Just to clarify, the recommended solution pH for hydroponics is 5-6. I am just interested to know how the pH ranges change for each nutrient in hydroponics vs mineral soil.
Link to table: University of California
by abdul10000
Just to clarify, the recommended solution pH for hydroponics is 5-6. I am just interested to know how the pH ranges change for each nutrient in hydroponics vs mineral soil.
Link to table: University of California
by abdul10000
4 Comments
Yes. Yes there is.
Different plants respond differently to different nutrient profiles and different PH. These charts aren’t absolute. I’d let my ph drift between 5.2 and 6.0, generally.
These charts aren’t quantitatively accurate in the first place. They’re intended to show general trends, not represent measured absorption data. Plant nutrient uptake vs pH vs soil type is highly dependent on both plant species and the presence of symbiotic organisms like mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria.
These charts are not meant to be used for hydroponics. The availability of nutrients for hydroponics are in a completely different form than in soils. All metals are chelated and directly available and all other minerals are in the form of soluble salts.
All these charts are questionable scientific accuracy. In general and hydroponics you want the pH to be between 5.5 and 6.5.
If you look at Athena‘s RDWC guide, they actually recommend a higher pH for calcium, uptake, and veg and then lowering it through flower. This is the opposite of what a lot of “conventional wisdom“ advocates.