Low Soil PH issue....Any ph pro's out there?

thegreensurfer

thegreensurfer

Well-Known Member
I have a very low soil ph in the Roots Organic Soil I use. Its got a 5.0-5.5 runoff right out of the bag!!
Even after adding a tbsp or two of pellitized dolomite lime dissolved per gallon of water it is still in the mid 5's.

I use a fulvic & humic acid solution, http://madfarmerproducts.com/nuts/ with most waterings.
Adding this brings the ph of my water down a whole point to 4.8, then I add ph-up to 6.0-6.2.

:eyesmoke:

My questions are:
Why is my soil Ph so low?
Is this acid so strong that the ph-up doesn't truly bring it up to 6?
Or is it so strong that it counteracts the lime I added?
What is with all major potting soils having such a ridiculously low runoff?
 
You add the lime 2tbl/gallon of SOIL/MIX, not water. It doesn't dissolve in water anyway, it's ground up rock, not really water soluble.

Even after you apply it properly, it takes some time to work. Like wait 2 weeks or so to check for pH changes.

So take 2tbl/gallon of mix (3 gallon pot=6tbl of lime for example), sprinkle it on the surface of your medium and water it in. Give it a couple of weeks to do its thing and then check your pH if you feel the need. Regular waterings will work it in.

BTW, I wouldn't use that humic more often than every 2 weeks or so. Mine, I only use ~once/month. A little goes a very long way and you are overdoing it.

Wet
 
Wetdog said:
You add the lime 2tbl/gallon of SOIL/MIX, not water. It doesn't dissolve in water anyway, it's ground up rock, not really water soluble.

Even after you apply it properly, it takes some time to work. Like wait 2 weeks or so to check for pH changes.

So take 2tbl/gallon of mix (3 gallon pot=6tbl of lime for example), sprinkle it on the surface of your medium and water it in. Give it a couple of weeks to do its thing and then check your pH if you feel the need. Regular waterings will work it in.

BTW, I wouldn't use that humic more often than every 2 weeks or so. Mine, I only use ~once/month. A little goes a very long way and you are overdoing it.

Wet
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thanks for the reply, I'll be sure to apply it directly to the soil next time.
as for the humic/fulvic the directions say every watering and i even cut that in half.
i did dissolve the lime in water though, i watched the pellets disappear.:lol:
 
I would think about adding in some dolomitic lime which will add some Ca and also help to stabilize pH over a period of time... Alot of people dont realize the dark green plants they sometimes have r crying out for this, until they start noticing that their plants aren't growing anymore, and they see the necrotic spots on the leaves...It wouldn't hurt to add some MgSO4 Epsom salt to your mix either...I usually use about 1 teaspoon per gallon of water when I slowly add in mine, or I'll put about 1 teaspoon per quart of soil mix when I first mix up all my soil and other things... Its hard to find really good premixed soils, which itz generally better to buy all the little extra things that make plain soil so rich and great, like greensand, worm castings, bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, perlite, vermiculite, guanos, liquid seaweed, coco coir, cotton burr, etc, etc, etc... U have better runoff, and better results with pH when u mix your own... If u can get your soil perfect before beginning the grow, u will have far fewer issues along the way, as long as you consistantly check the pH of the water u give them... A PPM/EC meter is invaluable to use for your water, and they also have soil pH test kits, which r equally as indispensable...
 
thegreensurfer said:
thanks for the reply, I'll be sure to apply it directly to the soil next time.
as for the humic/fulvic the directions say every watering and i even cut that in half.
i did dissolve the lime in water though, i watched the pellets disappear.:lol:
Click to expand...

Of course you did. LOL The 'pellets' are powdered lime formed into pellets with a fast dissolving binder. You put them in water, they dissolve, the water turns brown from the binder and the powdered lime usually ends up on the bottom of the watering can, maybe on the soil if you keep the can shook up.

Good luck with the humic. I learned the hard way, especially the too often more so than the too much.

Wet
 
Wetdog said:
Of course you did. LOL The 'pellets' are powdered lime formed into pellets with a fast dissolving binder. You put them in water, they dissolve, the water turns brown from the binder and the powdered lime usually ends up on the bottom of the watering can, maybe on the soil if you keep the can shook up.

Good luck with the humic. I learned the hard way, especially the too often more so than the too much.

Wet
Click to expand...

You are spot on WetDog, thats exactly what happened!

I was wondering all along what all the debris at the bottom was.... boy I feel like a horses petute.
Thanks for the enlightenment.

Do you think I'll be alright if I instead apply the humic foliar style?
 
For short term repairs, use hydrated lime which is very fast acting. Use it in very small doses as it will burn plants if not used correctly. Mix it well with water and then water with it for a quick pH boost. Use only POWERED dolomitic lime, not pelletized, which is even slower to break down- but this still takes weeks to become effective in your soil. I use 3 1/2 cups dolomitic lime in each 3.8 cu. ft. pro-mix bail before potting and it's quite effective over the course of a 3.5 month grow out........
 
GanjaGod420000 said:
I would think about adding in some dolomitic lime which will add some Ca and also help to stabilize pH over a period of time... Alot of people dont realize the dark green plants they sometimes have r crying out for this, until they start noticing that their plants aren't growing anymore, and they see the necrotic spots on the leaves...It wouldn't hurt to add some MgSO4 Epsom salt to your mix either...I usually use about 1 teaspoon per gallon of water when I slowly add in mine, or I'll put about 1 teaspoon per quart of soil mix when I first mix up all my soil and other things... Its hard to find really good premixed soils, which itz generally better to buy all the little extra things that make plain soil so rich and great, like greensand, worm castings, bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, perlite, vermiculite, guanos, liquid seaweed, coco coir, cotton burr, etc, etc, etc... U have better runoff, and better results with pH when u mix your own... If u can get your soil perfect before beginning the grow, u will have far fewer issues along the way, as long as you consistantly check the pH of the water u give them... A PPM/EC meter is invaluable to use for your water, and they also have soil pH test kits, which r equally as indispensable...
Click to expand...



I have been thinking lately about doing my own soil mix......
Whats a good soil recipe? I use House and garden nutes which I am happy with so I don't need a super-soil type mix, just something to maintain a stable ph..
 
IDK about the humic AFA foliar. I've never done it.

Humic/fulvic does what it does for the most in the soil, that's why I've never tried it on the foliage.

Wet
 
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