Ph down corrosive...

MichiganMedGrower

MichiganMedGrower

Well-Known Member
bird mcbride said:
The dolomite lime I use is for concrete, I get it from a lumber yard. I get the water from a well, blue (over 7 ph), and I can use this type of lime to bring it down to lime green or almost yellow 5.5ph. On my test kit green is 6-6.5, depending on the shade. I've never used any lime made for gardening purposes.

There are all kinds of different mixes of lime and by itself lime is a ph up. The other stuff in the cement mix lime brings it down and stabilizes the mix.

Seriously, I've been doing this for years and I've already run into this discussion before on RIU.
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Sorry but no. The dolomite lime in piles at the construction yard is the same as in the garden center aside from a couple possible differences.

There is dolomite lime, calcitic lime and agricultural lime. And there are versions made into pellets all the way down to fine powder.

Dolomite is half calcium carbonate and half magnesium carbonate making the ratio about 50% calcium and 10% magnesium.

Calcitic is all calcium and agricultural is a mix of both for a better ratio for growing.

The last kind of lime is made from calcitic or magnesium included limestone and is used to make mortar and other construction uses.

Hydrated lime. It is infused with water chemically and is a main ingredient in mortar. But it is still made from the same lime and is still going to nuetralize acid in a mix.

Now I have heard gypsum which contains sulphur is used to lower ph. But I have also read that that is a garden myth. I have not researched that one yet.
 
bird mcbride

bird mcbride

Well-Known Member
Someday I'll have to get in contact with the Saint Mary's cement company and find out what they put in their dolomite lime to make it act the way it does.
 
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