I have always adjusted ph level after adding the nutrients and fed my plants. I grow in soil and use FF nutrients. The last feeding my ph level was at 6.6. The ph in my runoff was 5.45. Someone told me I should adjust my ph higher to compensate for the drop to get the proper ph at the roots. Does that sound correct ? I think the proper ph going in is where it should be
5.45 is really low and will lead to problems. Please tell us more:
What soil are you using? (Brand and type)
Are you pHing the nute mixture before feeding your plants, or are you adding pHed water after you’ve fed them. I wasn’t clear on that.
How old is your plant and how long has it been in the soil? If it has been a while a flush to correct pH may be in order since salt buildup can make it impossible to manage pH.
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Going in with a super high PH trying to correct things will only make the problem worse. What you should do is mix up a batch of 6.5ph’d water and flush the medium out until the ph is matching. Never go up high with your ph trying to correct an issue
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solid advice. Raising one to equate the other is a rabbit hole.
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I use Ocean forest soil and fox farm nutes. I use RO water and Ph after adding nutes or just ph the water if I’m just watering. These 2 plants are Black Dominas that are 6 weeks into flower. Normally by this time I’d be giving them just water anyway. It didn’t sound right to me to raise the ph because of the runoff. I just think the bud development should be further along. when I access the forum from my phone I’ll post a photo to show what I’m talking about. I thought a salt buildup was primarily if you are using Coco or some medium like that
I grow in FF Happy Frog and have to flush a couple of times in flowering to keep the salt down and keep pH under control.
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@Steve11 salt is what the plant gets rid of as waste. Kinda like poo. I like to flush with Florakleen once before going into flower and then 2 weeks before I harvest her. If I see a build up of salt on the outside of my fabric pots I may flush but depends on how much build up.
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I usually flush with Sledgehammer, but I think Florakleen is the same thing. They are just rinsing agents. Fox Farm soils will go back to ~6.5 naturally after being given a good flush.
No need to go through a bunch of gallons of water pHed too high and mess things up by using a flushing agent. If you flush with one of them, be sure to add back a full suite of nutes on the next watering, including Big Bloom for micromutrients and cal/mag too. It will have all been washed away by the flush and saturated soil won’t absorb nutes.
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If outdoors you can top dress with a couple of tablespoons of dolomite lime to bring native PH up.
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Thanks but they are indoors. I’ve always wanted to do an outdoor grow
I have sledgehammer
Thanks to everyone who has offered help and suggestions!
You can still top dress with Dolomite lime.
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Baking soda can also be used to raise PH and Cider vinegar to lower it 
