Ph question

William1976

Well-Known Member
If I take a soil sample at the surface of my outdoor grow, will it test the same as several inches down in the root zone? Just curious if since the roots are using up the nutrients and there are no roots on the surface, will I get an accurate ph test or do I need to take a core sample and test deeper down?
 

William1976

Well-Known Member
If I take a soil sample at the surface of my outdoor grow, will it test the same as several inches down in the root zone? Just curious if since the roots are using up the nutrients and there are no roots on the surface, will I get an accurate ph test or do I need to take a core sample and test deeper down?
Can't really test runoff because they are in the ground.
 

Cubes15128

Well-Known Member
well I guess of the folk that are on line and reading you post, yes I am.
I would assume the top layer of soil to be slightly different in ph, but your roots are mostly farther down so I'd personally take a tube sample like 6in down, or just stab a soil ph meter down in there! :D
 

William1976

Well-Known Member
I would assume the top layer of soil to be slightly different in ph, but your roots are mostly farther down so I'd personally take a tube sample like 6in down, or just stab a soil ph meter down in there! :D
I think I will try the tube idea. O I have a PH meter but I don't think it's accurate. Everywhere I probe I get the same reading of 7.
 

Xs121

Well-Known Member
Look up "how to do a slurry test"

Thing is, to be accurate, you have to dig up your sample at the root level.
 

ANC

Well-Known Member
Roots can be 3 points lower than surrounding soil. Unless you are feeding something really on the outlier range, a healthy plant in soil can cope with most.
 

William1976

Well-Known Member
Roots can be 3 points lower than surrounding soil. Unless you are feeding something really on the outlier range, a healthy plant in soil can cope with most.
What do I mean by 3 points? On the ph scale? Seems like a lot.
 

ANC

Well-Known Member
Yes, it seems like a lot, but plants are cool that way. They can use chelates, simple transpiration and ionic charge to get food in.
 
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