Question about pH management in general..
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An old acquaintance once advised him to check out the aisle in a general store where they sell mason jars, as they also offer almost pure citric and ascorbic acid, typically used for pickling various veggies. He purchased a jar of this acid a couple of years back, and whenever he needed to reduce his pH levels, he'd use a tiny amount of this acid. He'd mix it directly into his spray bottle, along with some demineralised water, a touch of Epsom salts, and a concentrated worm tea. Sometimes, less than a quarter pinch is sufficient to adjust his pH from around 7.4 to an ideal 6.8. He's curious if anyone else utilises this approach instead of using pH up and down modifiers. He utilises organic living soil, so the actual medium's pH isn't his main concern, just the ability to monitor his water, mixtures, and compost teas, etc.
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Frankly, I believe that items such as root hormones and gels, as well as certain soil pH modifiers, aren't truly necessary. While I understand their use in hydroponics, which is a different scenario, I find them redundant in other contexts. Actually, my experiences with successful plant cloning have happened when I abstained from using root hormones or gels. It's almost as if large corporations profit by maintaining a perceived need for these products.
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The original text suggests an uncertainty regarding the superiority of ascorbic acid over pH down in plant care, as the inquirer is no chemist. While plants don't directly absorb ascorbic acid, it might have some benefits for soil microbes, which could produce something useful for the plants. In contrast, pH down consists of phosphoric acid, a crucial plant nutrient providing phosphorus.
The question then arises, why prefer ascorbic acid over pH down? The reasons might be its easy availability, lower cost, and the individual's abundance of supplemental phosphorus. In their plant care regimen, they use a small amount of ascorbic acid in their water mixtures or teas.
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An old acquaintance once recommended visiting the section in a local supermarket where mason jars are sold as they also offer essential acids like citric and ascorbic, commonly used for preserving assorted vegetables. I purchased a jar a couple of years ago and have been using it sparingly to lower the pH level whenever necessary. I add a small amount into my water sprayer with some purified water, a bit of Epsom salts, and concentrated worm castings. At times, less than a quarter of a pinch can effectively reduce the pH from 7.4 to an ideal 6.8. I'm curious if others utilise such techniques rather than relying on pH regulators.
Although I use organic living soil and the pH of the medium isn't my primary worry, I do find it important to test my water, mixtures, and compost teas. I generally leave these complex matters to the soil, as the microorganisms within seem to prefer it that way.
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It appears to be simpler to acquire and less costly. I already have an ample supply of additional phosphorous. I only incorporate a tiny bit into some of my water concoctions or brews. Could it be a misjudgment to believe that as long as the water's pH decreases to the level I want, it's okay to merely modify my brews accordingly? This approach seems to be functioning well.
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I may not have a deep understanding of chemistry, but I'm curious as to why ascorbic acid might be a superior choice over pH down. Although plants can't directly take in ascorbic acid, it's possible that it might aid soil microorganisms, which could then generate substances beneficial for the plants. With pH down being phosphoric acid, it provides phosphorus, which is a key and necessary nutrient for plants.
So, what's the rationale behind preferring ascorbic acid over pH down?