garden lime - Page 4

brownrexx · February 29, 2016

I never use lime. I start my seedlings in seed starting mix and I routinely have my garden soil tested. It has plenty of calcium and the pH tends to be on the high side at 7 - 7.2 so I definitely would not want to add lime and raise the pH.

I am never in favor of adding amendments unless you know that you need them based on soil tests or appearance of the plants themselves.

I always say that it's like salting your food before you taste it. How would you know that it needs salt?

If we are talking about hydroponics or container gardening, then you guys are way out of my league since I know nothing about that.

TheUrbanFarmer · February 29, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by roper2008

I use pro-mix for my seedlings. I don't use any lime until they go into their permanent
home in the spring, usually in containers.

That is because pro-mix has already been balanced for pH with lime. Check the label. Most pro-mix variants use a combination of dolomite and calcitic lime.

jpop · March 15, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

For example, my source water, from a well, is very low in TDS at 50 ppm.
I have to add potassium hydroxide to raise the pH 1 point. This adds to the nutrient load before I add the three fertilizers. However, when I follow the instructions, my mhos for the total solution is right on.

I see you use potassium hydroxide to raise PH. What would you use to lower it in your source water.

PureHarvest · March 16, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpop

I see you use potassium hydroxide to raise PH. What would you use to lower it in your source water.

That is a good question. I've not been in that spot in 15 years. When I lived elswhere, we had high really high pH water and we're trying to maintain water gardens. We installed an injector and concentrate tank and our compound was powdered citric acid.
I don't remember the details on rates or if that's the best, but that's what we did.

jpop · March 16, 2016

Thanks pure. Measured my source municipal yesterday and it was above 8. Crazy as my earthboxes have been averaging 3 to 3.5 gallons per day. Not sure if I should buy a pH meter for the soil in the containers but I don't want to keep up the trend with the high pH water due to the volume

PureHarvest · March 16, 2016

Your soil should have a buffering capacity to handle that. I can not say for sure how that will change over time though because there are a lot of variables.

February 29, 2016	#46
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I never use lime. I start my seedlings in seed starting mix and I routinely have my garden soil tested. It has plenty of calcium and the pH tends to be on the high side at 7 - 7.2 so I definitely would not want to add lime and raise the pH. I am never in favor of adding amendments unless you know that you need them based on soil tests or appearance of the plants themselves. I always say that it's like salting your food before you taste it. How would you know that it needs salt? If we are talking about hydroponics or container gardening, then you guys are way out of my league since I know nothing about that.

March 16, 2016	#50
jpop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SE Florida Zone 10 Posts: 319	Thanks pure. Measured my source municipal yesterday and it was above 8. Crazy as my earthboxes have been averaging 3 to 3.5 gallons per day. Not sure if I should buy a pH meter for the soil in the containers but I don't want to keep up the trend with the high pH water due to the volume

March 16, 2016	#51
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	Your soil should have a buffering capacity to handle that. I can not say for sure how that will change over time though because there are a lot of variables.