Would any harm come to my plants for using vinegar or lemon juice to lower the PH of my water? The local tap water is about 7.4. I suspect that trying to use lemon juice would be prohibitively expensive.
i wouldn't recommend either... they do lower the pH... but only for a few hours, then it's back up... i'd stick with plain ol' pH-down...
That is a big jump. But baking soda is basic, not acidic. That's why it makes the volcano action, w/ vinegar, that most of us know as kids.
I was thinking more long term. To regularly lower the PH of the water I use. I ask because vinegar is cheap. My tap water is fairly high PH for this. About 7.4 according to the local water authority.
pff my tap water is like 8.5 or more. good thing im not growin, dont know what id do. but to give some useful info id sugesst goin to a pet store and just getting some pH down for like 4 bucks.
Baking soda is a base, and therefore RAISES the pH. As for the original post... Vinegar works fine for soil grows, been using it for years.