New Grower New organic soil mix high PH

[M4A]

Yes, I've been pHing all water that goes in. My well water comes out at a consistant 7.8 so I bring it down to 6.5 using GH ph down read with a digital meter from Hanna. I pH all feedings after adding the ferts and letting them sit for 30 minutes, and if I'm using it anytime other than mixing day, I check pH and adjust as necessary.

Tried the 5 minute method of checking soil pH and its a consitant 5.5 in every spot I checked. I will continue to check throughout the month to see what changes are occuring.

I have access to some nice wood ashes from oaks and I've heard its got some usable nutes in them and is organic. I think it will raise pH of the soil too right? If I should find after a month the soil mix is still too acidic, would the ash be a good natural choice?

 

[Dazed]

. It's generally recommended that the soil be moistened and allowed to sit for at least a month for everything to combine and stabilize. .

Sorry to jak this thread, but Muddy, is that for all soils, including store bought like Biobizz/Plagron etc?

 

[Dazed]

Yes, I've been pHing all water that goes in. My well water comes out at a consistant 7.8 so I bring it down to 6.5 using GH ph down read with a digital meter from Hanna. I pH all feedings after adding the ferts and letting them sit for 30 minutes, and if I'm using it anytime other than mixing day, I check pH and adjust as necessary.

Tried the 5 minute method of checking soil pH and its a consitant 5.5 in every spot I checked. I will continue to check throughout the month to see what changes are occuring.

I have access to some nice wood ashes from oaks and I've heard its got some usable nutes in them and is organic. I think it will raise pH of the soil too right? If I should find after a month the soil mix is still too acidic, would the ash be a good natural choice?

Is that pH down organic bro? If so what is the name of it please?

Dazed.

 

[Muddy]

I have access to some nice wood ashes from oaks and I've heard its got some usable nutes in them and is organic. I think it will raise pH of the soil too right? If I should find after a month the soil mix is still too acidic, would the ash be a good natural choice?

Yes, wood ash will work and it's something I use all the time in my vegetable garden. The problem in container gardening is knowing how much to add. With dolomite we know that unless the starting pH is extremely low, 1 tablespoon per gallon of soil mix is the right amount.

Sorry to jak this thread, but Muddy, is that for all soils, including store bought like Biobizz/Plagron etc?

No, that's for when you're making your own mixes. Store bought ones have already had enough time.

 

[Mr Piggy]

Why are you lowering the PH of your water when you need it that high to bring it up? If your soil is PHing at at 5.5 and you water with 6.5, that means your soil might actually be around 5.0! You should just water with the 7.8 water and that alone will raise your PH. Don't over complicate it by lowering, then raising the PH of the water. All of those PH additives could be fighting it out in your soil and stressing the plant.

 

[M4A]

Why are you lowering the PH of your water when you need it that high to bring it up? If your soil is PHing at at 5.5 and you water with 6.5, that means your soil might actually be around 5.0! You should just water with the 7.8 water and that alone will raise your PH. Don't over complicate it by lowering, then raising the PH of the water. All of those PH additives could be fighting it out in your soil and stressing the plant.

I pH the water because when I didn't I got yellow leaves within 2 days, consistantly across all plants in all stages of growth. I think theres too big a variance between my old 5.8 soil and 7.8 water and the plants didn't like that much fluctiation. When I pH my water I didn't get the consitant yellowing. Adding 6.5 water to 5.5 soil shouldn't be making the soil more acidic, it should be making the soil less acidic. The only way to make something more acidic is to add something even more acidic to it.