Hey everyone! I'm diving into a big indoor gardening project and just tested the soil I picked up from Lowe's. It came back with a pH level of 7.5, which seems a bit high for what I'm trying to grow—strawberries, cucumbers, and other veggies. I'm using a budget multi meter that measures pH, light, and wetness. It's worked fine with old soil, but I'm worried this new stuff will hinder my plants' growth. I even tried mixing some soil with vinegar to check if it would fizz, but I didn't see any reaction. Should I be concerned about this pH level?
4 Answers
You can also add pH Down to your water or nutrient mix. It should help adjust the soil's pH over time if that turns out to be necessary.
Those multi-probe meters can be pretty unreliable for pH testing. To get a more accurate reading, try using pH test strips. They’re easy to find at garden centers or online. Just mix your soil with water and check the pH after about 30 minutes. If it turns out to really be that alkaline, you might want to consider adding some soil acidifier to balance it out before planting.
Honestly, 7.5 isn't too bad. Many plants thrive at around 5.8 to 6.7 pH. Slightly acidic soil actually helps with nutrient uptake, so unless your plants start showing signs of nutrient deficiency, you might be fine!