Weed Grow Guide by Royal Queen Seeds

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

[email protected]


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

  • First and last name
  • Home and billing address
  • Telephone number
  • Gender
  • IP address
  • Email address
  • Date of birth

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

  • First & last name
  • Gender

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

  • Email address

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: [email protected].

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to [email protected].

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

  • Revoke the consent you have granted;
  • Access personal data;
  • Rectify personal data;
  • Delete personal data;
  • File a complaint or a writ for the protection of your rights before the Spanish Data Protection Agency;
  • Be notified of any security incident that may affect your rights;
  • Limitation of processing;
  • Portability.
By Steven Voser Reviewed by: Gloria Payá


  • Soil pH measures acidity or alkalinity and significantly impacts cannabis plant health. The ideal pH range for soil-grown cannabis is 6.0–7.0.
  • Cannabis plants can only absorb nutrients within a specific pH range, and deviations can lead to nutrient deficiencies and "nutrient lockout."
  • Digital meters or pH testing kits can be used to test soil or water pH. Adjustments can be made using “pH up” or “pH down” solutions or natural methods such as compost.
  • Proper pH management promotes healthier, more vigorous cannabis plants, leading to higher-quality harvests.

What Is Soil pH?

pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline something is. The pH scale ranges from 1–14, with a pH of 7 being neutral (the pH of pure water). If pH is lower than 7, a substance is considered acidic (think vinegar or lemon juice). If the pH is higher than 7, the substance is alkaline, as is the case with soaps, bleach, and ammonia.

In more scientific terms, pH level has to do with the concentration of hydrogen ions, say in the water you give to your plants. The pH scale is logarithmic to the base 10, which means that water with a pH of 6 is already 10x more acidic than water with a pH of 7.

Below is a basic chart of the different pH levels of common items:

1.0 - Battery acid
2.0 - Lemon juice and vinegar
3.0 - Orange juice and soda
4.0 - Tomato juice
5.0 - Black coffee and bananas 
6.0 - Urine and milk 
7.0 - Pure water, not tap or bottled water
(the pH tap or bottled water can vary considerably)
8.0 - Seawater and eggs 
9.0 - Baking soda
10.0 - Milk of Magnesia and the water of the Great Salt Lake, Utah

How pH Affects Nutrient Availability

The pH of your soil directly impacts your cannabis plants’ ability to absorb nutrients. That’s because different nutrients become soluble at different pH levels. At a pH of 6.5, most nutrients are available as water-soluble ions that are readily absorbed via your plants’ roots. In turn, your plants get the nutrition they need to maximise growth.

When the pH levels of your soil rise too far above or below 6.5, however, the availability of nutrients changes. At lower pH levels, for example, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and aluminium (Al) become more readily available to plants—all of which are toxic in excess.

Meanwhile, at higher pH levels, potassium (K), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo) become more accessible to plants. Either way, when your soil pH is off, your plants cannot absorb the right balance of nutrients they need for healthy growth.

Video id: 484379208

The Benefits of Maintaining the Perfect pH

The benefits of caring for and maintaining your plants’ pH is pretty straightforward; you’ll have healthier plants that demonstrate more vigorous growth and, as a result, produce better harvests. Plus, you’ll also ensure that the time and money you’ve spent fertilising your plants is paying off.

By regularly checking the pH of your growing medium, you’ll be able to ensure that your plants are able to take up all the nutrients you’re giving them. You’ll also be able to catch any pH imbalances early, minimising your risk of running into nutrient deficiencies later on in your grow (more on that below).

Signs of High and Low pH in Cannabis Plants

Some signs that your pH is off when growing cannabis include:

Low pH
  • Stunted growth
  • Red or purple discoloration of the leaves and stems
  • Leaf necrosis (browning and wilting of healthy leaves)
  • Burnt leaf tips
  • Twisted leaves
  • Leaf chlorosis (yellowing leaves with green veins)
High pH
  • Brown spots on leaves
  • Stunted or wilted leaves
  • Leaf necrosis (browning and wilting of healthy leaves)
  • Leaf chlorosis (yellowing leaves with green veins)
  • Tip death of new leaves
  • Dark green leaves with red or purple tinting

Note that all of the above symptoms are actually caused by nutrient deficiencies resulting from pH imbalances. However, you won’t be able to address them simply by giving your plants more of the nutrients they’re lacking. Instead, you’ll need to re-regulate your pH by flushing your soil to rid it of excess nutrient reservoirs, and then begin feeding your plants with a balanced mix of nutrients again.


