Unconventional Organics

[cannakis]

http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-increase-alkalinity-your-water

.

What!!?!?! Are you serious.!?

 

[cannakis]

Never tried it bro. At first blush something to be aware of is that lemon juice *could* raise the ph of your medium..... and I believe you were already having issues with this.

So how should I lower ph in teas, apple cider vinegar?!

 

[st0wandgrow]

So how should I lower ph in teas, apple cider vinegar?!

A compost tea (if that's what you're referring to) in theory should help buffer the ph itself. Personally I don't mess with ph'ing teas. I've found that the oyster shell flour I amend the soil with (1/2 cup per cf) is all that's needed. Using a good source of compost is important in this regard too

 

[cannakis]

A compost tea (if that's what you're referring to) in theory should help buffer the ph itself. Personally I don't mess with ph'ing teas. I've found that the oyster shell flour I amend the soil with (1/2 cup per cf) is all that's needed. Using a good source of compost is important in this regard too

yeah but oyster shell is alkaline.

 

[st0wandgrow]

yeah but oyster shell is alkaline.

Right. Forgot that you're having the opposite problem.

Have you looked in to adding a sulfur amendment to your soil? Someone mentioned this when we were discussing the use of coco coir in the rols thread. Garden gypsum was recommended iirc.

 

[cannakis]

Right. Forgot that you're having the opposite problem.

Have you looked in to adding a sulfur amendment to your soil? Someone mentioned this when we were discussing the use of coco coir in the rols thread. Garden gypsum was recommended iirc.

the sulfur no i havent... is that still "organic"? is that acidic? gypsum is alkaline i believe.

 

[st0wandgrow]

the sulfur no i havent... is that still "organic"? is that acidic? gypsum is alkaline i believe.

http://blueberries.msu.edu/uploads/files/Lowering_Soil_pH_with_Sulfur.pdf

http://www.planetnatural.com/organic-gardening-guru/soil/

"
Decreasing Soil pH. To correct alkaline soil, a source of acid is needed. Elemental sulfur is most commonly used by organic gardeners. However, sulfur requires some time before it is converted to sulfuric acid with the aid of soil bacteria. This conversion rate is dependent on the particle size of the sulfur, the amount of soil moisture, soil temperature and the presence of the bacteria. As a result, it can take several months to decrease the pH value. Click on the Sulfur Calculator to determine how much sulfur you will need. Do not attempt to change pH by more than 1 pH unit per year.

Tip: Yellowstone Brand Elemental Sulfur or “split pea” sulfur lowers pH in alkaline soils and helps acid-loving plants to achieve optimum growth. Use 1 Tbsp per 4″ of pot diameter or broadcast approximately 10 lbs per 1,000 square feet and work into the soil. Do NOT exceed more than two applications per year. OMRI Listed for use in organic crop production.

 

[Nullis]

I wonder if you could dry bannana peels and pulverize them and apply directly in the form of a top dressing.

I'm actually experimenting with such tactics currently as a matter of fact, not for top dressing by itself though I'd prefer to top-dress/mulch with something more carbonaceous (aong with some alfalfa hay maybe).

Never tried it bro. At first blush something to be aware of is that lemon juice *could* raise the ph of your medium..... and I believe you were already having issues with this.

Citrus rinds are very high in potassium. K is a base cation and tends to form alkaline compounds. If you drink orange, grapefruit, or lemon juice, for example they actually alkalize the body and urine. Citrus fruits contain potassium citrate.

@cannakis, what is the pH of the tea? What ingredients are you using?

Gypsum shouldn't appreciably affect pH.

 

[cannakis]

http://blueberries.msu.edu/uploads/files/Lowering_Soil_pH_with_Sulfur.pdf

http://www.planetnatural.com/organic-gardening-guru/soil/

"
Decreasing Soil pH. To correct alkaline soil, a source of acid is needed. Elemental sulfur is most commonly used by organic gardeners. However, sulfur requires some time before it is converted to sulfuric acid with the aid of soil bacteria. This conversion rate is dependent on the particle size of the sulfur, the amount of soil moisture, soil temperature and the presence of the bacteria. As a result, it can take several months to decrease the pH value. Click on the Sulfur Calculator to determine how much sulfur you will need. Do not attempt to change pH by more than 1 pH unit per year.

Tip: Yellowstone Brand Elemental Sulfur or “split pea” sulfur lowers pH in alkaline soils and helps acid-loving plants to achieve optimum growth. Use 1 Tbsp per 4″ of pot diameter or broadcast approximately 10 lbs per 1,000 square feet and work into the soil. Do NOT exceed more than two applications per year. OMRI Listed for use in organic crop production.

Awesome thanks for all the information.! Looks like i need to buy some sulfur... And MAN only 1pH Unit PER YEAR!!! my Sandy Soil outside is like 9pH.! Thanks for the help.

