Maintaining optimal pH levels within a plant’s growing environment is an important principle to master, especially in the water used for a hydroponic system.
The pH concentration within a plant’s water ultimately dictates whether or not its nutrients can become available. When a plant’s pH is too high, its micronutrients become less soluble, making them almost unusable.
That’s why it becomes important to learn how to lower pH in water for plants organically, and that’s what I am going to reveal in the form of this article.
It’s worth mentioning that the simple adjustments can be made to correct this issue. Whereas a pH that is too low will make the plants soak up their nutrients way too fast, causing a nutrient overload.
Repairing this issue is a little more delicate. Understanding the exact method can save time, energy, money and heartache.
The simplest way is to slowly add some easily obtainable organic liquid ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar. We’ll get into the exact method a little further in the article.
Before we do that, let’s look at pH in a little more detail.
Table of Contents
What are pH and Alkalinity?
To efficiently monitor the pH and alkalinity of a plant’s water, we need to better understand this unit of measurement. Let’s have a look at it in more detail.
pH
In simple terms, pH is a unit of measurement to gauge how acidic or basic the water is. It shows the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions within the measured water. The scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 (the middle) being neutral. Anything from 0-7 is considered acidic.
Anything from 7-14 is considered base or alkaline. Furthermore, every plant species requires a certain pH value for them to be able to grow and thrive. The trick is to find what your plant needs and create the right environment for it to prosper.
How Do I Know the pH is High in My Substrate?
Regardless of the growing system being used, the plants will always offer some sort of visual sign to help determine if they are stressed or struggling.
A higher than normal pH prevents nutrients from being taken, leading to deficiencies. When the pH of the substrate is too high, you may notice deteriorating conditions such as:
- Chlorosis along the inside leaf veins.
- Rotting tips of newer leaves.
- Premature stunting or wilting of leaves.
- Leaf necrosis (spotting).
- Premature rotting of fruit
- Spotty brown leaves.
- Darker green leaves with fades of purple or red.
If you’re worried that your substrate may be too high, you can test it and adjust accordingly.
How to lower ph in water for plants organically?
When water pH within a growing system becomes too high, there’s no need to panic. The best way to correct the issue is by first testing it. Doing so will give an accurate insight into how much it needs to be adjusted.
Depending on what type of gardener you are, some choose to go down the natural path instead of unnecessarily pumping the system full of chemicals.
Of course, chemicals are required at certain stages, but there are ways to lower the water using easily obtainable natural ingredients. Let’s look at some of the best items to use and how to use them effectively.
lower ph in water for plants Using Lemon Juice
What you will need
- Litmus strip tester kit.
- Measuring tools (measuring cup, teaspoon, etc.)
- 1-2 lemons.
- Something to juice the lemons with.
The citric acid that lemon juice contains is extremely useful to help lower the pH of the water within a growing system. Furthermore, lemons contain flavonoids which have helpful antibacterial properties. So you are lowering the pH naturally and helping keep the system clean of bacteria and fungus growth.
Research has shown that just 2 drops of lemon juice per 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water can help lower the pH by as much as 0.5. Keep in mind that different water sources could make this amount vary.
A simple way of using this method is by doing the following.
- Always test the pH of the water before you begin. Litmus strips are the fastest and cheapest method.
- Make sure you have the right measurement of water that your system holds to add up the amount of lemon juice required.
- Add the lemon juice.
- Wait 20-30 mins to allow it to dilute.
- Test the water again.
- Rinse and repeat as necessary.
Remember to add only smaller amounts at a time to prevent the water from becoming too acidic.
Using vinegar to lower pH in the water for plants
What you will need
- Simple litmus tester kit.
- Measuring tools (measuring cup)
- Traditional white vinegar.
Vinegar works to lower the pH of a system’s water in the same fashion as lemon juice. The acidic nature and surprisingly effective cleaning properties make many growers religiously use this simple staple item.
The thing with vinegar is that using too much can have the opposite effect and raise the pH, so you need to be very strict with your measurements. Smaller systems only require 2 tablespoons per 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water.
