Soil pH levels or the relative degree of alkalinity or acidity is a critical component to a plants environment as changes in pH affects the roots ability to absorb nutrients.
pH measures the concentration of hydroxyl ions or hydrogen ions - and identified as 'ions' due to being electrically charged. The hydroxyl ions are a negative charge while hydrogen ions are a positive charge.
A pH scale runs from 1 to 14. All numbers lower than 7 and closer to 1 are more acidic (more hydrogen ions), while those at 7 plus and towards 14 are more alkaline or basic (relatively more hydroxyl ions). A 7 indication is neutral, a balance between basic and acid or no ions. Free hydroxyl (OH) and hydrogen (H) ions often combine to generate water (H20).
Plants in hydroponically conditions will do well in close-neutral environments and in most cases plants will thrive in conditions slightly acidic - 6.0 - 6.5. In addition to chemical state of roots, all nutrient solutions require to be dissolved into the growth medium (water), as this allow ease in absorbing - and that can be interfered with in basic or highly acidic environments.
Even so, with a suitable kit to hand its now simple to control pH levels in the ground. Test kits include a container of powder or a bottled solution - each has there own positive and negative points.
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