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Understanding and Preventing Nutrient Lockout

Nutrient lockout (sometimes referred to as “nutrient lock”) occurs when your cannabis plants can’t absorb nutrients from the soil or the fertilisers you’re using to feed them. One of the primary causes of nutrient lockout is pH imbalance, but it can also be caused by salt buildup near the root zone as a result of feeding with mineral fertilisers (which tend to have a high salt content).

Best pH for Flowering Stage in Soil

Cannabis plants grow effectively at a neutral pH range of 6–7 from seed to harvest. However, experienced growers often like to raise their soil pH slightly to 6.5–7.5 during flowering to maximise their plant’s ability to absorb essential flowering nutrients. Both potassium and phosphorus (the most important macronutrients to support flower development), as well as calcium, sulphur, and magnesium, all become increasingly available at slightly elevated pH levels.

By gently increasing the pH of your soil, you’ll ensure your plants get a good balance of flowering nutrients while simultaneously reducing their access to nitrogen—which they won’t need during their bloom phase. In fact, high nitrogen availability during flowering can cause nutrient imbalances that greatly hinder flower development.

  • Soil pH range: 6.0–7.0

If you grow in soil, the optimal pH level for the root zone is between 6.0 and 7.0. However, there is no set number within this range that is “best”. Instead, it can be good to allow for some natural fluctuation within this window to support optimal nutrient uptake.

So, as you adjust, try a slightly different reading each time. You can, for example, adjust your pH to 6.2 for one watering, then 6.6 the next. As long as it stays within 6.0–7.0, you should be fine. Soil is also more forgiving when it comes to pH imbalances, but it can only give so much.

If you grow purely organically—where you do not administer mineral nutrients—pH is less of an issue. If you’re using amended or composted soil with organic matter, the microorganisms within will make the nutrients more available to the roots. However, most growers using standard potting mixes and mineral nutrients will indeed have to reckon with pH.

Bar graph depicting how soil pH (ranging from 4.5 to 9.5) impacts the availability of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur, magnesium, iron, manganese, boron, copper, zinc, and molybdenum.

  • Go Organic and Forget About Measuring pH

At RQS, we’re big proponents of organic cannabis growing; not only because it delivers a far superior product, but because it takes some of the hassle out of growing, especially when it comes to pH.

While using chemical nutrients might seem simple, it can actually take some time and practice to get the hang of properly fertilising your cannabis plants with liquid mineral fertilisers. Organic nutrients, on the other hand, naturally promote the health of your plants by supporting the development of healthy microbial life within your medium.

Using natural fertilisers like compost, worm castings, and bone meal creates a breeding ground for healthy bacteria and fungi that keep the conditions of your soil optimal, so there’s usually no need to monitor the pH of your soil as closely as you would otherwise.

  • Hydroponics and Soilless pH range: 5.5–6.5

Hydro and soilless grows are a different beast when it comes to pH. If you grow soilless, say in coco, the optimal pH level at the root zone should be somewhat lower than in soil, between 5.5–6.5. The same goes for all methods of hydro.

With these methods, it is just as important that you allow the pH level to fluctuate across the acceptable range to support nutrient uptake. For example, in hydro, calcium and magnesium are mostly absorbed at pH levels above 6, while other nutrients like manganese prefer a slightly lower pH.

Then again, this shouldn't be an issue since pH levels will naturally fluctuate slightly with each feeding in a hydroponic setup. You will only need to correct if the pH level exits the optimal 5.5–6.5 range.

When growing in coco, perlite, or hydroponically, you are in charge of administering nutrients directly to the root zone via the water, which means huge pH fluctuations are more of a risk than in soil. The inert media used in hydro and soilless grows merely retains water and provides support for the roots. So, when administering nutrients, be careful that you don’t overload your plants.

Bar graph illustrating how soil pH affects nutrient availability for plants. The x-axis ranges from pH 4.5 to 8.5, while the y-axis represents relative nutrient availability. Nutrients displayed include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, boron, zinc, and copper.

How to Monitor and Adjust Cannabis Water pH

One of the most important parts of maintaining a healthy soil pH is regularly testing the pH of your water. The pH of both bottled and running water can vary greatly and will directly affect the pH of your plants' soil. Hence, we recommend you always measure the pH of your water before watering your plants while simultaneously tracking the pH of your runoff.

One of the most traditional ways of tracking soil pH is with a pH test kit. To do this, you’ll want to:

  1. Take a sample of your water, nutrient solution, or runoff.
  2. Add 1–2 drops of pH solution.
  3. Shake the mixture to combine it properly.
  4. Compare the color of your mixture to the color chart that came with your kit.

After a more accurate and straightforward way to measure pH in your cannabis garden? Look no further than our pH Tester by Hanna Instruments. Following a simple calibrating process, this pocket-sized meter will provide you with exact pH readings in an instant—all without squinting to compare color charts.