A larger, more advanced system requires 2 cups of vinegar for every 10 gallons (38 liters) of water. This amount will lower the pH by 0.5. Keep in mind that different water sources could make this amount vary.
A simple way of using this method is by doing the following.
- Make sure to test the water’s pH before starting. Using simple litmus testing strips to do so is satisfactory.
- Measure the amount of water you wish to adjust and calculate how much vinegar you need accordingly.
- Add the vinegar.
- Give it 20-30 mins to allow the vinegar to dilute.
- Re-test the water.
- Add more vinegar solution if required as necessary.
Make sure the system is well ventilated when using vinegar, as the fumes can work against the plants instead of helping them. It’s also worth noting that apple cider vinegar is no good and will raise the pH, so it’s best to stick with the traditional white vinegar.
Things To Consider while Lowering pH in the Water for Plants?
As simple as it may seem, a few things should be kept in mind when lowering the pH of a system’s water. For example, different types of water can change the composition of the water.
The characteristics of a substrate may also interfere with the lowering solution. Even different plant types can throw the numbers out unexpectedly. Let’s look at these possible speed bumps in a little more detail.
The Type of Water You are Using
It’s always recommended to use distilled water to supply a growing system if possible. Some regular tap water supplies can contain harmful minerals such as lead, chlorine, and even pathogens. These excessive amounts of minerals can cause salt to build up, which blocks the system.
Furthermore, abundantly available minerals can cause a chemical imbalance and throw the whole system out. Demineralised water, on the other hand, often has quite a low pH (4.5-5), so using this in a system may require constant adjusting to assure that the correct pH is achieved.
Type of Compound
The soil type can also affect the pH of a system’s water. For example, clay has quite a high pH due to its calcium carbonate content. It can be anywhere up as high as 8.5, so adjustments need to be made accordingly.
A compact soil such as clay also restricts aeration. As a result, the plants struggle to absorb nutrients and water. The nutrients aren’t used, causing a buildup, and the pH will then rise.
Type of Plants You are Growing
Every plant type or species soaks in different amounts of carbon dioxide and light to enable them to grow. Carbon dioxide decreases the pH of the water without the influence of the plants.
However, when the plants absorb the carbon dioxide from the water, the pH of the water increases.
Why Lowering pH in water is important for plants?
The pH value of any growing system determines the number of chemicals and nutrients used by the plant when mixed with water. Simply put, the pH affects the number of nutrients available for the plant.
Lowering the pH levels increases the number of nutrients available for the plant’s roots to absorb.
On the other hand, raising the pH decreases the amount of available nutrients. A lack of nutrients will lead to stunted growth and deformation. Most plants thrive best in a pH between about 5.5 to 6.5 so having a slightly acidic system is better in the long run.
Furthermore, these levels help break down any debris or organic matter that may have biome stuck within the system. A low pH can also assist in flushing out harmful metals such as Zinc, Lead, Aluminium, Cadmium, Nickel, Iron, Manganese and Arsenic.
Lastly, a slightly acidic pH can help remove excess amounts of pesticides that may have been used.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to lower the pH in water with baking soda?
Baking soda is alkaline in its most natural form. Its pH is up around the 8 mark. Adding to water will not lower the pH but, instead, raise it. Lowering the pH can be done using either lemon juice (2 drops per 1 gallon of water) or traditional white vinegar (2 tbsp per 1 gallon of water).
How to lower the pH in water for hydroponics?
The simplest way to lower a hydroponic system’s water pH is by using 1 of 2 cheap and easily obtainable household items. 1 being lemon juice and the other, everyday traditional white vinegar. Either add 2 drops of lemon juice or 2 tbsp of vinegar per gallon of water. Don’t forget to test the pH before, during and after the amendment.
Conclusion:
Excessive pH levels in a growing system can have grave consequences. Understanding the principles and concept of lowering a water’s pH is essential.
Thankfully, this article on how to lower pH in water for plants organically proves that lemon juice and vinegar are cheap and effective! We hope this article has been helpful. As always. Happy growing!
