[Strictly_Kush]

This is very confusing to me, I saw a ph chart that says optimum PH is 5.8, the advanced nutrients website says optimum is 5.6, and the overgrow faq on this site says optimum is 5.2..

5.2 ph is 60% more acidic than 5.8 so that is a big difference to plants.. What is the optimum it seems like there are different opinions here...

[Captain ChroniK]

That depends my friend...
IMO 5.8 is ideal for hydro and 6.2 for soil.

[Strictly_Kush]

Well with soil that I have grown in for 5 years I kept it 6.8-7.0 anything under 6.8 and my plants got mad at me... But Im not talking about soil here.. This is the hydro section

5.8 in my hydro grows hasnt been doing the trick, it seems like they like a lower PH than that but now Im confused there is info on this everywhere but its all different numbers...

[Venom818]

5.6 to 6.2 works for me but i aim for 5.8

[revolutionseeds]

Personally, 6.2-6.3ph in soil. When I do clones in oasis, I water at 5.8-6.2. It depends on the strain.

yeah it really depends on your plants bro. for a generalized multistrain grow i like 5.7 for a week and 5.8 for the next week....hydro. i should also mention that his is my first run in coco / hydro though but after switching to these ph levels the plants look sooo much better. soil....organic i always liked a higher ph at like 6.7. other than that i never really grew any other way but the two mentioned....basicly let the plants tell you what they like is my advice.

[Strictly_Kush]

Ok fair enough I am growing Blueberry kush cuts and they seem to be happy at 5.5-5.7 range... This is my second hydro grow, my first run with different strains 5.8 was right on.. Its crazy how much difference a few points can make...

[PureSugar]

Originally Posted by Strictly_Kush

Ok fair enough I am growing Blueberry kush cuts and they seem to be happy at 5.5-5.7 range... This is my second hydro grow, my first run with different strains 5.8 was right on.. Its crazy how much difference a few points can make...

What style of hydro are you using? Different mediums and nutrient schedules can effect the pH @ the root level. If you are using a method that allows you to capture some runoff from a plant does the pH level vary from the intial level to the reading of the run off? If it varies by more than .2 then you may want to consider flushing with water pH'd to 5.5.

If your plants keep requiring you to lower the pH of the nute solution to keep them looking happy then most likey your medium isn't properly buffering the nutes and you will run into salt buildup issues.

All that said 5.5 - 5.7 is certainly within the "normal" range for hydro.

[~xO Kakalak Ox~]

Just remember if the difference from 7 to 6 is 100 the difference from 6 to 5 is 1000.

For most strains I like 6.0 in veg and 5.6-5.8 in flower.

[Strictly_Kush]

Originally Posted by PureSugar

What style of hydro are you using? Different mediums and nutrient schedules can effect the pH @ the root level. If you are using a method that allows you to capture some runoff from a plant does the pH level vary from the intial level to the reading of the run off? If it varies by more than .2 then you may want to consider flushing with water pH'd to 5.5.

If your plants keep requiring you to lower the pH of the nute solution to keep them looking happy then most likey your medium isn't properly buffering the nutes and you will run into salt buildup issues.

All that said 5.5 - 5.7 is certainly within the "normal" range for hydro.

Im using ebb & grow 12 site system with hydroton, My runoff goes to a reservoir and Im using Lucas Formula for nutes.. With my last grow DWC 5.8 - 6.2 was fine, with this grow Im seeing that anything above 5.8 and my plants dont like it..

I changed my reservoir today and adjusted nutes down to 5.5 and over the next few days Ill let it drift to 5.8 then adjust it back down again..