1013arleen

All of as sudden my soil ph is low( 5.5). to raise my soil I flush with 8.0 PH. I ve been keeping it at 6.8, but if i check the run off it's at around 5.0-5.5. do I need to raise my nutes to say 7.5 or something along those lines
thanks for your help.....my 1st post hehehehehe

Lizzie Borden

High 1013arleen, and welcome to hc.com.

Do you mean the runoff after you water, or after you apply ferts? What's the pH of your water?

Personally I never check the runoff, just the soil. I think if your soil pH is 6.8 it should be fine.

1013arleen

Thanks for getting back with me Brindie,

Sorry I should have been a little more clear. I noticed some yellowing of the tips of a few girls, mostly on the tips. I checked the soil PH and it was at 5.5. I have been added nutes, then setting the PH to 6.8 befor adding to my soil. when I do add nutes w/ adjusted PH to my soil, when I chek the run off it is around 5-5.5 PH. today I flushed all girls with plain water w/ph of 7.8. Is that a bad idea. i was just thinking it would help bring the soil up to a more acceptable level. is there a way to help bring my soils Ph back to normal. My soil was fox farm mixed with some topsoil and some other soil they have at home depot. My dumb a-- forgot to add lime- never again. I just checked the soil and its up to 6.4. Is there a way to get my soil to go up to 6.8 or stay at 6.8/ thanks for all your help. I think this site is one of my fovorite places to visit and I only found out about it 3 days ago. ENJOY.

Lizzie Borden

You have the right idea adjusting the pH of the water and ferts you apply to change the soil pH. You can still use lime, if you get hydrated lime which can be mixed with water. It raises the pH faster than dolomite lime. I would leave a 6.4 pH alone. 6.5 is about ideal, and pH is something where close enough should be left alone, at least in soil. It's easy to overcorrect and cause more problems.