Testing for pH levels and maintaining the ideal level for your plants can help with nutrient uptake, Advanced Nutrients’ Michael “BigMike” Straumietis says. Here, he shares tips to optimize pH, nutrients and growing media to produce healthier plants.
1. Know your ideal pH level and test for pH regularly.
For bud-growing, the ideal pH range is 5.5 to 6.3. BigMike advises growers to test the level as often as every day. Testing can be performed using pH pens or a pH measurement kit with drops or strips.
“Keep in mind, growers utilizing digital pens should take care to follow the manufacturer’s calibration and storage recommendations for the most accurate results,” BigMike says.
2. Understand that pH corresponds with nutrient uptake.
Unless the pH level is in the ideal range of 5.5 to 6.3, plants will not be able to uptake the nutrients they are given, BigMike cautions.
If nutrient and pH levels are unsatisfactory after testing, he suggests using products to adjust the pH.
“You can use products like pH Up or pH Down to adjust your pH if you need to after testing,” he says. “If you use pH Perfect base nutrients, then your pH will be automatically balanced for you.”
3. Know which nutrients you need for your growing media.
Cultivators should be informed of which nutrients are needed for the growing media they are using, BigMike recommends.
“Growers using coco coir should know their high-value crops not only need extra calcium and magnesium for maximum performance in coco coir, but they also need extra iron,” he notes.
When watering and draining, considerations may vary based on the medium, BigMike explains.
“For most efficient growth, nutrients should be replenished based on plant uptake,” he adds.
Top image courtesy of Advanced Nutrients
