First and foremost, pH stands for Potential Hydrogen, meaning the amount of Hydrogen present within a solution. The pH scale ranges from 0-14; ranges falling between 0-6 are considered Acidic, 7 is considered Neutral, and 8-14 are considered Alkaline. So why are these seemingly random numbers so important? Although small numerical values, these numbers carry big implications, meaning pH can make or break your growing production! Below is a picture of the pH scale and different solutions, along with their range on the pH scale.
pH is an important factor when dealing with overall wellness of plants- if the pH is off in your soil, it can create all kinds of problems for nursery or greenhouse operations. Aside from lending information on the acidity and alkalinity of your growing media, pH deals with the nutrient absorption via the root systems. Certain nutrients are only absorbed within certain pH parameters. The ideal range of pH for most nutrient uptake lies between 5.5-7.0.
Nutrient absorption is defined in three ways: Deficiency (insufficient availability of nutrients), Healthy (adequate availability of nutrients), and Toxicity (excess availability of nutrients). Though there's great variability in these nutrient levels, the warning signs are similar in regards to deficiencies and toxicities. Common symptoms include chlorosis, interveinal chlorosis, discoloration, and necrosis.
Chlorosis is the yellowing of leaves due to photosyntetic issues related to chlorophyll. The colors present will range from a green yellow to a flashy, neon yellow appearance in color. Interveinal Chlorosis is s type of cholorosis that appears within the vein structures of a plant. The veins themselves appear with a yellow hue, while the actual leaf structure maintains its normal spectrum of green coloration. General discoloration often appears on the leaves of a plant. appearing in a red-purple-bronze spectrum.
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| Neptune, C. (2019, March 27). |
pH is an important factor when dealing with overall wellness of plants- if the pH is off in your soil, it can create all kinds of problems for nursery or greenhouse operations. Aside from lending information on the acidity and alkalinity of your growing media, pH deals with the nutrient absorption via the root systems. Certain nutrients are only absorbed within certain pH parameters. The ideal range of pH for most nutrient uptake lies between 5.5-7.0.
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| Rosen, C. J. (2014, March 14). |
Nutrient absorption is defined in three ways: Deficiency (insufficient availability of nutrients), Healthy (adequate availability of nutrients), and Toxicity (excess availability of nutrients). Though there's great variability in these nutrient levels, the warning signs are similar in regards to deficiencies and toxicities. Common symptoms include chlorosis, interveinal chlorosis, discoloration, and necrosis.
Chlorosis is the yellowing of leaves due to photosyntetic issues related to chlorophyll. The colors present will range from a green yellow to a flashy, neon yellow appearance in color. Interveinal Chlorosis is s type of cholorosis that appears within the vein structures of a plant. The veins themselves appear with a yellow hue, while the actual leaf structure maintains its normal spectrum of green coloration. General discoloration often appears on the leaves of a plant. appearing in a red-purple-bronze spectrum.
Other symptoms of nutrient deficiencies and toxicity include mosaic patterning, wilting, stunted plant growth, and shorter plant life cycles. Below I have shared an image of common nutrient deficiencies associated with specific nutrients. Remember to be cognizant of your pH and happy growing, friends!
- Alexis
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| K S, K. (2012, June 03). |
