quick pH question

[jamstein]

i got a test kit today (the liquid one, not a meter)

my water looks to be about 7

however when i did the soil test it seems VERY acidic like 5.9 - 6.2

how reliable are these results, i did the test twice and got very similar results.


still very noobish here, all tips appreciated

 

[HippyInEngland]

Soil does not come out of a tap, so therefore soil and tap water can have different PH, soil all around the world have different PH's, so you need to alter your water PH to compensate the PH of the soil, if an acidic soil you need to add an alkaline (i use baking soda, 1 tsp to a gallon) it will move the soil concentrate more towards the neutral level of 7

 

[MrPuffAlot]

i got a test kit today (the liquid one, not a meter)

my water looks to be about 7

however when i did the soil test it seems VERY acidic like 5.9 - 6.2

how reliable are these results, i did the test twice and got very similar results.


still very noobish here, all tips appreciated

I asked a very similar question,
when i first started, which wasn't to long ago.

The pros told me, " tring to get your soil's PH just right, is futile,
and a waste of time and effort"

I was told to just correct the PH of the Water you are feeding
your plants, after you add your nutes and etc.

Vinegar to lower PH
Dolimite Lime to Raise PH

And if you really want to attempt to correct the Ph of your soil.
Test the drain water coming out the pot.
The begining of the drainage water.

Goodluck..

 

[jamstein]

i just checked my compost bag.. "for acid loving plants"

doh.

oh well never mind lol, il try to even it out with the water, cheers!

 

[Growdude]

i got a test kit today (the liquid one, not a meter)

my water looks to be about 7

however when i did the soil test it seems VERY acidic like 5.9 - 6.2

how reliable are these results, i did the test twice and got very similar results.


still very noobish here, all tips appreciated

Those tests work OK but it is worh it to get a PH meter.

How did you do the soil test?

 

[jamstein]

you get a little test tube and some pH check solution, you put some soil in the test tube and 4 times as much pH checker in, shake it and wait for the soil to settle.

its a cloudy mess obviously but theres no green visible in the solution, only yellow, pH could be under 6 according to the (extremely vague) chart you get with the kit

 

[Hick]

The pros told me, " tring to get your soil's PH just right, is futile,
and a waste of time and effort"

I was told to just correct the PH of the Water you are feeding
your plants, after you add your nutes and etc.

Vinegar to lower PH
Dolimite Lime to Raise PH

adjusting your feedings ph is always wise. But getting your soil "right" is eeeeeeeeeasy. Simply add 1 tblsp of dolomite lime per gallon of medium/soil PRIIOR to planting, mix it in well. Your medium will hover right around 7.0, which is acceptable for soil grows. Lime also contains some beneficial micro nutrients.