What’s pH? The question usually leaves new growers scratching their heads, and reaching for the pipe. This term refers to a liquid’s level of acidity and alkalinity. The pH scale begins at zero and goes up to fourteen. A pH value of 7.0 can be considered neutral. Any values higher than 7.0 will indicate an alkaline environment, and any values lower than 7.0 acidic. The liquid is the nutrient solution being used to grow a healthy cannabis plant.
It is a mixture of different chemicals. These chemicals can react to each other in a process called covalent bonding and form new chemicals that the plant can’t effectively use. Covalent bonding depends on the pH level of the liquid in which chemicals are suspended, here water. A chemist will say that the pH of the solution is 7.0 which is neutral. The covalent bonding between constituents of the hydroponic solution is kept at its minimum by keeping it neutral.
Since cannabis likes a lower pH for optimal growth, you can reduce it and accept the small loss of nutrients. Leafy, fast-growing plants prefer a pH between 5.2 and 5.9. It is fortunate that a lower or higher pH value will bond fewer nutrients. When the pH level exceeds the optimal range between 5.2 and 5.9, it can cause toxicity or nutritional deficiencies, both of these factors are detrimental for plant growth. Be vigilant.
When researching hydroponic techniques, it was found that most growing media such as pea gravel, rockwool or sand are inert. This means that the medium used for growing will not react to the nutrients. A pH level of 5.2 for inert media is optimal. This pH will allow the roots to assimilate nutrients from the solution the most effectively. The rest of the plants will be benefited if the roots have to do less work to absorb the nutrients.
Measure and adjust pH
It is easy to measure pH and you have a variety of options. To measure pH, the most affordable and simple method is to purchase a kit of pH strips and take a sample. Use the color chart after following the instructions to calculate the pH.
The low-tech method has some limitations. Not the least is that it’s difficult to determine which colors are closest when you have already gotten into your fruits from a previous harvest. These kits are usually $5-10.
Knowing what to add and when to the solution is crucial to your success as a gardener. If the pH is too alkaline (above seven), it can be reduced with phosphorous, sulfonic acid, or saltpeter. If the pH level is low, you can raise it with potash, calcium carbonate or lime. The pH of the solution is affected by most fertilizers. Addition of fertilizer will almost always result in an acidic pH. Adjust accordingly.
Correct Handling
It is vital to handle all these chemicals in a safe manner. Always avoid metal. If you use metal, the nutrients may react with it and cause the ratios to be messed up. The acid should never be added to a vat full of nutrients. Pour the chemical into a glass container and fill it with the liquid to balance. Add small amounts of the chemical to the vat until you reach the desired pH.
With time, salts are released from the fertilizers and the soil medium becomes more acidic. The concentration of salts will eventually cause the plant to be stunted and the leaves to brown. With age, the roots are less effective at delivering food to the leaf. Every two weeks, flush your system with pH-balanced, clean water to avoid salt accumulation in the medium. This will ensure the plant gets all the nutrients it requires. This can be done in place of the cycle’s feed.
There’s always been a big debate over when to adjust your pH – before and after you add nutrients to the water, or just after. Truthfully, you can adjust your pH both before and after adding nutrients to the water. It is important to note that neutral water rarely dies. It can be either acidic, or alkaline depending on your region. First, bring the water’s pH to 7.0. Add the nutrients into the chemically neutral solution, and then adjust the pH to a desired range between 5.2 to 5.9 ph.
Because there are so many factors that go into the delicate art of cultivating cannabis, learning how to properly measure and adjust the pH balance on nutrient solutions will have a clear effect on the appearance, potency and health of cannabis plants. It is only by practicing and mastering this step that a cannabis grower can make their crop stand out.
TELL USWhen growing cannabis, do you consider the pH?