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Kutztown, PA

Right now my soil PH is 7.1. I have a couple of plastic totes I plan to use for watering this year. I'll be using well water
to fill them and I'll get a PH reading when I can get around to it. What PH should I be striving for when it comes to watering? What additives do people use to lower or raise their water PH?

1/28/2022 2:33:30 PM

Watlington, UK

I use nitric acid during the growth period and sulphuric during bloom. If you're between pH 6.2-7.0 you should be ok

You might find something like this useful too
https://www.pda.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/detailed-Truog-pH-chart.jpg

1/28/2022 3:29:25 PM

Kutztown, PA

Thanks Gerald - that's a great chart. If I'm reading it correctly, manganese would be "more available" at a slightly acidic PH, right?

1/28/2022 3:58:32 PM

Kutztown, PA

Gerald - I saw the photo of your seeds in your growers diary.
I received a "Mendy 2517" in the mail last week. I guess you noticed the packaging. I hope the pumpkin is as pretty as that fancy little package. :) I think mine had glitter inside! :)

1/28/2022 4:05:03 PM

Watlington, UK

Yes you're right about the manganese; it's very common for plants to have problems taking it up if the soil is alkaline, but easy to correct with a foliar spray at the appropriate pH.
Mendy packaging is the best!

1/28/2022 4:24:42 PM

Kutztown, PA

I still don't know what my water PH should be. My soil PH is 7.1. What PH should I be watering with"

Anyone Know? If nutrient uptake is ok at 7.0 with a couple of exceptions, why not strive for a neutral water PH?

1/30/2022 10:37:04 AM

Lodi, California

Gerald's answer was "6.2-7.0 you should be ok"

I agree with that personally, though I don't have any data to back that up, it's anecdotal. You can probably find lots of information about nutrient availability in hydroponic solutions at varying ph. I'd be suprised if there weren't studies done on the matter.

I usually balance my nutrient solution around a ph of 6.5, give or take a couple points. You don't want it to be too different from your soil ph, but as with soil ph, some micronutrients become more available just south of neutral.

But in general you'll probably be fine as long as you don't veer too far to the extremes

1/30/2022 3:34:15 PM

Lodi, California

Oh and on the topic of mendi packaging, you can get the same mylar envelopes he uses on sites such as amazon. I just ordered some, they're very nice. The envelopes are a bit big for my liking, they take up a lot of space, but that is part of the presentation i guess lol

1/30/2022 3:42:19 PM

Kutztown, PA

Thanks Ashton.

1/30/2022 4:33:30 PM

Kutztown, PA

Question: If I water at PH 6.5 wont that lower my soil PH over time? The only things I need to pickup are Manganese and Boron, both of which I'm adding in granular form before the season starts. I was thinking of maybe watering at 6.8 for the entire season and maybe foliar feeding some very dilute chelated manganese and boron along with my regular feedings. Am I wrong??

1/31/2022 10:23:10 AM

Grittyville, WA

Yes some manganese should be chelated because uptake from the soil is far from guaranteed to meet the plants needs. It gets so complicated.. For me, at some point it devolves into guesswork.

1/31/2022 12:57:05 PM