The Importance of pH

pH is defined as the relative degree of acidity or alkalinity in an environment. pH is a vital component of a plant’s surroundings. As the pH changes, the ability of a plant to absorb nutrients changes also. In order to understand how and what to do about a changing pH, it is always helpful to have slight knowledge about very simple chemistry.

pH is a measure of the relative concentration of hydrogen ions, also called hydroxyl ions. This means that these particles are electrically charged. Hydrogen is positively charged while hydroxyl ions are charged negatively.

The standard pH scale runs from 1-14. pH levels below 7 and closer to 1 are more acidic (usually more hydrogen ions). pH levels that are higher than 7 and near 14 are basic or alkaline (more hydroxyl ions). A pH of 7 means the environment is neutral. This could mean that there aren’t any ions or that there is a balance between acid and basic. Any free hydrogen (H) and hydroxyl ions (OH) will combine and make water (H2O).

Plants that are grown hydroponically do well in a near-neutral environment. Most plants thrive in slightly acidic conditions, usually around 6.0-6.5 area. Aside from the chemical state in the plant’s roots, nutrients need to be dissolved in the medium (usually water) to be easily absorbed. If the environment is too acidic or too basic, it will interfere.

Fortunately, it is very simple to control pH levels with pH kits. These kits come in many forms, but the two most common come in bottled solutions and powders. Both have pros and cons.

Dry powder pH kits are usually cheaper. They store well (if kept sealed), so the material will last awhile. However, these kits require making a solution before the plants are fed. The powder is concentrated, but the environment will change best when the material is liquid. Otherwise, the application is uneven.

Solution kits are sometimes more costly, but they are super easy to use. All you have to do is measure out the amount which is much easier to measure than powder. In any case, the kits vary. Many of the solutions are highly concentrated while others are mixed at the perfect concentration.

But before you know how much to apply, you have to know about the plant’s environment at the time. This is done with a pH testing kit.

Older testing methods that are available are colored strips. The paper strip is dipped into the plant’s medium and it will then turn a color due to the dye that is embedded. The color can then be compared to a chart depicting pH levels.

As you can probably imagine, this can be an inaccurate way judge a pH level compared to today’s standards. Today, digital meters are much more reliable. However, these devices need to be cleaned between tests. The strips can be easily thrown away. Whichever pH kit and pH testing method you decide to use, it is always important to keep the plant’s pH level near neutral. The difference between 6.0 and 5.0 is a ten-times difference in the amount of concentrated acid. Though the numbers are small, the differences do matter.

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