how can i get my ph level down?

musicman66

Member
I am not good on computers so i couldnt find the info so can someone give me tips on how to safely get the level down. its at almost 8 and from what ive been hearing thats bad. ive had some leaves turn brown and fall off and even a few die in the begining. i over fertilizered them months ago and they are finally looking better but i would like to know a good way to get it down without hurting them anymore.
Thanks for all the help!
 

musicman66

Member
i dont know what ro water is. I let my water sit for 36 hrs. i heard that is good for it.

how much soda do i put? i use 3 gal buckets for water so?? 1 tbl sp 2 tbl sp? thanks
 

musicman66

Member
soil. problem is i bought cheap soil for my first grow just to get it going. i think that was a dumb decision. the ph is at 8? that at threat level? lol
 

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
Dolomite lime but it takes a few weeks for it to react. Top dress with the lime at a rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon of medium and water in well.. Baking soda is a horrible ideal. The sodium it contains can cause all sorts of problems. Also just running pHed water through the soil will not change the pH.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
baking soda to lower, vinegar to raise
Screw that crap. pH UP and pH Down. Idiot proof. Unlike some responses. Vinegar = dead plants. Post your dated serial pics showing you successfully used vinegar and what the dilution and application rates are.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Dolomite lime but it takes a few weeks for it to react. Top dress with the lime at a rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon of medium and water in well.. Baking soda is a horrible ideal. The sodium it contains can cause all sorts of problems. Also just running pHed water through the soil will not change the pH.
Vinegar is equally destructive and unnecessary with today's pH adjustment kits.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
There are places your money is wasted. pH worries in soil are one. The last time I checked my pH was like NEVER! Buy good soil to start and it doesn't have to be expensive! Your nutrients will lower the pH in general. Lowers it? What do I do then? NOTHING! Roll a fattie and relax.

Feed, water, water, feed, water, water . . . . . .. And fertilizers are not better when used in excess. Just the opposite. Err on the side of "no nutrients" rather than overdose them and fight that until you harvest.
 

flaxseedoil1000

Well-Known Member
Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss - has a ph around 4.7 but it can vary

Just make sure you get one that has nothing else, like ferts, in it.

I use this one: http://www.lowes.com/pd_26986-1803-0082_4294857241_4294937087?productId=3029472&pl=1&currentURL=/pl_Bagged+Soil_4294857241_4294937087_?newSearch=true$ddkey=http:SearchCatalogDisplay

$8 so it's cheap

For my 5 gallon bucket with 4 gallon of high ph water in it, I put about a cup of the peat moss in a Tupperware container drilled with holes. Hold it under the water for a couple of minutes to soak the peat moss (it wants to float), then I dump it out of the container into the bucket.

A few hours later I'm right around 6.5.

Plus you get some humic acid too :)
 

hiluxphantom

Well-Known Member
wow you know if you go to a grow store its only 15$ for a good bag of soil right? most i ever paid was 25$ for a 3cu ft bag of roots
and use lye for ph down u mix it with water to a certain degree like a teaspoon for a gallon of water to get a gallon of ph down and its legit
newfags need to keep from giving advise
and for water go get gallon jugs go to local grocery store and buy gallons for 25cents outside of store at water thingy and ph tolerance for plants is 5-7
and for nutrients go to any website or hydro strore and buy an organic sampler box of nutes
heres ur shopping list for a successful grow
http://eastwesthydro.com/plant-nutrients/roots-organics/roots-organics-roots-organics-master-pack-715400
or http://eastwesthydro.com/plant-nutrients/roots-organics/roots-organics-roots-organics-player-pack-715395
for soil http://eastwesthydro.com/grow-media/potting-soil/roots-organics/roots-organics-roots-potting-soil-15-cu-ft-715160 http://eastwesthydro.com/grow-media/potting-soil/roots-organics-roots-organics-formula-707-1.5-cuft-715168 http://eastwesthydro.com/grow-media/potting-soil/roots-organics-roots-organics-green-lite-soil-1.5-cuft-715172
then pot appropriately soil is rediculous shipping costs though so go to a store
if u cant scrounge together 100$ u cant build a descent grow in my opinion but organic nutres taste better and roots is the most complete box at that price
 

hiluxphantom

Well-Known Member
better yet what that guy said cuz i dont remember what the guy who told me to use lye had and my thread looks like it got deleted
 

Sickboy71

Active Member
I think you got that one backwards.... vinegar will lower the ph level and baking soda will raise it. I learned that one the hard way.
 

Sickboy71

Active Member
I've been using vinegar in my res. to lower the ph and I have zero problems. Plants are healthy and progressing nicely.....that is in an aeroponic system though. soil grown may react differently.
 
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