vinegar to lower PH?

I

ItzAnon

Active Member
Hey guys new grower here.
The PH Up and DOwn kits are very pricey in my local growing store Close to 3 $30 with tax.
I hear using about a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to every gallon of water can lower the PH safely for a grow. Whats your guys's oppinion on this. I have seen only good things about using distilled white vinegar as a PH down but want to make sure before killing my plants.
My nutes would lower my PH for me but they are getting Nute burnt and need some regular PHed water for the next week or so.
My tap water is about 7.4 and im shooting for something more like 6.5 or 6.7.
If not distilled white vinegar what can I use without spending so much money?

Thanks!
 
T

Truckstop13

Member
White distilled vinegar can be used as a very temporary solution, but it's not stable and will cause your mediums ph to fluctuate over a prolonged amount of time. Invest in PH concentrates, up and down and save yourself from future headaches.
 
Wavels

Wavels

Well-Known Member
Distilled white vinegar works quite well...but I only need to use about five drops or so per gallon of my fert solution.
A tablespoon.....woweee...


My medium is ProMixBX...it works great with this.
Can't advise regarding other mediums.:joint:
 
I

ItzAnon

Active Member
I use a 2 liter pitcher to water my plants. Im just going to add little bit by little bit until my desired PH is reached. I know a tablespoon is WAY too much so I plan on just adding drop by drop until its okay. You can always add more water but ya cant take away vinegar.
 
T

Truckstop13

Member
I had poor results with it, but in small doses as Wavels utilizing it, it obviously doesn't have any noticeable affect, at least by the looks of his journal pics : ) )
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
Mad Farmers Get Down is a great choice for lowering pH. It use's 2 types of acid that remains very stable and contains NO DYE's. It also requires you to use about half the amount of other makers pH down!
 
JohnnySocko

JohnnySocko

Active Member
I was using vinegar but I was told (correctly) that it isn't the best solution...namely if your water has a higher than avg buffering capacity, it might take a lil bit to overcome that,,,,

...this is definitely one of those times being cheap isn't a good choice; GH's pH down is cheap as hell (relatively) and a $15 bag of the powder seems like it will last a lifetime.....
 
Jack Harer

Jack Harer

Well-Known Member
ItzAnon said:
Hey guys new grower here.
The PH Up and DOwn kits are very pricey in my local growing store Close to 3 $30 with tax.
I hear using about a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to every gallon of water can lower the PH safely for a grow. Whats your guys's oppinion on this. I have seen only good things about using distilled white vinegar as a PH down but want to make sure before killing my plants.
My nutes would lower my PH for me but they are getting Nute burnt and need some regular PHed water for the next week or so.
My tap water is about 7.4 and im shooting for something more like 6.5 or 6.7.
If not distilled white vinegar what can I use without spending so much money?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
JohnnySocko said:
I was using vinegar but I was told (correctly) that it isn't the best solution...namely if your water has a higher than avg buffering capacity, it might take a lil bit to overcome that,,,,

...this is definitely one of those times being cheap isn't a good choice; GH's pH down is cheap as hell (relatively) and a $15 bag of the powder seems like it will last a lifetime.....
Click to expand...

johnnysocko is right on the money, you have to overcome the buffering capacity of you water. Check this link: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hydro/msg070020492903.html?27
Just what makes you think you have a lockout issue? Your soil should buffer the pH quite fine. You really dont need to be that concerned with pH in soil. The girls showing signs of a deficiency/
 
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