 

[cannakis]

I'm actually experimenting with such tactics currently as a matter of fact, not for top dressing by itself though I'd prefer to top-dress/mulch with something more carbonaceous (aong with some alfalfa hay maybe).

Citrus rinds are very high in potassium. K is a base cation and tends to form alkaline compounds. If you drink orange, grapefruit, or lemon juice, for example they actually alkalize the body and urine. Citrus fruits contain potassium citrate.

@cannakis, what is the pH of the tea? What ingredients are you using?

Gypsum shouldn't appreciably affect pH.

Ahhh.! That's very interesting.! i Was actually just reading an article about how pH a/effects the Human Body and when you get sick it is because you have a Lower pH than what you should have. Cancer patients have an Incredibly low pH and continues lowering until death.!

And i was thinking well how does eating Citrus Foods make you More healthy if it is Acidic.!!! But as you have pointed out it Actually Converts to Alkaline Instead of staying Acidic.!

Well it usually gets to 8-9+.... i JUST bought an Electronic pH meter, should be here soon and i can give Specific Measurements. But i used, Humic & Fulvic acid, Blood and Kelp meal, dry molasses, and lemon juice (because i thought it was acidic...) and i think that was it...

 

[cannakis]

hahaha i just changed my signature and said so everyone has a constant reminder of the bill of rights and my gf says "why so everyone can have a constant reminder of what a tool bag you are." hahaha so yeah sorry for being a tool bag...

 

[cannakis]

I'm actually experimenting with such tactics currently as a matter of fact, not for top dressing by itself though I'd prefer to top-dress/mulch with something more carbonaceous (aong with some alfalfa hay maybe).

Citrus rinds are very high in potassium. K is a base cation and tends to form alkaline compounds. If you drink orange, grapefruit, or lemon juice, for example they actually alkalize the body and urine. Citrus fruits contain potassium citrate.

@cannakis, what is the pH of the tea? What ingredients are you using?

Gypsum shouldn't appreciably affect pH.

i guess vinegar is acidic? or am i wrong?

 

[Nullis]

Vinegar/Apple cider vinegar are basically dilute solutions of acetic acid in water. These are indeed acidic and you could use ACV to lower the pH of a tea no harm in that.

 

[Nullis]

Every time I try to post on RIU from my phone, if I hit enter within the post it gets all screwed up.

9 does seem high for an AACT, what is the pH of your water source and how much of those ingredients are you adding? Kelp and HAs actually tend to be alkaline as well. And what are you using to test pH with, drops or litmus paper? If the solution is very dark it can make it difficult to determine the result. Litmus paper might work better than drops in this case.

 

[cannakis]

Vinegar/Apple cider vinegar are basically dilute solutions of acetic acid in water. These are indeed acidic and you could use ACV to lower the pH of a tea no harm in that.

awesome thanks so much! just got like twenty pounds of apple scraps, time to make some cider vinegar!!!

 

[cannakis]

Every time I try to post on RIU from my phone, if I hit enter within the post it gets all screwed up.

9 does seem high for an AACT, what is the pH of your water source and how much of those ingredients are you adding? Kelp and HAs actually tend to be alkaline as well. And what are you using to test pH with, drops or litmus paper? If the solution is very dark it can make it difficult to determine the result. Litmus paper might work better than drops in this case.

i will let you know the ph of water... like Tbls each in 4gls, like half tbls fulvic, and maybe 2 for kelp and dry molasses.

and using Drops right now, but my meter willbe here tomorrow.!!

 

[cannakis]

Every time I try to post on RIU from my phone, if I hit enter within the post it gets all screwed up.

9 does seem high for an AACT, what is the pH of your water source and how much of those ingredients are you adding? Kelp and HAs actually tend to be alkaline as well. And what are you using to test pH with, drops or litmus paper? If the solution is very dark it can make it difficult to determine the result. Litmus paper might work better than drops in this case.

my pH of the rain water i use is like almost perfect like 6.8 but since using drops ill say 7. like 20ppm while my tap is like 200ppm. i just like said like like ten times.!im fucking stupid

 

[cannakis]

Vinegar/Apple cider vinegar are basically dilute solutions of acetic acid in water. These are indeed acidic and you could use ACV to lower the pH of a tea no harm in that.

what about clausen dill pickle juice?!

 

[Nullis]

Never heard of it.

 

[cannakis]

I'm actually experimenting with such tactics currently as a matter of fact, not for top dressing by itself though I'd prefer to top-dress/mulch with something more carbonaceous (aong with some alfalfa hay maybe).

Citrus rinds are very high in potassium. K is a base cation and tends to form alkaline compounds. If you drink orange, grapefruit, or lemon juice, for example they actually alkalize the body and urine. Citrus fruits contain potassium citrate.

@cannakis, what is the pH of the tea? What ingredients are you using?

Gypsum shouldn't appreciably affect pH.

okay so got my tester Thank GOD! pH is 8.4 of my rain water... should i lower this with cider vinager? or only with my teas?