously there first grow and have no clue what soil is. Do you rush outside to ph your 5.5 rainwater for your lawn or trees in your backyard? The only time your gonna see a PH problem in soil is if your over feed, even then you just flush out the salts that are causing the acidity.
 

churchhaze

Well-Known Member
Rain water has a healthy amount of nitric and sulfuric acid conveniently put there for us already. :)

Awww yeah... rainwater usually is acidic!

Acid rain is good shit!

DO not ever ph water for soil grows guys. There's a lot of idiots out there that watch some first time youtuber saying ph your water, and its obviously there first grow and have no clue what soil is. Do you rush outside to ph your 5.5 rainwater for your lawn or trees in your backyard? The only time your gonna see a PH problem in soil is if your over feed, even then you just flush out the salts that are causing the acidity.
 

emepher

Well-Known Member
DO not ever ph water for soil grows guys. There's a lot of idiots out there that watch some first time youtuber saying ph your water, and its obviously there first grow and have no clue what soil is. Do you rush outside to ph your 5.5 rainwater for your lawn or trees in your backyard? The only time your gonna see a PH problem in soil is if your over feed, even then you just flush out the salts that are causing the acidity.
I just wouldn't bother adjusting plain water because it doesn't seem to matter much, so I agree, but how can it hurt? And rain water is fine as is because you aren't trying to maximize the yield and structure of your lawn or maple trees, you just take whatever nature gives you. If rain water were that bad you wouldn't be running outside to adjust it anyway, you would just have a crappy lawn and sick trees, which I do in fact see all over the place.
 

nomofatum

Well-Known Member
Plain water can vary widely. Plain water could range from 6.0 or lower to 8.0 PH. My well water is >7.5 and watering with it consistently will cause problems. If you have hard water you should PH to get at least under 7.0, I just always PH'd to 6.5, 5 ml PH down per gallon for me.
 

churchhaze

Well-Known Member
People have sick lawns because of neglect and improper care. They cut it too infrequently and too short, which cuts off the strongest green growth and doesn't allow it to maintain a healthy root system. Then their lawn slowly becomes clovers.

I just wouldn't bother adjusting plain water because it doesn't seem to matter much, so I agree, but how can it hurt? And rain water is fine as is because you aren't trying to maximize the yield and structure of your lawn or maple trees, you just take whatever nature gives you. If rain water were that bad you wouldn't be running outside to adjust it anyway, you would just have a crappy lawn and sick trees, which I do in fact see all over the place.
 

sgbfcoop

Member
Rain water in Los Angles is pretty acidic and brings along with it most of the pollution floating in the air. Our fog here has been measured as low as 2.0ph.

I have PH up my raiN barrels before ;)
 

churchhaze

Well-Known Member
"Air pollution" is good for your lawn. Use it to your advantage.

Also, the pH of fog is meaningless. You can't really pH water with such a low EC. It has 0 buffering capacity and thus pH will swing either direction with very little acid/base added. Clearly the fog isn't melting people's skin off by standing in it.
 
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