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Ok so I'm growing in peat and perlite buffered with dolomite lime. I try to use only 1 tsp dolomite per gallon of potting mix and the ratio of peat to perlite is about 1:1 or 50% peat 50% perlite. My water reservoir is always pH'd to 6.5 but my soil pH reads just above 7 but I'm using an analog pH reader so I don't know the exact value. My question for you guys is should I try using some 6 or 5.5 pH water to try and push my soil pH down to like 6.5 because I feel like I would be getting better growth at around 6.5 soil pH. Any advice or opinions are appreciated because a few different books I have have varying information, for example one says in soil the pH should remain at 7 for the whole grow, but then again the charts for the influence of pH on nutrient availability seem to indicate that a pH around 6.5 is most desirable.
-------------------- No one is free when others are oppressed
7 is not going to hurt them really I,d say 6.5 is more preferable start a bit lower work your way up too 7 if they seem like they want a higher ph but the goal is to keep a continuous steady ph. avoid fluctuation's if you start feeding them at 7 then just keep it at 7 .
but go with your gut instinct 6.5 sounds perfect to me
ok thanks for the replies and advice guys. It is peat and perlite 50/50 so I'm not sure if that counts as straight soilless since the perlite is derived from rock? I know the perlite can help buffer the pH by adding calcium and magnesium and perhaps carbonate ions and my tap water is already alkaline running at about pH 8. I have been dealing with low yields and a few other problems but bud quality is right up there...If I do indeed need to push pH all the way to 5.8 this would explain the low yields right off the bat and it would make me one happy man to fix that problem.
-------------------- No one is free when others are oppressed
I would love to see pictures of these plants and looking at the plants pics helps determine health and ph and such but 5.8 does sounds better for peat I agree
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7 is not going to hurt them really I,d say 6.5 is more preferable start a bit lower work your way up too 7 if they seem like they want a higher ph but the goal is to keep a continuous steady ph. avoid fluctuation's if you start feeding them at 7 then just keep it at 7 .
but 5.8 does sounds better for peat I agree
