2018-2019 Horticultural Catalog

pH Information
pH Chart
Sewage Water
Reverse Osmosis
Most Bottled Water
Most Tap Water
Alkaline
Water
0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10 11 12 13 14
Acidic pH
Neutral pH
Alkaline pH
So what is pH?
pH is the measurement of acidity and its opposite, alkalinity in a solution.
Neutral pH is 7.0 pH. Acidity measures below seven pH (7.0 pH) with
alkalinity measuring above it (7.0 pH).
It is important to maintain a hydroponic nutrient solution at a pH level
where the elements in the nutrient solution are consistently available to
the plant. If the solution is too acidic or too alkaline it can cause “lock up”
– a situation which restricts certain elements essential for growth from
being absorbed by the root structure.
Deficiencies in the required elements become apparent in the plants
growth and can lead to crop failure. The elements we add to a solution
will either increase or decrease the solutions pH measurement. Only
accurate measurements of the pH level will allow complete control of
the outcome. When the pH is slightly acidic most nutrient elements are
available to a plant.
Slightly acidic range:
Hydroponic solutions: between 5.5 pH and 6.3 pH
Soil crops: between 6.2 pH and 7.2 pH
Individual crops have their own preference for pH values. That is, they do
best at certain pH levels. Whatever food solution you use, keep your pH
in a fairly tight band. Consistent balance gives consistent growth. It’s not
just the nutrient mix... it’s the right pH that delivers the food.
Accurate pH readings in solutions with a ppm (500 Scale) of less than
250ppm [0.5 EC] can be challenging to obtain, and require the pH probe
to be extremely well maintained and in excellent condition. For this
reason, Bluelab recommends, that for general applications, the ppm of
the solution being measured should be greater than 250ppm (500 scale).
If pH measurements in solutions of less than 250ppm are required,
then Bluelab recommends that guild lines for measuring pH in low ionic
strength solutions be followed.
Recommended
pH range for plants
grown in:
pH information
Why does soil pH matter?
Maintaining optimum pH level in soil means plant roots can take up the available
nutrients. The presence of a specific nutrient in the soil does not necessarily suggest
availability to the plant. The key component to nutrient uptake is the chemical solubility
of the ion that the plant requires and that solubility is highly dependent on soil solution
pH. The Bluelab pH chart illustrates the relative availability of nutrients as a function of
soil pH levels.
Programs aimed at managing pH in soils will help increase availability of native plant
nutrients and improve the efficiency of applied nutrients. An accurate determination
of soil fertility levels and pH will help to manage nutrients in an economically and
environmentally efficient manner.
When measuring soil pH, the ideal range is plant specific. Factors such as moisture in
the soil, soil type (make up and location), nutrients and fertilizers all influence the soil pH
levels affecting the nutrient uptake of the plants.
You can easily and effectively measure the soil pH with Bluelab’s range of Soil pH
meters providing a pH reading of soils and media, so you know that the right nutrients
will be made available to your plants.
800-325-3055
www.hummert.com
217