What is the ph?
The pH value provides a measure of the acidity and alkalinity of an aqueous solution and is proportional to the concentration of hydrogen ions. The measurement scale goes from 0 to 14, a neutral solution has a value equal to 7, an acid solution has a value less than 7 and an alkaline solution has a value greater than 7.

Optimal Ph for Nutrient Solutions
The right pH value allows plants to absorb the right nutrients for lush growth. The right ph value for your plants should be between 5.5 and 6.3. High pH values ​​above 6.5 and below 4.5-5.0 are to be avoided. The precise pH value that determines the precipitation of macro-nutrients is due to the combined concentrations of calcium and sulphate. A fertilizer containing a high content of calcium and sulfate, the solution will need to be kept at a ph more step. If the pH of the solution is too high, greater than 6.5 there is a risk of a precipitation of salts that would be missing from the plant and would clog the irrigation system.

PH Adjustment Remember to check the pH of the solution when:
1. When adding nutrients to the solution.
2. After adding water to reappear the solution level
3. In recirculating systems, the pH must be checked on a daily basis because the absorption of water and nutrients by the plants causes the change in pH.

If the pH of the solution remains high for too long, the precipitate of salts cannot be dissolved again and the solution must be changed urgently.

To minimize ph fluctuations it is recommended to:
1. Use branded fertilizers with stable pH
2. Provide at least 9/10 liters of solution for each large plant, below this quantity there is a risk of a pH variation excessive due to any variations in heat / cold due to the effect of evaporation.
3. Try to keep the grow room temperature below 30 ° C and humidity above 50%

PH adjustment steps:
- Measure the pH: Use a liquid pH indicator, or an electronic pH meter. Before measuring the pH, make sure the fertilizer is well mixed and the sample container is clean.
- If the pH tends to increase continuously (the most common trend), it is recommended at each adjustment to reduce the pH to about 5.0 with pH -. This will give you a more adequate "safety" margin than an initial pH of 5.8.
- If the pH tends to decrease constantly, in each adjustment it is recommended to increase the pH to about 6.0, using pH +.
PH Adjustment: Add a small amount of pH - / ph + *. Mix well and check the pH. Repeat this process until the target pH is reached.

Ph measurement with "Ph-meters"
A ph meter or more commonly called ph control kit rph mete is the right tool to measure the ph of your solution. There are many very reliable and cheap electronic pH meters on the market (these pH meters need to be calibrated and cleaned).
It is not recommended to use pH meters for swimming pools or aquariums because most of the time the measurement scale stops at 6.0.
There are also liquid pH tests, which have a reagent that is mixed with the solution you want to test and reacts by giving a color to the solution. This color will have to be compared on a scale of values, so each color will have a different value.
If you want to buy a ph-meter, we recommend that you look at the category dedicated to ph meters.

Before measuring the pH make sure that the nutrients or the ph- or ph + added to the solution has been mixed properly.