Indoor Did I just kill all the microbes w/ pH down

[Janxster]

hi, I was having issues related to, what I believe, is pH induced nute lockout. the pH of my well water is 7.2 after adding 2tbsp fox farms big bloom and 1tsp cal/mag the pH came down to 6.8. I was shooting for 6.3. I added 1/2 tsp of pH down which brought it down to 6.5. I added another 1/2 tsp of pH down which brought it down to 6.2.
Did I likely just kill the microbes in the compost I am using with the pH down?

I just read something how pH up/down kills living soil....

 

[Arthur]

Microbes are not fond of a acidic environments. I wouldn't worry much unless your phing at under 6. Very common to begin with a lower pH at seed, and increase to harvest, going from 6.2 to 6.8. Your microbes will be fine.

 

[Janxster]

Microbes are not fond of a acidic environments. I wouldn't worry much unless your phing at under 6. Very common to begin with a lower pH at seed, and increase to harvest, going from 6.2 to 6.8. Your microbes will be fine.

Thanks Arthur. I was not as concerned with the pH level as I am with the actual pH down product killing the microbes. I used Root Farm pH Down. I read something about the base or acid in the product killing them. And not being good for living soils.

 

[Arthur]

That's possible, but what your actually concerned with is the pH interaction between your pH'd water, and that of your medium. A low pH will gradually bring your pot pH down. One watering at 6.2 isn't going to crash your soil pH.

The acidity on the down issue is more for how you mix it. Never microbes then pH down, microbes always added after the down is well mixed into your feed.

And one point isn't going to make a noticable difference. You want your feed pH to move thru the appropriate range. Different things uptake better at different pH's.

 

[Janxster]

That helps. Thanks.