Ph up and down with organics?

namvet25

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If I use Gen Organics PH controller with my Roots organic nutes will that have any affect on the micro organisms,or do I need an organic PH controller?:grin:
 
Hey nam, are you talking about GH's standard ph up & down kit? The blue and orange ones with phosphoric acid in it? If so, then yes, you are probably wiping out a lot of beneficial bacteria. Earth Juice make an organic kit but it uses citric acid which I don't know is any better for them than phosphoric acid. It is just more natural and of course "certified" organic but I still think it will kill off a lot of the herd.

In my opinion, I don't think there is a reliable way to change ph naturally without killing off the beneficials. You can add powdered dolomite lime which will buffer the ph better, keeping the swings from being so severe but in most cases people don't recommend adjusting ph in organics unless you experience lockout. At that point I think it is easier to foliar feed than to correct the ph. The soil should be correcting itself if it is living.
 
I never worried about PH when I used the GOBOX from G.O so I guess It would be the same with Roots .I am going to call Roots and ask them about the PH thing and also why there is two bottles of Soul Synthetics in the master pack I bought.
 
Lemon juice or OJ for down.

Woodash up.


Wood stoves and fireplaces are great for warming gardeners' chilly hands and feet, but what are we to do with the resulting ashes? Many gardening books advise throwing these ashes in the garden.
Wood ash does have fertilizer value, the amount varying somewhat with the species of wood being used. Generally, wood ash contains less than 10 percent potash, 1 percent phosphate and trace amounts of micro-nutrients such as iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc. Trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel and chromium also may be present. Wood ash does not contain nitrogen.
The largest component of wood ash (about 25 percent) is calcium carbonate, a common liming material that increases soil alkalinity. Wood ash has a very fine particle size, so it reacts rapidly and completely in the soil. Although small amounts of nutrients are applied with wood ash, the main effect is that of a liming agent. Increasing the alkalinity of the soil does affect plant nutrition. Nutrients are most readily available to plants when the soil is slightly acidic. As soil alkalinity increases and the pH rises above 7.0, nutrients such as phosphorus, iron, boron, manganese, copper, zinc and potassium become chemically tied to the soil and less available for plant use.
Applying small amounts of wood ash to most soils will not adversely affect your garden crops, and the ash does help replenish some nutrients. But because wood ash increases soil pH, adding large amounts can do more harm than good. Keep in mind that wood ash that has been exposed to the weather, particularly rainfall, has lost a lot of its potency, including nutrients.
Specific recommendations for the use of wood ash in the garden are difficult to make because soil composition and reaction varies from garden to garden. Acidic soils (pH less than 5.5) will likely be improved by wood ash addition. Soils that are slightly acidic (pH 6.0 to 6.5) should not be harmed by the application of 20 pounds per 100 square feet annually, if the ash is worked into the soil about 6 inches or so. However, if your soil is neutral or alkaline (pH 7.0 or greater), find another way to dispose of wood ash. If you don't know your soil's acidity or alkalinity level, have it tested for pH.
Crop tolerance to alkaline soil also should be considered. Some plants, such as asparagus and juniper, are more tolerant of slightly alkaline conditions than "acid-loving" plants, such as potatoes, rhododendrons and blueberries. Wood ash should never be used on acid-loving plants.
 
I learn something new everyday on this forum. I've always used vinegar to adjust my ph down in my water/nute solutions but have always wondered how it affected my mycos. Thanks for the info
 
If you don't have clean wood ash then you can use baking soda, sparingly. I use wood ash in the veggie garden and the plants respond very well to it. There was a noticeable increase in fruit set and size.

Something else to keep in mind is that while you have a somewhat established micro population in your soil, you're feeding the plants directly with instantly available nutes when you use bottled nutes. It's not like TLO were you're feeding the microbe population, who in turn feed the plants.
 
I use 3 drops of pH down per gallon and I grow ROLS--I just like having my water where I want it as I feel it makes my plants' lives easier! IMO that tiny amount of phosphoric acid really isn't going to negatively affect soil life in any way.
 
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