Soil PH

[Ejay]

1st ever grow here. I have a question about soil PH. I PH the water to 6.5 after nutes, when I test my run off water it is at 6.0. I have a soil PH meter in the soil that is reading a PH of 8. Do I need to do something to the soil itself to bring the PH down, or as long as my intake PH and run off PH are good it is all good?

[Gingerbeard]

Howdy, Ejay What are you using to adjust pH and what sort of probe are you using?

[Ejay]

Not being a bummer at all, I am a total Noob! Smoked for 30+ years, never grown.
If I use my filtered water (brita filter) the PH is low. My tap water comes in just about 6.8

[Gingerbeard]

That's pretty good for tap, compared to where I am, as well as my machine water. Personally, I'm not sure I would do anything to it. Maybe change things when you get to flowering?
Leave tap water out before using it. It helps off-gas chlorine.

[Rwise]

My water has chloramine which does not gas off, not all water plants use chlorine, so check with them as to whats in your water.

[Canuck147]

All is good Ejay - don't worry too much about soil ph. I don't - never even tested my runoff, but I'm lazy. I just worry about what's going in - cuz at the nutrients stage I have already grown my roots properly to make them happy, which makes for a productive plant.

[Cali]

Those soil probes are not really accurate. Also if the water going in is good and runoff is good then your good.

[dilvish]

Depending o the type of soil, you likely don't need nutes for the first few weeks anyways. The soil overall acts as a buffer so the run off may or may not be accurate. Best thing to do is remember that the PH tester needs to be properly calibrated. I never assume they are "factory" calibrated so i do it myself. Most of them come with a couple of pouches of calibration powder. all you need is some distilled water to test with and you're golden here is a good video on it GrowAce.com - How to Calibrate Your PH Meter for Hydroponics and Nutrients - YouTube

Just make sure when you PH test the water that you mix the nutes in first which it sounds like you are doing.

I wouldn't bother with a soil PH meter because only the expensive ones seem to work...

[Ejay]

Thank you, I will just set the soil tester to moisture then. I do have the 2 pouches of powder for calibration, went ahead and mixed them both in appropriate amount of water (in small mason jars, labeled). I am thinking with the jars being sealed that I can reuse the mixtures for calibration.
I am about 35 days into veg now. I think they look pretty good for first timer with a black thumb. I'll try do add some pics later.

[Rwise]

I used one of those for moisture, never again! I was sticking it into an area that held water/moisture, the rest was dry. I know lift the pot to determine moisture content, if its lite I water, if its not I dont. I have not used this probe in a long time.

[Ejay]

I am thinking of adding a Mars SP 250 to my 4x4x80 tent, have 2 Kingled 1200's in there now, overkill? Or are the KingLed ok for 3 plants? I've read mixed reviews on the KingLed's, but with wife in my ear I went cheap.

[Ejay]

Day 35. I have trimmed the crap out of them and have been trying to spread them out for light penetration. Hopefully I haven't trimmed them too much.
1 GG#4
1 Wedding Cake
1 I have no friggin idea

[Cali]

That’s why I just went with living soil. No worry about ph. Just worry about watering the plant. And training. Leave the rest to the plant and soil to work it out.