Balanced pH Is Crucial When Adding Microorganisms To Your Medical Marijuana Crop
As pH fluctuates, the ability of the microorganisms to carry out their functions is compromised. 
Supplementing beneficial microorganisms is now almost second nature among medical marijuana growers. In the past few years an enormous amount of beneficial microbe products have entered the marketplace, each claiming to be the perfect mixture to supercharge your garden. Two things are definitely true of all these products: they are expensive and they should not be wasted or just added willy-nilly. Besides the common sense things like storing the container in a cool, dark place or not using chlorinated tap water to mix up a batch of beneficial microbes, there is another way to ensure you get the most out of your beneficial microorganisms: maintain a consistent pH.
How Hydroponic pH Levels Effect Your Microbial Supplements
Beneficial microorganisms in and around your plant’s rhizosphere are dependent on a consistent pH range in order to feed and reproduce. As pH fluctuates, the ability of the microorganisms to carry out their functions (many times crucial to the plant’s nutrient uptake) is compromised and their growth and reproduction rates are slowed dramatically. Some microbes are more sensitive to pH than others and can actually die off if the pH of the solution makes abrupt or excessive fluctuations. Scientists have also discovered that pH solutions that are too acidic tend to accumulate pathogenic microorganisms that can eventually become toxic. Continual rises in pH can sometimes be attributed to a pathogenic bacteria mat in a reservoir or hydroponic system.
In order to maintain a high population of the precious beneficial microorganisms a grower must maintain a consistent pH at all times. Advanced Nutrients’ pH Perfect® lines of base nutrients is a great way for a grower to ensure their solution stays in the desired pH range, thus protecting their expensive investment in additional beneficial microbes they may add. Growers using other solutions will benefit dramatically from continuous pH monitoring and pH adjustment (when necessary) to maintain the desired pH range.
Microorganisms Change pH Level
What many growers don’t know is that the microorganisms actually give off their own hydrogen ions (pH down) and hydroxide ions (pH up). This means growers must pay close attention to the beneficial microbes they are adding to their solution and be cautious not to add too many of one kind of microorganism verses another. A good balance must be kept not only in the desired pH range but also in the microorganisms that are inoculated into the medium or solution. Beneficial microbes that give off equal amounts of hydrogen and hydroxide ions will help to keep the pH of the nutrient solution balanced. Advanced Nutrients is the only company that produces their own beneficial microorganism additives in house. This allows Advanced Nutrients to select specific beneficial microbes that have an equal hydrogen and hydroxide exchange. This makes it easier to maintain a balanced pH and keep the colonization rate of the beneficials high.
No matter what nutrient regiment you choose, one thing is certain, the beneficial microorganisms will not only better survive but also thrive in a balanced pH range. For hydroponics, a pH range of 5.5-6.3 is preferred by most beneficial microorganisms. In soil, a pH range of 6.0-6.8 is preferred. A consistent pH is key to flourishing microorganisms which, in turn, is key to a vibrant garden and tremendous yields.
YOU CAN BECOME A SERIOUS pH SCIENTIST BY READING THESE INFORMATIVE WHITE PAPERS - ONE & TWO.
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Monday, 02 July 2012
