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soil ph
- Thread starter Sourdough
- Start date
A4
11th Year Anniversary
The best way to test soil pH is by taking equal amounts soil and distilled water, mixing them gently in a clean jar, let the sediment settle for about 15 minutes and take a reading. That will give you an absolute accurate reading of soil pH.
It is best to take soil from as near the root system as possible. This isn't always possible with container plants as you don't want to damage the roots but a small round tube will take a plug from the container with little damage.
Hope that helps.
It is best to take soil from as near the root system as possible. This isn't always possible with container plants as you don't want to damage the roots but a small round tube will take a plug from the container with little damage.
Hope that helps.
yep. you can do a slurry test, which is personally how I test, but lots of people use an Accurate 8 Soil Probe that is apparently the shit lol
edit - as for checking the pH of the soil once the plant is already in it, you can also test the runoff water (the water that flows out from the bottom of the pot when you water.)
edit - as for checking the pH of the soil once the plant is already in it, you can also test the runoff water (the water that flows out from the bottom of the pot when you water.)
honestly - idk lol I just saw 'use distilled water' and rolled with it lol so whatever the pH of distilled water is? lol sure, sounds good.
A4
11th Year Anniversary
Yes, you want to use distilled water as it comes in at a perfect 7.0.
Your pH, depending on your grow medium and your personal opinion, should be around 6.5 for soil and 5.8 for soilless, coco or hydro. Upwards of close to 6.8 is perfectly fine in soil as well.
Post some pics and info in the infirmary section Sourdough and I or someone else can help you solve the problem with your plants. It could be numerous issues and is hard to determine without pictures and some background info on your grow.
Your pH, depending on your grow medium and your personal opinion, should be around 6.5 for soil and 5.8 for soilless, coco or hydro. Upwards of close to 6.8 is perfectly fine in soil as well.
Post some pics and info in the infirmary section Sourdough and I or someone else can help you solve the problem with your plants. It could be numerous issues and is hard to determine without pictures and some background info on your grow.
i'm assuming that you have a way to check the pH correct? lol like...you've got test strips or a pen or whatever?
Thanks for responding!!!! I have a combo pen. So my soil come back at 6.99. using the slurry method. I dont have distilled water at the moment. I did use bottled water and ground spring water in two tests with same results. I will grab some distilled water next time we run to town. I have bunch of plants that are all in same cooked soil, some look good others not. Maybe i didnt mix good enuff. My run off is 6.37.
A4
11th Year Anniversary
If they are both coming in between 6.9 and 6.3 it sounds like your soil pH is on point. Runoff isn't as accurate but will still get you in the ball park.
Are you using any bottled nutes or just your soil? I grow living soil and cook mine as well. I will tell you, the first few runs are hard to keep enough N in them. They use so much that it is difficult to keep them happy until the soil has been recycled a few times. I struggle with it on every fresh batch of soil.
IF that is the problem and you aren't using organic nutrients, then some fish emulsion or blood meal is a good quick fix to get some readily available N in your soil. I have made it a habit of holding my nose and mixing fish emulsion in with most of my waterings on my first batch of soil runs.
If you are using organic nutrients and still having what looks to be N problems then you may have problems going on somewhere else.
Are you using any bottled nutes or just your soil? I grow living soil and cook mine as well. I will tell you, the first few runs are hard to keep enough N in them. They use so much that it is difficult to keep them happy until the soil has been recycled a few times. I struggle with it on every fresh batch of soil.
IF that is the problem and you aren't using organic nutrients, then some fish emulsion or blood meal is a good quick fix to get some readily available N in your soil. I have made it a habit of holding my nose and mixing fish emulsion in with most of my waterings on my first batch of soil runs.
If you are using organic nutrients and still having what looks to be N problems then you may have problems going on somewhere else.
