Water Question - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

klue · #1 (**permalink**) 04-21-2009, 11:29 PM

I'm wondering how worried I should be about water quality and ph for my indoor soil grow. I have well water that's full of sulphur- not too tasty, and alkaline: ph 9 or more. Is it ok to just adjust the ph down to the 6 to 7 range with vinegar or lemon juice, add my FF nutes and use this? Or am I doing irreparable harm to my poor babies? I've read somewhere around here that ph doesn't matter too much on organic soil grows, but what about all that sulfur? Any ideas? One more quick question- is it really necessary to mix a fresh batch of water + vinegar + ferts each time my plants are thirsty? I read somewhere that it's bad to mix in advance and keep it around- but that's awfully inconvenient... Opinions on this?

Thanks for your help.

Mr.Moonbiscuit · #2 (**permalink**) 04-21-2009, 11:33 PM

depending on where you are it might just be easier to collect rainwater.

Pappy · #3 (**permalink**) 04-21-2009, 11:39 PM

How can the water be alkaline, if it has a high sulfur content? Adding sulfur will lower pH in soil.

Pappy

Pappy · #4 (**permalink**) 04-21-2009, 11:39 PM

Oh, yeah,....pH matters, big time, in soil grows.

Pappy

klue · #5 (**permalink**) 04-22-2009, 01:11 AM

This is what I'd read that calmed my nerves a bit about ph:

Quote:

Originally Posted by *GreenPassion*

Organic pH issues

I hear a lot of people asking or talking about the pH of their organic soil mix or organic nute solution and how they might correct or adjust it. pH in organics is not an issue like it is in synthetic growing.
The best place to settle the pH issues in organics is within the grow medium. A medium rich in humates (humus) is the place to start. Humates work to "buffer" the pH of organic mediums and the nutes you pour (or mix) into it.
Humates come from compost, worm castings and bottled humus. If you use a peat based medum, use dolomite lime to raise the pH of the acidic peat. Dolomite should be used in any soil or soiless medium to provide magnesium and calcium. But since we are talking about pH here, I'll mention dolomite lime's pH correction benefits.
A medium of coir has a pH near neutral (or 7.0). But humates are still neded to allow uptake of organic nutrients that are outside a near neutral pH range.
With an active medium rich in humates you can pour in nutes like Pure Blend Pro, Earth Juice and guano teas with pH anywhere from 4 to 9 without worry. The humus will allow the nutes to be taken up through the roots, even at such an extreme pH reading.
So throw those pH meters away folks and enjoy the ease and safety of organic gardening.

My soil mix is strong on compost and castings and is relatively ph neutral. So perhaps I don't have too much to worry about as GP seems to suggest. But I hear some thunder in the distance so I'm off to put some buckets outside. Maybe rainwater will be the best thing to ease my mind... Thanks for the tips.

Mr.Moonbiscuit · #6 (**permalink**) 04-22-2009, 01:13 AM

just make sure the rainwater has lids, stagnant water is useable but could form non benificial organisms like algae and what not.

SomeDude · #7 (**permalink**) 04-22-2009, 07:17 AM

ph of 9? holy alkaline batman.. I would bring'er down to at least 6.5-7.0.

I noticed that FF nutes seem to raise my ph a little bit (something to keep in mind?)

datrealgangsta · #8 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 11:33 PM

so rain water is good to use on your plants is it good to mix your nutes brain water then feed that to your plants

Mr.Moonbiscuit · #9 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 02:35 AM

rain water is fine to use just like you would tap water, its important to remember though that rain water doesnt hold as many minerals as tap, spring, or well water.

datrealgangsta · #10 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 11:12 AM

now if can get a tub like the ones ppl use for storage and collect rain water in it then get some good nutes with minerals in it won't that save on me carrying water to my site for dry days

Pullo · #11 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 11:21 AM

I'm not a big fan of "storing" any kind of water, especially rain water stored outdoors.
As Moonbiscuit pointed out, rainwater does not have the mineral content that tap or spring water does, but my concern is that it does not take long for water to become stagnant, Stagnant water can carry a great many pathogens that you don't want on your plant. I think rainwater is best applied to your plants directly from the clouds, but then again, humping water into the woods is no fun either(not to mention it could bring attention to your grow if your seen bringing water back.

datrealgangsta · #12 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 01:23 PM

agreed as far as attention if I seen some one carrying water into the woods if know what it was is there any way to unstagnate the water if not then can I get some suggestions to get my water back there stealth like I would need to be watering 5 or 6 2x2x2 holes so I would need quite a but of water

tokecrazy · #13 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 02:11 PM

How close are you to water?2 or 3 hunderd feet you can get a solar cell and a solar pump and 1/2" tubing and run water to them from a near by water source.Roll it back up and hide it and take the pump and solar cell with you of corase.You can put buckets out near the grow to catch rain water in to use,that way your not trans porting that much water.Just my 2 cents. Peace

datrealgangsta · #14 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 02:29 PM

there is a hose adapter on the side of the house the beginning of the woods is about 2 300 feet from it but there is neighbors so i can't run hosing I can put a tub out there to catch rain but then I could be dealing with stagnant water like pullo said

Pullo · #15 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 02:40 PM

It seems like your best bet may be to use a combination of rainwater and tap.
The only way to keep rainwater from stagnation is to aerate it, so that is not really an option for you. I don't think it's that big of a deal with an outside grow. I have never used it because I have always had access to irrigation, but I know plenty of people that use it for their house plants around the yard. I think I was still in the "Hydro-grow" mode when I started to run my yap about rainwater. You should never use it for a hydro set-up, but should be fine for outside.
Maybe if you keep a piece of fine screen over the top of your reservoir you can at least keep the bulk of bugs and crap out of it.

Pullo

SomeDude · #16 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 02:41 PM

why not take one of those portable air tanks, some tubing and a couple of air stones with ya ?

i spose ya could use a tank off a paintball gun too

solar panel and a air pump (possibly too noisy tho - maybe put it in a box [w/fresh air intake] and bury underground )