Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) Practice Exam

What is the first step in watering your plants with well water?

1. Determine the individual moisture requirements for each plant

2. Purchase a water breaker, wand, and hose

3. Lay out the stake and soaker hose around each plant

4. pH test the water

The correct answer is: pH test the water

Testing the pH of well water is a crucial first step before watering plants, as it helps you understand the water's acidity or alkalinity, which can significantly affect nutrient availability for plants. Different plants thrive in different pH levels; for instance, most garden plants prefer a slightly acidic to neutral pH (around 6.0 to 7.0). By knowing the pH of your well water, you can determine if any adjustments need to be made and if the water is suitable for the specific plants you are cultivating. This proactive approach can help prevent potential issues like nutrient deficiencies or toxicities that can arise from using water with an inappropriate pH level. Understanding the individual moisture requirements of each plant is important, but it comes after ensuring that the water being used is appropriate for that plant’s needs. Similarly, purchasing watering equipment or setting up soaker hoses are tasks that depend on meeting the water quality criteria first. Thus, pH testing stands as the fundamental preliminary step in the process of effective self-irrigation using well water.