Low PH problem...What should I do???

murihikukid · October 9, 2016

Hi...I have just tested with a meter my soil in my tomato "drums" which are inside my house ....now this soil has been low ( 4.5 to 5.5 ) for some time and I have tried all sorts of things like changing the soil round the roots best I can with a higher PH soil and within a couple of weeks I am back down to round 5......
I have put Dolomite Lime on and mixed with the soil but I have read that there can be problems later doing this Plus my gardening centre tells me it takes 12 months to break down so I want an alternative...

I now read Baking soda and water will raise the PH...

Has anybody got any ideas for me......Rest assured I will be taking a lot more care with my soil mix for my next lot of plants...

Thanks Ron

Worth1 · October 9, 2016

Baking soda will also raise the salt continent big time.

How about wood ash can you get any of that. it is also high in K.
Worth

murihikukid · October 9, 2016

Worth I will ring the gardening centre to see of they have any ... I mean I just cannot keep putting Dolomite lime on my plants soil ...I can get crushed Oyster shells or I powder my eggshells in a blender ...i Have rung a Gardening centre and there is no wood ash...Is that the ash after burning wood? Anyway he has liquid lime but its at another branch so he is going to get some ..
He says 8 days for Dolomite Lime to change the pH which is a lot shorter than another gardening centre that told me 12 months ...

Cheers Ron

Worth1 · October 10, 2016

Yes Ron just ash from burning wood.
It is the same way they used to make lye which is very alkali.

October 9, 2016	#1
murihikukid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Invercargill New Zealand Posts: 1,022	Low PH problem...What should I do??? Hi...I have just tested with a meter my soil in my tomato "drums" which are inside my house ....now this soil has been low ( 4.5 to 5.5 ) for some time and I have tried all sorts of things like changing the soil round the roots best I can with a higher PH soil and within a couple of weeks I am back down to round 5...... I have put Dolomite Lime on and mixed with the soil but I have read that there can be problems later doing this Plus my gardening centre tells me it takes 12 months to break down so I want an alternative... I now read Baking soda and water will raise the PH... Has anybody got any ideas for me......Rest assured I will be taking a lot more care with my soil mix for my next lot of plants... Thanks Ron

October 9, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Baking soda will also raise the salt continent big time. How about wood ash can you get any of that. it is also high in K. Worth

October 10, 2016	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Yes Ron just ash from burning wood. It is the same way they used to make lye which is very alkali.