Massive Drop In Soil PH - Could It Be The Water?

[Jack Horner]

Hello All - Soil ph has dropped from a healthy 6.8 in the beginning to around 5, with all the damage you'd expect.

A few questions that hopefully someone can help me with.

Could bad water be causing this massive drop?

Is there anyway to adjust the ph up, rather quickly?

How to avoid in the future?

Thanks for the help.

 

[dingo]

You can try adding genrerous amounts of dolomite and then water well.
Silica is another option or combine together, be wary of silica it is quite high in PH.

When you water, do you water in small measured amounts frequently or drench then let go till almost dry?
What nutes have you been using?

 

[Jack Horner]

Thanks for the response. Watered when mid dry. No name nutes.

 

[Muddy]

Nutrients will lower the pH of your water. The more you add, the lower it will go. So depending on what pH your water is to start with, and the amount of nutrients being used, it could cause the pH of your feeds to be very low. Over time and continued feedings that will lower the pH of your soil. Unless you are using a liquid pH meter to check your feeds and adjusting them accordingly, I suspect that's what has happened. Dolomite lime added to your soil mix will help to buffer the pH and keep it more stable. But even with the added lime, you need to be adjusting the pH of your feeds.

The pH can be raised quickly by the use of hydrated lime. However caution must be used. Hydrated lime can be toxic to the plants in high concentrations. I wouldn't recommend using anymore than 1 tablespoon per gallon of feed. You should see a positive effect from it within 4-5 days.

 

[randy]

If you bubble the water/nutes, then it will fetch your p.h. up instead of using other things.

 

[Jack Horner]

Thanks all!

 

[Ottopilotti]

Where are you getting your water? If you are using tap water have you let it stand?
I have a couple of old five liter/two gallon mineral water bottles - which I rotate -
this will let the chlorine (alkaline) evaporate - the aerating tip is even better -
or use a rainwater collector if you can - keep it clean though...
In urban areas you can find a lot of variation depending on your water company.
Also you should be able to find info about your water on their websites - most of
them are legally bound to provide it.
Muddy is your man here - be very careful because if you overdo it you'll
be yoyoing your values and the girls don't like that at all!
If your water has a high level of fluorides (usually very low) in it this may also
be a contributing factor as they are also alkaline.

Otto

http://www.fluoridationfacts.com/ausfnews/sepoct04/plants_flowers.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_fluoride_acidic_or_alkali