hempknowsis
Member
I have some GH PH Down on the way, but in the mean time is it ok to use lemon juice to get filtered tap water to a lower PH? (for soil) After I PH it then I add floranova which supposedly has PH buffers.
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Is it OK to use lemon juice to get PH down?
- Thread starter hempknowsis
- Start date
I use lemon juice every watering with no ill effects.
Kitchen remedies are best left for emergencies as they last about as long as a drive to the hydro store for proper pH Down. pH Down is dirt cheap and, used by the drop, lasts for years. Get the real thing.
Add nutes first, measure ph, adjust pH last.
Add nutes first, measure ph, adjust pH last.
hempknowsis
Member
Perfect, thanks freezer.
Castelvetro
Member
filter water much like spring water is generally slightly acidic(5.7-6.2) or so ive been told, its more energizing to the body maybe nature knows this go figure, my point it try tap which is usually alkaline, floranovabloom with a water of 8 brings it to 6... not sure what your goal is but thought this might help
If you feel an extra expensive pH adjustment that lasts for hours is better than a dirt cheap adjustment that lasts for weeks, go for it. However, the monumental abuse weed will survive should not be confused with what's good for it.
On average, pH down is used at 0.1 ml per gallon vs 5 ml per gallon of vinegar or lemon juice. Kitchen solutions, using 50 times the product with less than 10% efficiency, do little for the plants while screwing your wallet royally.
On average, pH down is used at 0.1 ml per gallon vs 5 ml per gallon of vinegar or lemon juice. Kitchen solutions, using 50 times the product with less than 10% efficiency, do little for the plants while screwing your wallet royally.
PeteWeedSeed
Member
I have always had problems when trying lemon juice or vinegar in R/O water. All the crap inside causes chemical and bacteria changes you can't see right away, but if you leave it out for an hour you can see the side effects of it.
I wouldn't even use it if I was completely out of ph down, I'd just feed them water and get some sterile ph down.
I wouldn't even use it if I was completely out of ph down, I'd just feed them water and get some sterile ph down.
Bumble Buddy
Active member
I used fresh lime juice for years, worked great and dirt cheap (free a lot of the time), just my experience. I also grew plants in clear pots, which is also supposedly a no no, they grew healthy and full of vigor so. 
G
Greyskull
i used a whole lemon on a 5g bucket... ph went down from 7.5 to 5.8.
i dont think theres anything wrong with using something like lemon or vinegar for the ph adjustment if the nutrient solution is going to be used/delivered soon afterwards.
that said, if you are recirculating your nutrients i would suggest you spend a few $$ on proper bottle of PH down (i like AN pure concentrate personally) and a syringe for exact dosages.
i dont think theres anything wrong with using something like lemon or vinegar for the ph adjustment if the nutrient solution is going to be used/delivered soon afterwards.
that said, if you are recirculating your nutrients i would suggest you spend a few $$ on proper bottle of PH down (i like AN pure concentrate personally) and a syringe for exact dosages.
Bumble Buddy
Active member
I think I used to use 1 key lime for 5 gallons, tap at ~7.9.
Part of the issue when running into problems with using pH down is that the alkalinity of the water plays into the solution, highly alkaline water may require much more pH down than slightly alkaline water of the same pH.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkalinity
Part of the issue when running into problems with using pH down is that the alkalinity of the water plays into the solution, highly alkaline water may require much more pH down than slightly alkaline water of the same pH.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkalinity
I
Iron_Lion
I disagree with this statement, if growing in soil there is no harm in using lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to adjust pH. I have used white and apple cider vinegar for years and my plants grow to picture perfect health. besides, hydro store ph buffers are full of salts and chemicals, why would you want to dump that crap on your buds. And as far as cost is concerned you cannot get much cheaper than $1.70 for a gallon of vinegar. it is not good to pass around bad information, over time people might start to believe it as truth.
these plants all seem to like their vinegar.
PeteWeedSeed
Member
There seems to be two different topics here...Soil use and hydroponics use.
I have used lemon juice and vinegar in soil without problems.. its soils, full of crap and bacteria as it is.
But in my hydroponics system, things go south very fast. The pH becomes unstable soon after using either one. Good bacteria culture is affected somehow, and causes it to usually start to foam for some reason.
I have used lemon juice and vinegar in soil without problems.. its soils, full of crap and bacteria as it is.
But in my hydroponics system, things go south very fast. The pH becomes unstable soon after using either one. Good bacteria culture is affected somehow, and causes it to usually start to foam for some reason.
Vinegar is far more expensive than pH down. On average, pH Down is used at 0.1 ml per gallon while vinegar is used at 5.0 ml per gallon. A bottle of pH Down may be 10 times the price as a bottle of vinegar but vinegar is used at 50 times the rate as pH Down. Further, vinegars effectiveness is measured in hours vs weeks for pH Down.
To recap, pH down is 1/5th the cost of vinegar and over 90% more effective.
Please take your own advice and stop suggesting costly and inferior methods.
i bought a bag of citric acid powder from ebay for a couple of dollars and use this to make my pH down solution. it'll last me for years.
citric acid is am organic acid that also helps chelate minerals and allow your plants to feed.
V.
citric acid is am organic acid that also helps chelate minerals and allow your plants to feed.
V.
So every one knows the facts,I've only used lemon juice in soil.And I have ph down aswell but see no need to use it as of yet,but maybe down the road I'll do a side by side study.
IrishCrownz
New member
You're the MAN
You're the MAN
I ran out and have been using 100% Lemon juice, and instead of the $12 price tag of PH down (General Hydroponics Brand). Been using a week and nothing has changed other than the thickness of my wallet.
Also I really would like to Thank you for what you said, Because it is so true...
''it is not good to pass around bad information, over time people might start to believe it as truth.'' SO TRUE!
Your BUDS look amazing!! What are they?? Just got my permit to grow and smoke in Massachusetts ($250) just to have a doctor even see you never mind sign off on it...I have G13, Purple Kush, Lemon Kush and Random Sh-wag Bag seed (Female) waiting to see what comes out as a surprise
800Watt Hoods, other side of tarp is same exact set up, but for flowering.
You're the MAN
I ran out and have been using 100% Lemon juice, and instead of the $12 price tag of PH down (General Hydroponics Brand). Been using a week and nothing has changed other than the thickness of my wallet.
Also I really would like to Thank you for what you said, Because it is so true...
''it is not good to pass around bad information, over time people might start to believe it as truth.'' SO TRUE!
Your BUDS look amazing!! What are they?? Just got my permit to grow and smoke in Massachusetts ($250) just to have a doctor even see you never mind sign off on it...I have G13, Purple Kush, Lemon Kush and Random Sh-wag Bag seed (Female) waiting to see what comes out as a surprise
800Watt Hoods, other side of tarp is same exact set up, but for flowering.
IrishCrownz
New member
Srry Don't know how to edit yet, but just throwing out there I have MH light on these and HPS Obviously for the other side.
I think I am doing well, any comments on improvements?
Wallet is running low so yes lol I rigged a fan(which works GREAT) instead of intake fan. Haha just have to figure how to rig up carbon filter on this bad rabbit.
I think I am doing well, any comments on improvements?
Wallet is running low so yes lol I rigged a fan(which works GREAT) instead of intake fan. Haha just have to figure how to rig up carbon filter on this bad rabbit.
C
CheeseFiend
i am a new grower and my first grow will be started in soil i have a bottle of lemon juice for ph down hope it works
