How to use Growth Technology pH Up
- Step 1Â –Â Mix your required amount of nutrient with water
- Step 2Â –Â Measure your pH levels with any pH pen or a tester kit (cheaper alternative)
- Step 3 – Shake well before use. Dilute a small amount of pH solution to your nutrient solution. The dilution rates will differ dependent on the softness or hardness of your water. Below we outline the differences.
- Step 4Â –Â Mix for atleast 10 seconds and measure the pH value again.
- Step 5 – If necessary keep adding Growth Technology pH Up and mix for 10 seconds and check until you reach pH levels between 5.5 – 6.5 as this for most plants is the most ideal pH level.
​To note, when you are increasing your pH for example with 0.5ml intervals, the higher you go up the pH scale the quicker the same amount of solution is going to raise your pH. So if 0.5ml raised it by 0.2 pH it will not increase it the same amount the next time, so be cautious and keep testing your pH after each small amount of pH added.
This is because pH is logarithmic meaning that each integer increase or decrease results in a tenfold change in concentration. For example, a pH of 3 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 4. Similarly, a pH of 3 is one hundred times more acidic than a pH of 5.
The importance of pH
Correcting pH is one of the most important phases of your plants life. A correct pH level helps plants absorb the maximum amount of nutrients. pH influences the solubility of nutrients and chemicals in soil water, thereby determining the amount of nutrients accessible to plants. Your plant will intake different amount of nutrients at each level of pH so for best results we reccomend to go between 5.5-6.5 to capture each available nutrient.
How soil pH affect availabilty of plant nutrients
- Nitrogen:Â Ranges from pH 5.5 – 8.0 –Â Ideal range pH 6.0 – 7.75
- Phosphorus:Â Ranges from pH 6.5 – 8.0 –Â Ideal range pH 6.5Â – 7.5
- Potassium:Â Ranges from pH 5.5Â – 10.0 –Â Ideal range pH 6.0 – 10.0
- Sulphur:Â Ranges from pH 5.5 – 10.0 –Â Ideal range pH 6.0 – 10.0
- Calcium:Â Ranges from pH 6.0Â – 8.0 –Â Ideal range pH 6.5Â – 7.5
- Magnesium:Â Ranges from pH 6.0Â – 9.5Â –Â Ideal range pH 6.5Â – 9.00
- Iron:Â Ranges from pH 4.0 – 8.0 –Â Ideal range pH 4.0 – 6.0
- Manganese:Â Ranges from pH 4.5 – 8.5Â –Â Ideal range pH 5.0 – 7.5
- Boron:Â Ranges from pH 4.5 – 7.5Â –Â Ideal range pH 5.0 – 7.0
- Copper and Zinc:Â Ranges from pH 4.5 – 8.0 –Â Ideal range pH 5.0 – 7.0
- Molybdenum:Â Ranges from pH 5.5 – 10.0 –Â Ideal range pH 8.5Â – 10.0
​Most of these plant nutrients get caught in the range between pH 5-7, this is why we recommend sticking to 5.5-6.5 as this will alow most of the nutrients to abosrb into your plant.
Soft Water vs Hard Water
Your pH levels may differ depending on what water you have. For soft water the same amount of pH solution will adjust it differently to the same amount in hard water. You need to check first what water you have, this is done with an EC pen. Or check this zoned map of what water you might have in your area.




