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Baking Soda And Weed: How to Use Baking Soda When Growing Cannabis
Nov
You might not believe it, but baking soda could be a key component in your cannabis cultivation. This cheap and easily accessible solution can help raise pH levels, fight powdery mildew, keep pests at bay, and even wash buds post-harvest. But used incorrectly, baking soda come with some risks. Read on to learn everything you need to know about this versatile tool.
You might think it’s absurd to spray weeds with baking soda, but hear us out! Baking soda isn’t just for cooking or cleaning around the house–it can actually be really useful in the garden, too. Solutions made from baking soda are great at getting rid of certain diseases and pests, and can also help balance pH levels. Plus, after you harvest your plants, sprinkling some baking soda on them will get them ready to use. But be careful–if you use too much or put it on at the wrong time, you could do more harm than good.
What Is Baking Soda?
Baking soda, also called bicarbonate soda, is an important component in many types of breads, batters and more. With a pH of 9.5, baking soda is considered a base (alkaline substance) that reacts with acidic ingredients – like vinegar or buttermilk – to create carbon dioxide gas. This gas forms the bubbles that make breads and batters rise during baking.
Baking soda isn’t only good for cookies; its high pH makes it effective in other areas too.
You’ll find baking soda in both natural toothpaste and mouthwash, among other products. In addition, people use it as an antacid toneutralize stomach acidity during heartburn episodes. Baking soda is also a key ingredient for those looking to avoid harsh chemicalsin cleaning products; you can use it as scouring powder, drain cleaner,and carpet deodorizer.
Baking soda doesn’t just belong in the kitchen–it can also be used as a natural way to fight pests and diseases in your garden, and to correct pH issues.
Why Use Baking Soda in Your Cannabis Garden?
Although it may sound absurd, baking soda can actually be an effective solution for growing cannabis under the right conditions and when applied at the appropriate time. Below, we will explain some of the best ways to use baking soda in your cannabis garden. We will also advise against using it during certain times, like later on in the flowering stage.
How Do You Apply Baking Soda to Plants?
Baking soda is an extremely versatile tool that farmers can use for a variety of purposes, such as a diluted foliar spray or directly in the soil. It can also be used post-harvest to clean contaminants from your buds (more on this below).
Baking Soda as a Fungicide and Pesticide
Many different types of fungi can infect cannabis plants and steal away the nutrients that the plant needs to survive. Powdery mildew is one of the most common and damaging examples of these harmful fungi. In addition to diseases caused by fungus, pests are also a major threat to cannabis gardens and grow rooms.
Various species can quickly destroy an entire canopy if left unchecked. For example, aphids- which are some of the most common pests in cannabis- can cause severe damage. Their mouths have evolved to be able to puncture plant tissue and suck out the nutrient sap inside; They also breed very quickly, meaning that they become much more difficult to get rid of once they’ve gained a foothold.
However, there are more environmentally friendly solutions you can implement depending on the scale of your problem. Instead of using harsh chemicals that could damage your garden and surrounding areas, try sprinkling baking soda on weeds!
Basic Baking Soda Foliar Spray Recipe
Don’t have expensive store-bought solutions? No problem! You can use baking soda to fight the infection or infestation and nurse your plant back to health. Check out the simple directions below.
Note: Baking soda is extremely effective in regulating pH levels, but if you’re applying it as a foliar spray, be sure to dilute it more than usual. If the plant starts displaying signs of stress, like leaf curling or discolouration, stop using the baking soda immediately and rinse the leaves with fresh water.
Ingredients
- Baking soda
- Liquid non-detergent dishwashing soap
Equipment
- 5l bottle
- Spray bottle
Directions
- In a 5l bottle, mix together 4.5l of water, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of soap.
- After you mix the solution thoroughly, pour some of it into your spray bottle.
- To avoid leaf burn, administer the solution to your plants on overcast days. Apply it extensively and evenly on both sides of any affected fan leaves and stems.
Baking soda by itself works wonders, but once you add soap to the mixture, it’s even more effective. If you have pests in your garden or grow room, simply patrol and spritz away.
Foliar spraying of baking soda is only recommended during the vegetative and pre-flowering phases, as applying this solution during mid to late flowering can cause residue buildup on your buds.
Use Baking Soda to Increase pH
Baking soda can be helpful in managing pH levels in soil, but only if it is used correctly. Cannabis growers need to monitor the pH of their soil carefully since plants cannot absorb necessary nutrients when levels are outside the ideal range.
If your soil tests as too acidic for your plants, you can raise the level by applying baking soda. The sweet spot for most plants is between 6.0 and 7.0 on the pH scale. To use baking soda, mix a tablespoon of it into 5 litres of water and apply to the soil as needed. Always start with small batches and test the pH again several hours after application to see how much effect it had. Stay consistent with the solution and test your soil Mark sure not to add too much baking soda as it will dramatically alter pH. If you use too much, you could make the problem worse instead of fixing it.
Baking Soda During Bud Washing
To many, the act of bud washing cannabis may seem as outrageous as spraying weed with baking soda; however, a number of growers use this method to cleanse their buds of various contaminants – possibly making them taste better. As cannabis trichomes are very adhesive, all sorts of particles can adhere to the buds: Including debris such as soil and dust; insect eggs and faeces; plus creepy-crawlies like spiders! We’re willing to bet you don’t want any that in your lungs!
The process of bud washing begins by combining baking soda, lemon juice, and fresh water. This mixture works to remove any unwanted particles from your weed while preserving the trichomes. The buds are then rinsed in two buckets of fresh water to ensure that no residual solution remains.
Does Baking Soda Have a Place During the Flowering Phase?
We don’t recommend spraying buds with baking soda past a certain point, as you’ll need to choose different strategies to combat pests and disease later on in the flowering stage. If you apply baking soda sprays any later than week two of flowering, you’ll end up with buds that taste bad. Compared to spraying baking soda directly onto your flowers, washing them in a weakly diluted solution is much easier to remove before they are dried, cured, and smoked.
Baking Soda on Weed: Wise or Foolish?
Baking soda is an effective, cheap way to get rid of pests and diseases for home growers. It also comes in handy when you want to change the pH level of your soil or wash your buds. However, it’s important that you apply these preparations at the right time and in the right quantity. Using too much baking soda or applying it too late into flowering can damage plant health and affect taste negatively.
