Interesting responses! My main gripe is “recommended” Ph of hydro between 5.5-6.0 WITHOUT considering what the present calcium of tap water is in that location.
I think we can all agree highly calcified water leaves a salty crust behind. I have a stainless steel cat fountain, and water in 2 locations used showed that crust on the surface, but where i am currently that’s lighter, so it tells me the water is calcium deficient. I think in some cases, a simple cal-mag of 1-2% isn’t enough. I’ve had to go w Blue Planets cal-mag pro at 15%, and now that I have along w a Ph above 6.1-6.35 range all new growth is perfectly healthy.
A grower that recommends ranging from 5.5-6.4, I don’t have issue. There’s enough discrepancy for calcium present, even failed to being mentioned. Where I have a problem is disregard and being adamant of Ph under 6 generally for hydroponics, and clearly I’ve learned and seen this is patently false. Seriously some of these people are going to cause more problems for those researching about Ph than helping them. We know Ph is dependent on nutrient availability to the plant and suggesting a lower range that may be lockout at the highest end of 6.0 is telling the reader DON’T go above it, then that reader will think it’s something else and not the Ph and ramping up ppm in effort to correct…BAD INFORMATION.
I said when reading around I found the emphasis of not going above that 6.0 more often than being ranged, and consensus does factor in decision making psychologically. It took me two weeks to figure this out when I could be closer to flowering instead. For another new grower it could be much longer to realize they have to be over 6.1-6.2 to fix the lockout/deficiency they’re experiencing