Cannabis pH — FAQs

Let’s break down some of the most common questions related to cannabis pH. Feel free to refer to these if you encounter any pH-related issues during your grow.

Measuring pH With Drops

pH measuring kits usually contain a test tube, a bottle of testing solution, and a color-coded pH chart. Testing the pH of your soil with these kits is super simple:

1. Prepare your fertiliser as per usual and stir it gently. Be careful not to over oxygenate your fertiliser as this may throw off your pH reading.

2. Half-fill your test tube with your fertiliser and add 3 drops of testing liquid into it.

Step-by-step guide to testing soil pH: mix soil with water in a bowl, add 3 drops of testing liquid to a test tube. The test tube shows a neutral pH of 7.0, ideal for gardening and plant health.

3. Gently shake the test tube to mix the pH testing solution with your fertiliser.

4. Use the color chart to read the pH of your fertiliser and, if needed, use pH up/down products to adjust it.

5. Repeat this process with the runoff from your fertiliser. If the pH reading from your runoff is far below or above that of your fertiliser and in the danger zone (below 5 or above 7), you may need to regulate the pH of your soil.

 Instructions for testing soil pH: Gently shake the test tube and compare the liquid's color to a chart to determine soil pH. The image displays a test tube with a pH of 7.0, indicating neutral soil.

Measuring pH With a Digital pH Meter

Measuring pH with a digital pH meter (like our pH tester) couldn’t be any more simple. After you’ve calibrated your device, simply stick it into your fertiliser, runoff, and soil to get an accurate reading of the pH in your garden.

How to Adjust pH When Growing Cannabis

If the pH of your fertiliser, soil, or water is far out of the optimal range, you’ll need to adjust it quickly. This can be done using “pH up” and “pH down” products, which you can obtain at any grow store. If your pH is too high, you will of course need to add some pH down, and vice versa.

  • Using pH Down

Given the alkalinity of most tap water, you’ll usually need to lower your pH rather than raise it on most occasions. To do this, add small amounts of pH down solution (there are many different brands on the market) either to your water or nutrient solution, stir, and test the pH again. Repeat the process until your pH levels are right.

  • Using pH Up

The process of raising the pH of your water or nutrient solution is the same as lowering it. Simply add small amounts of pH up to your nutes or water until your pH readings are on par.

  • Alternative Ways to Lower or Raise pH When Growing Cannabis

Besides using pH adjusters, you can also lower or raise the pH of your soil using a variety of natural products. Manure, compost, worm castings, compost teas, pine needles, and wood shavings all help gently lower the pH of your soil over time.

And, while these products tend to take longer to take effect, they also help to establish healthy microbial life around your plant’s roots, which helps promote the healthy growth of your plants and keeps them protected from pathogens and pests.

Lemon juice and vinegar are also very effective at driving down pH. Just remember to dilute either in water to avoid driving down the pH too drastically and/or damaging your plant's roots.

The most common product used to raise the pH of soil is lime or limestone, which can come in powder, pellet, or hydrated form. Alternatively, we recommend using wood ash, which helps to raise pH more gradually and also contributes potassium, calcium, and other micronutrients to your soil.


Person testing liquid pH using a pH meter and syringe. The syringe is about to be inserted into a beaker, with two other beakers visible on the table, for a pH measurement process.

How to Correct pH for Cannabis (In Soil and Hydroponics)

  1. Always test the pH of your soil or reservoir before making any adjustments to it.
  2. If your pH is too high (too alkaline), we recommend adding small amounts of lemon juice or vinegar into your water when watering your plants (when growing in soil). For the best results, dilute the juice or vinegar in at least 5–10 parts water, apply it gradually, and continue testing your pH until you get a level you're happy with. If you’re using hydroponics, we recommend adding small amounts of pH down (1–2ml) to your reservoir at a time until you get the right pH reading.
  3. If your pH is too low (too acidic), we recommend using a liquid dolomite lime product to raise the pH of your soil. If you need a quick fix, you can also try raising your pH by adding baking soda to your water, but most growers find the results to be short-lived and end up turning to dolomite lime for more stable results. In hydroponics, we recommend using a natural pH up solution to regulate your pH levels.
Guide for adjusting soil pH: lemon and vinegar for raising pH ('Too Alkaline'), baking soda and dolomite for lowering pH ('Too Acidic').

Cannabis and pH — The Takeaway

Monitoring and regulating the pH of your soil or reservoir is one of the keys to growing healthy cannabis plants and producing a great harvest. If you’ve got your own tips for regulating the pH in your cannabis garden, make sure to share them in the comments below!

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