In this article we will have the opportunity to talk about the quality of the water we use for our marijuana plants. We will also see the importance of using a correct pH in each irrigation and the appropriate amount of dissolved salts (EC).
pH of irrigation water
To begin we will see what the pH is and how we can adjust it to our needs in each phase of the cultivation of our marijuana seeds. The pH of the irrigation water of our plants is the indicator of the acidity or alkalinity of the water . The values that we can find in water vary according to the area or the equipment of the house in which we have lodged the crop. The pH is a very important factor that we should never forget to check, since many of the food processes of plants occur only at a certain pH range (pH6). This means that if we did not adjust pH, in a few weeks we could be seeing how our plants begin to show deficiencies. This can be solved by adjusting the pH of the following irrigations. To lower the pH of the water we can use either the typical pH Down pot that we can find in our Trustworthy Grow Shop or an acid , such as a few milliliters of lemon juice or vinegar. This last method can be used if the amount of water that we prepare does not exceed 5 liters, on the contrary, the amount of vinegar that we would use for a large drum would become outrageous. To raise the pH range of our irrigation water, we can buy a pH Up bottle in the Grow Shop with which we can raise the levels of our pH range up to desired point.
Ec of our irrigation water
The Ec (Electro conductivity) of irrigation water is the amount of dissolved salts that this water has . In the case of growing marijuana seeds, the Ec helps us to accurately measure the amount of fertilizer that we have added at all times. Once a grower starts using an Ec meter, he will stop following the fertilizer manufacturer's instructions, to follow the Ec parameters indicated in the fertilizer table that suits him at that time. Some tables will not tell us about milliliters of fertilizer but will tell us about a specific Ec for that phase. A clear example of what Ec is, is that experiment that many of us carry out at school, which consisted of adding salt to a glass of water until that water allowed electricity to pass through two cables that we introduced into the glass.
Water quality according to the area in which we live
The quality of the water may vary depending on the area in which we live. On occasion I have been able to speak with a grower who told me that the pH of his home did not exceed the range of Ph 6 in all the years he has lived in that area. In my case, the irrigation water that I have in my area comes within a range of pH 8 and an Ec 0.8, therefore, I do not have a correct water source. For this reason, I bought a reverse osmosis filter that provides me with the necessary water for food use and for watering my plants. To avoid having to correct the Ec 0.0 of the osmosis water, I mix 1/5 of the tap water until I reach the desired Ec 0.4 to start adding fertilizers . If you do not want to use tap water, for this correction we could use calcium and magnesium that we can buy in our trusted Grow Shop. Therefore, we must have a water source with the values indicated above or the most adjusted to those values. Remember! The pH and Ec parameters of the water should always be checked before each watering. Greetings to all readers and happy holidays to all.
Jhonny Pot.