Are your plants looking a little sad? Are they yellow or sickly looking, no matter how much you feed, care or even talk to them? The answer often lies beneath, in the soil below. Soil is the foundation upon which plants grow, so if there is something not quite right with it, your plants will suffer too. So, it makes sense to understand how to take care of it. This includes understanding soil pH – a measure of alkalinity or acidity in the soil – as this significantly impacts soil quality and its uses.
Testing pH values regularly is worth your while. The right acidity can make your plants stronger and bushier, allowing for better yields. In this article, you’ll find out what pH value is, why it matters, and how you can measure it.
pH values between 6.0 and 6.8 are ideal for medicinal plants.
Nonetheless, ideal pH levels differ from strain to strain. You should therefore keep a close eye on your plants, and experiment with different acidity levels.
How Do I Test My Soil’s pH?
Testing the pH level of your soil is super easy and quick as long as you have the right tools. A inexpensive soil pH tester like the two shown below can be used to quickly test the pH level and moisture level of your soil.
ECO Farm 4-in-1 Soil PH Tester Soil Moisture Sensor LCD Display For Household
ECO Farm 4 in 1 meter makes testing the soil very easy! You can measure the soil PH value, Sunlight Intensity, Moisture and Temperature in seconds, so your plants can grow healthy and strong.
Easily displays various readings with the large LCD screen, and green backlight allows you read the index in dark condition. Powered by a 9V battery( not included). Auto power-off function helps to save battery life.
Eco-friendly because of no need for batteries and extra preparation. Just simply plug the probe into the soil about 4 inches, and you will get an accurate and precise reading immediately, which helps you maintain your soil and, consequently, your garden or lawn in tip-top condition! Remove probe from the soil and wipe it clean after each use.
ECO Farm New 4 in 1 TDS PH Meter PH/TDS/EC/Temperature Meter Digital Water Quality Monitor Tester
High precision and fast response.
Adopts the digital screen display with backlight, which is more clear and convenient to read data.
Compact pen-shape design, lightweight, you can test water anywhere to get the purest water.
Large LCD screen to display the result, easy to read with high precision.
Apply in water sources, hydroponics, and other water systems.
What Happens if the pH in My Plant Food Is Too High?
Decrease in Nutrients
When a plant’s soil pH increases, which is what would happen when its food’s pH is too high, the plant’s ability to absorb certain nutrients is disrupted. As a result, some nutrients cannot be absorbed properly. For example, if a plant’s leaves become yellow between the veins, this indicates an iron deficiency. Low iron in the soil is not the culprit. The soil’s high pH prevents the iron present in the soil from changing into a form the plant can absorb.
Increase in Toxicity
Most plant nutrients are at their most available state at a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. At a higher pH, soil builds up toxic levels of certain nutrients. For example, molybdenum, typically a plant nutrient, becomes poisonous to plants in large amounts. Molybdenum soil levels increase in a high pH environment. Introducing a plant food that results in high pH levels can be toxic to that plant.
Microorganism Imbalance
When soil has a neutral pH near 7.0, microorganisms beneficial to the surrounding plants flourish and provide vital nutrients to the soil. For example, earthworms live best in a neutral or slightly lower soil pH. When the soil's pH becomes too high due to a high-pH food, earthworms do not perform well and cannot convert the nitrogen present in the soil into a form that plants can absorb.
Creating Extreme Conditions
Unless they have adapted, plants do not thrive in extreme conditions. As with an excess of heat, water or light, an excessively high pH soil will not provide an ideal environment for most plants. Creating high pH conditions by feeding a plant the wrong type of food will have an adverse effect.
What Happens if the pH in My Plant Food Is Too Low?
If your soil pH is sitting below 5.5, then you will need to increase it or make it more alkaline. Adding lime (calcium carbonate) or dolomite (calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate) is the most effective way to amend soil acidity. When calcium or magnesium carbonate is applied to acidic soil, the ions separate into calcium/magnesium, and carbonate. Calcium and magnesium bind to the soil – this is ideal as these elements are essential for plant health – and are eventually taken up by the plant when required. Carbonate binds with the excess hydrogen in the soil, to form water and carbon dioxide, and thereby helps neutralise the acid in the soil.
Conclusion
Allowing a PH range, regardless of the medium, ensures the plant is able to absorb the variety of nutrients required for optimum growth. Looking for more options and information? Welcome to visit our official website. Follow us could get the biggest discount. Now using coupon code: Nicole11 to get 17% off when checkout.
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