Join the conversation
33
What pH should cannabis water be? Complete beginner guide
I keep reading about pH but I don't really understand it. What pH should my water be? Do I need to test it? What happens if pH is wrong?
Growing in soil if that matters. Using tap water from the kitchen sink.
33
3 Comments
Experienced1mo ago
I struggled with pH my first grow and it caused all kinds of deficiency symptoms. Once I started pH'ing my water to 6.3, everything turned around. Best $15 I ever spent on growing.
19
Experienced1mo ago
Quick tip: if you're using living soil with good biology, pH matters less because the microbes buffer it for you. But for beginners using bottled nutrients, pH is absolutely critical.
Get a decent digital pH pen — the cheap paper strips are not accurate enough for cannabis.
13
Expert Grower1mo ago
For soil growing, you want pH between 6.0 and 6.8 — ideally 6.3-6.5. For coco or hydro, aim for 5.5-6.2.
Yes, you NEED to test it. A pH meter is $15 and it's the most important tool you'll buy. Wrong pH = your plant can't absorb nutrients even if they're there. It's called "nutrient lockout."
Tap water usually runs 7.0-8.0 which is too high. Get pH Down solution and adjust before every watering.
20