pH and EC

When it comes to growing cannabis there are certain parameters that need to be followed in order to obtain the desired results, and one of the most important factors is water quality.

Knowing how to identify high quality water that your plants can absorb and use is incredibly important; low quality water can cause serious issues and even ruin your plants.

pH Importance

pH values are those which indicate the acidity or alkalinity of your nutrient solution or water. It’s measured on a scale of 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 the most alkaline. Cannabis plants can easily absorb nutrients from their substrate and from water as long as they’re within a specific pH range; this is why this parameter is quite important.

In soil substrates, the right pH during the growth period is around 6, and during the flowering period it goes up to 7. When it comes to growing in coco coir and hydroponic grows, the growth stage starts with a 5.5 – 5.8 pH, increasing it to 5.9 – 6.3 during the flowering period.

pH Meters

In order to know if you need to adjust your pH, first you’ll need to get a read on it. At La Huerta Grow Shop we have many different pH meter models that can help you out with this.

• Our reactive kits are a fast, simple way to figure out pH levels in your nutrient solution. Basically, you need to take a sample from your nutrient solution, add a couple of drops of the reactive solution and then compare the colour with the included pH chart. This is an affordable method and doesn’t need any maintenance.
• Digital meters are much more precise than reactive kits; they’ll tell you the exact pH levels at any time. These meters have a sensor used to detect pH and they need maintenance every now and then to keep working correctly.

There are different types of pH meter, such as the pH Hanna HI98107 meter, which is designed to give exact, trustworthy readings. If your needs exceed this device, you can also get the Hanna Grocheck continuous pH meter, designed to produce continuous readings. This model is ideal for hydroponic systems, where water quality is incredibly important.

EC Importance

EC, or electro-conductivity, is the parameter which measures the amount of dissolved mineral salts in your nutrient solution. The more salts in your solution, the higher its electro-conductivity.

Measuring the EC in your water indicates the amount of mineral salt build up, which indicates the hardness of the water. If you’re going to water using tap water, it’s highly important to take an EC reading to make sure if it can be used or not. If it’s too hard (near 1.2mS) you can always clean it up using an osmosis filter in order to re-build it later using calcium and magnesium.

EC Meters

Just like pH meters, there are EC pocket meters such as the EC Hanna HI98304, as well as meters designed for larger needs such as the EC Grocheck Hanna continuous meter.

EC meters don’t require as much maintenance as pH meters, although both need to be periodically calibrated. At La Huerta Grow Shop you can find all types of calibration and maintenance liquids designed to keep your meters in perfect condition so they always produce accurate readings.

If you want to combine all water maintenance chores in one, you can use meters such as the Hanna Grocheck Combo Continuos meter, which continuously measures EC and pH levels, or the pH/EC/TDS/TEMPERATURE meter which can help you to control all aspects of your water.

If you want to know more about pH and EC meters, get in touch with our team of experts and we’ll help you to make the correct choice.