Growing in soil and adjusting pH levels
A lot of gardeners have trouble with the pH of their soil. A high pH can
lock out needed nutrients and mimic other problems like Fe and Mg deficiencies.
The biggest mistake new growers make is to try and correct pH problems too
quickly. The first step in determining if high pH is the real problem, is to
pick up a good pH tester. Don't be afraid to shell out the cash for a good one,
it's well worth it!
What is pH, and what
do the terms acidic and alkaline mean?
The acidity or alkalinity of the soil is measured by pH (potential
Hydrogen ions). Basically it's a measure of the amount of lime (calcium)
contained in your soil, and the type of soil that you have. A soil with a pH
lower than 7.0 is an acidic soil and one with a pH higher than 7.0 is
considered to be alkaline. A pH of 7.0 is neutral.
Adjusting your soil
pH :
Once you have
determined the pH of your soil with a good tester, you can amend the soil if
needed to accommodate the plants in your garden using inexpensive materials
commonly available at your local garden center.
Adjust soil pH slowly over several days time, and check pH often as you
go. Radical changes in pH may cause osmotic shock damage to the roots.
Raising soil pH : (to
make it more alkaline)
It is generally
easier to make soil mixes more alkaline than it is to make them more acidic.
The addition of dolomite lime, hardwood ash, bone meal, crushed marble, or
crushed oyster shells will help to raise the soil pH.
In soil: add dolomite limestone to the soil; use small amounts of
hydrated lime.
Raising hydroponic pH : (to make it more alkaline)
In hydroponics: use potassium silicate, provides silicon at an effective
dosage. In bioponics/hydro-organics: add small amounts of sodium bicarbonate or
lime.
Lowering soil pH :
(to make it more acidic)
If your soil needs to
be more acidic, sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal, leaf
mold and especially peat moss, will lower the soil pH.
bloodmeal/cottonseed meal during vegetative; bonemeal during flowering.
Lowering hydroponic pH : (to make it more acidic)
In hydroponics: use nitric acid during vegetative; phosphoric acid
during flowering.
Stabilizing pH with Dolomite lime:
The best way to
stable pH is by adding 30 gms of Dolomite Lime to around 5 kg of planting soil. Buy the fine Dolomite powder (There may be
several kinds of Dolomite like Rough, Medium, Fine) Dolomite Lime has
been a useful pH stabilizer for years, since it has a neutral pH of 7 when
added to your soil it stabilizes your soil at pH 7.Mix the dry soil
medium and dolomite together really well, give the mix a good watering then
after the water has had chance to settle and leech into the soil a bit give the
mix a really good stir. Then water the soil/lime mix and give it another stir. Best plan is to mix
fine dolomite lime into your mix before planting. Fine Dolomite will help
stabilize your pH; however, if the ph becomes unstable or changes, you can then
use Hydrated Dolomite Lime. Add some of the hydrated lime to luke warm water
and give it a good stir then water your plants with it. Give the plants a good
watering with this hydrated lime added and your pH should fall or rise back to
7.
Dolomite lime is also
high in two secondary nutes that can often be overlooked by fertilizers; dolomite
is high in both (Mg) Magnesium and (Ca) Calcium.
Source : www.kindgreenbuds.com
Adjust soil pH slowly over several days time, and check pH often as you go. Radical changes in pH may cause osmotic shock damage to the roots.
Raising hydroponic pH : (to make it more alkaline)
bloodmeal/cottonseed meal during vegetative; bonemeal during flowering.
Lowering hydroponic pH : (to make it more acidic)
Stabilizing pH with Dolomite lime:
