biwa
Senior Member
Posts: 203
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:15 am
Location: Virginia, zone 7

Can willow tree survive pH 5 to 6?

I've got a young willow tree in a hydroponic garden. I think the species is black willow. It's waiting there until fall when I can plant it without transplant shock. My problem is I can't seem to keep the water at a good pH. The pH keeps dropping down to 5 ish. I diluted the water in the tank until the tank was full and the pH only went up to about 6.

Is a pH of 5 or 6 okay for willow? If not, I wonder if it would be okay to add more of the nutrient solution to up the pH. I think the nutrient solution is slightly basic.

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rainbowgardener
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Posts: 25279
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: TN/GA 7b

I don't know ANYTHING about hydroponics, so take this with a grain of salt or three. What they say about willows in soil is that their preferred range is pH 6.6 - 7.5, but they are fairly adaptable, so pH 6 should be fine. They like lots of water, but of course growing it hydroponically that's not an issue.

If your pH goes below 6, I imagine you are stressing it pretty much and would want to do whatever you can to bring it up.



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