Hydroponic nutrients guide - Why is pH Important

 Different plants have individual requirements of pH
From technical point of view, hydroponic nutrients pHlevel, which suits best for their growing. Though there
level in hydroponics systems defines the potential ofare some plants capable of growing in the
hydrogen-hydroxyl ion content of a particular solution.environment with the pH level of 5.0, the general rule
Different solutions can ionize into positive and negativesays that maintaining the pH level at 6.0-6.5 (slightly
ions. Those ions, which prevail in the solution, defineacidic) is optimal for growing most of the plants. 
whether the solution is acid or alkali. Acids are thoseIn order to understand what is going to occur when the
solutions, where there are more positive hydrogen ionspH level is elevated, it is necessary to remember a bit
than negative hydroxyl ions. The pH level of acidsof chemistry: at pH level of 6.5 and higher some of the
ranges from 1 to 6.9 on the pH scale. Alkali solutions,nutrient elements instead of being dissolved in the
on the contrary, have more negative ions and their pHsolution start to precipitate out of it and settle at the
level is 7.1-14 on the scale. The example of neutralbottom and walls of the container.  For example, in
solution with pH level at 7 is pure water, in which thethe solution with pH level of 7.3 about 50% of iron
amounts of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions are equal.content will be precipitated. With the pH level of 8.0 all
However, in reality water may have both higher andthe iron in the solution will be precipitated and plants will
lower levels of pH.not be able to absorb it any more. That is why high
Maintaining proper level of pH in hydroponics nutrientlevels of pH meter, at which the plant nutrients start to
solutions is important, because it affects how plantsprecipitate, are dangerous for plants and may lead to
absorb and use essential nutrients for their growing.problems or even death of plants.