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Using Apple Cider Vinegar to Lower PH
- Thread starter Vagrower
- Start date
Gingerbeard
New member
Yes. You can lower pH water with vinegar. However, it doesn't last long. I set a jar of ACV pH'd water on a counter and the pH was back up within an hour.
The amount to use depends on the water you start with. There isn't a dependable ratio between growers.
The amount to use depends on the water you start with. There isn't a dependable ratio between growers.
GuitboxTom
New member
Vagrower, I asked the some question re acidifiers. Good answers here sent me to research. What I found was ACV, white Distilled vinegar, and lemon juice have all been used without harm. I find it hard to get the H2O pH down from 7.3 and make it stay down. I’m using @ less than 1/4cup per gal. To take it down to @6.8, but it creeps back up to7. So I’m living with it as such since I’ve learned that pH fluctuation is not a good thing. I’ve also used a very little “organic†soil acidifier granules but don’t like the idea that it is sulphur based. Perhaps someone here knows better re. the Espoma granular acidifier.
GuitboxTom
New member
Good to know. Thanks Rwise.
Not always but at certain times during the year, we get sulphur in our well water. Wondering if the combination of sulphur sources could be too much? We always have really high iron in our water as well.
Not always but at certain times during the year, we get sulphur in our well water. Wondering if the combination of sulphur sources could be too much? We always have really high iron in our water as well.
Is the sulfur bacterial or mineral? I have a well that is sulfur, bacterial sulfur, not sure how it affects PH. I know one can chlorinate to change it to mineral then filter it off (save and use the sulfur) (not using this well). Do you use a RO system? This would strip near everything from the water. Ash and or lime in the soil should buffer the sulfur. Do you use a living soil?
Puglover1 I found that by testing things I had not been testing after I got the nice PH meter, world of difference!
Puglover1 I found that by testing things I had not been testing after I got the nice PH meter, world of difference!
Is the sulfur bacterial or mineral? I have a well that is sulfur, bacterial sulfur, not sure how it affects PH. I know one can chlorinate to change it to mineral then filter it off (save and use the sulfur) (not using this well). Do you use a RO system? This would strip near everything from the water. Ash and or lime in the soil should buffer the sulfur. Do you use a living soil?
Puglover1 I found that by testing things I had not been testing after I got the nice PH meter, world of difference!
Puglover1 I found that by testing things I had not been testing after I got the nice PH meter, world of difference!
GuitboxTom
New member
Rwise, I suspect not bacterial but mineral. We’ve very high mineral content in the water. With loads of red iron we run a softener and carbon filters. We Use a zero water filter for drinking water. For growing, I’m using untreated well water with minerals and all, pH at @7.2 - 7.3. I’ve been trying a combination of lemon juice, white vinegar, 1/2 T pet gal. Molasses. It seems like it takes a lot to get down to 6.8 or so. But it usually creeps back up to 7 after @ 5min.
Ive been realizing that perhaps I need a better fluid pH tester like puglover said.
thank y’all for the info.
Ive been realizing that perhaps I need a better fluid pH tester like puglover said.
thank y’all for the info.
TOKABIGONE
New member
Say Rwise since you mention stove ash I have a question for you. I'm mixing a soil with a coco loco base, castings, guano, oyster shell crab meal and a few other amendments so am wondering if stove ash will help buffer my mix a bit more and how much would you use for 25 gal or about 3.5 cf? Maybe a cup or two? I made a slurry with soil and water then filtered so I could pH with drops and got 6.8 from the filtered tap water I'm using which starts at 7.8 so it is buffering some already. Maybe it needs to cook a bit more as I just mixed it up 3 days ago? Thanks, Toka
LOL I use a shovel to measure, but my pots are large 130 gallon or so, if you put in to much ash, the soil will be clay like. To 25 gallons, about 1 shovel full, and though some say it need not be mixed in I mix it in. I dont use coco and dont know how that will affect things. I myself would also add blood meal and bone meal to your mix.
Last year my PH meter failed and I tried to make the year without, my PH dropped to ~4.5 and my plants finish was poor. So I dropped $300 on a Blue Labs combo+ and I luv it. It does soil or liquids. For me this was money well spent as it showed me what was wrong, and prove to myself what the cause was.
I myself would add pelleted sulfur to the soil to help buffer down, not a lot and it dont work overnight.
Sulfuric acid (easy to get) can be used to lower PH fast, and may hold better than the acid in vinegar or lemons. I'll also suggest you adjust PH and let the water set and stabilize until the PH does not change.
I myself would add pelleted sulfur to the soil to help buffer down, not a lot and it dont work overnight.
Sulfuric acid (easy to get) can be used to lower PH fast, and may hold better than the acid in vinegar or lemons. I'll also suggest you adjust PH and let the water set and stabilize until the PH does not change.
TOKABIGONE
New member
TOKABIGONE
New member
PaganRich
New member
TOKABIGONE Hi mate...It works well enough for me and you`ve been smart checking this out as I initially thought I had a calmag deficiency for some time and just couldn`t understand why I was having so many lockout, etc issues til one day I just read up on my local tap water so you`ve been very smart mate...good stuff. I hope your grows go well my friend
