pH buffered

StrangGuy · #1 05-27-2010, 09:37 PM

Hi,
I am using Liquid Earth (LE) as my nutrient solution. My question though may be a general one in regards to the term “pH buffered”.

LE has the following benefit statement.
• pH buffered, immediately available to plants. Liquid Earth's liquid formulas are easy to use, blend readily with water and are pH buffered so they're immediately available to plants for a longer period of time.

From instructions when mixing the LE with water it wants the water to be balanced to a pH of 7.0 prior. It is also my understanding that most plants like PH somewhere in the range of 5.5-6.5.

1. What does this “pH buffered” really mean?
2. Does pH even matter if a product claims to be “pH buffered”?
3. If it is “pH buffered” why wouldn’t a pH of 8.5 be sufficient prior to adding solution?

Sorry for the question list, someone may be able to answer them all in one statement, but this is what I need to learn.

Thanks,
StrangGuy

GpsFrontier · #2 05-27-2010, 10:32 PM

Well I am not a chemist so I don't really know what they use for the buffers, but the buffers simply help with pH swings of your nutrient solution. I think most hydroponic nutrients have pH buffers added. But the buffers don't adjust the pH of your nutrient solution, just help prevent swings once you have the right pH level. I always mix up the nutrient solution, then run it through the system before checking and/or adjusting my pH levels. Once it's in the right range I rarely need to adjust it again unless I have added replacement water (that was not pH adjusted first).

The right pH range is important because the plants can only absorb the nutrients in there pH range. If a pH is to high or to low then the nutrients in the solution become unavailable to the plants. Technically the plants can starve and/or show signs of deficiency, even with a perfect nutrient solution if it is not in the right pH range (therefor becoming unavailable to the plants). So the buffers are there to help prevent pH swings that can cause the nutrients from being available to your plants, but you should still regularly check your pH so you can be sure it is in the right range. Especially when needing to add replacement water, at least until you become familiar with it.

joe.jr317 · #3 05-31-2010, 07:11 AM

Yeah, the buffers will sometimes be good enough to make your 8.5 pH water in the 6 range or a little lower. But buffers don't last forever and can only take so much abuse. That is why it is important to use good quality of water from the get go. The buffers are really only for the changes AFTER you mix the solution and put it to use. The worse your water is, the sooner they will fail to keep pH constant. Addition of nutrient when topping off helps, but it is best to fully change the solution on occasion. By good quality, I don't mean water that you added acid to in order to bring it down from 8.5. I mean water that measures 6-7 without additional chemicals, like rain water, RO water, or distilled. The pH being that high would be due to a lot of mineral content that could cause you other issues and don't go away just because you add acid. I hope that helps.

StrangGuy · #4 06-14-2010, 08:21 PM

Thanks team for the info. But I am still a little confused. Please forgive me.
I'm sure that I didn’t state my questions clear. I don’t really have a water problem or PH variance issue. I guess that my questions should have stated that if I measure a current PH of 8.5 (which I never have) after a few days and the plant need 6.5, would the buffer make up the difference and provide the nutrients to be available to the plants at 6.5 even though my tester states that the PH is much higher?
So therefor if true, you would never need to be concerned with PH ever again. This seems to be the advertisement/buy in of “PH Buffered” nutrients. Meaning that whatever you measure in PH (8.5~6.5) doesn’t really matter even after a week of nutrients being added, because the nutrients are still available to the plants because the nutrients are “PH Buffered”.
Thoughts?

Thanks,
StrangGuy

GpsFrontier · #5 06-14-2010, 11:07 PM

Quote:

I guess that my questions should have stated that if I measure a current PH of 8.5 (which I never have) after a few days and the plant need 6.5, would the buffer make up the difference and provide the nutrients to be available to the plants at 6.5 even though my tester states that the PH is much higher?

No, the pH buffers wont change the pH. You will still need the pH adjusters (down) to get the 8.5 pH into the desired 6.5 pH range. The buffers just help keep it in the 6.5 pH range longer (after using the pH adjusters to get it there).

StrangGuy · #6 06-14-2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GpsFrontier

No, the pH buffers wont change the pH. You will still need the pH adjusters (down) to get the 8.5 pH into the desired 6.5 pH range. The buffers just help keep it in the 6.5 pH range longer (after using the pH adjusters to get it there).

Great, that is what I was looking for. Thanks.