how much dolomite lime to use

[scunkworm]

Hey guys

Im growing 3 betty boo fem auto flowers, using 11ltr pots and vegging with a 250w cfl, then im gonna put them under my 600w hps to finish them off.
On my last grow i was ph my water to 6.7-6.8 but when i would check the run off from my soil pots it would be down in the 5's. Ive got dolomite lime here so i wouldnt mind mixing some in my soil ready for transplanting, unsure of how much to use as i dont want to mess things up. If someone could help me out with so info i'd be more than grateful. Thanks guys

 

[GOLDBERG71]

I use 1 cup lime per cubic yard of pro mix. I also cut the pro mix 50/50 with course perlite. I've never checked the run off myself. Some people recommend this others don't. I couldn't care what the run off is. I'm only worried about the soil. I don't water enough to let it drain through. Unless I'm flushing at which point I'm switching saucers and dumping the run off in a bucket for disposal. Since I expect the ph to drop I feed at a ph higher than my desired 6.5 usually 6.6 early and 6.7 late. The lime wears out as time goes on. Since the ph drops as the plant dries our this is why a feed at a higher ph. I expect the ph to have dropped below 6.5 between watering. Therefore my hope is feeding high balances out with the help of the lime.

 

[GOLDBERG71]

I've learned to "read" the plants. Different strains, lights, and environments ect means you really can't follow what everyone else is doing simply by copying numbers on ph meter. It just one of a ton of things to consider. Unless your entire operation matches another 100% there will always be different variables. You have to look at it as a whole if you get my drift.

 

[GOLDBERG71]

Also you would treat a mother plant different than you would a cutting. Meaning a mom will most likely be in the same large pot for a longer period of time. So you might want to add more lime or maybe better yet a different type. Lime pellets will last longer and work a bit slower. Pulverized lime will work faster and won't last as long.

 

[scunkworm]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the replys' funny enough where one of u said about they never check the run off thats what another grower once told me. The soil im gonna use is a mix between vitma-mix pro with perlite and westgates multi purpus compost with a ph of 6.5-7, would i even need to add any lime considering the ph. A big problem i have is watering heavy and pushing the buffers out, maybe thats why i had such a low run off on my last grow? I just dont want to run into the same probs this time lol

 

[GOLDBERG71]

If you over water and the soil takes a long time to dry. You have to expect the ph to drop like a rock. Have you ever mixed to much nutes and left them alone for a week? Then check the ph again? Your 6.7 6.8 would most likely be down in the 5s. Feeding with less water more often decreases this. So I make sure each plant needs water before watering. I'll also fill the saucers with fresh nutes and let them be wicked up before watering from the top. But still taking care not to have much run off. This cleans up the bottom roots as well as raise the ph down there as well. Still with little to run off though.

 

[a mongo frog]

I use 1 cup lime per cubic yard of pro mix. I also cut the pro mix 50/50 with course perlite. I've never checked the run off myself. Some people recommend this others don't. I couldn't care what the run off is. I'm only worried about the soil. I don't water enough to let it drain through. Unless I'm flushing at which point I'm switching saucers and dumping the run off in a bucket for disposal. Since I expect the ph to drop I feed at a ph higher than my desired 6.5 usually 6.6 early and 6.7 late. The lime wears out as time goes on. Since the ph drops as the plant dries our this is why a feed at a higher ph. I expect the ph to have dropped below 6.5 between watering. Therefore my hope is feeding high balances out with the help of the lime.

1 cup per cubic yard?

 

[scunkworm]

Ive got 3 11ltr pots so how much should i use on that?

 

[GOLDBERG71]

That's smaller than anything I've done accord to what I got off Google for a conversion. I mix by the bale. Sorry I can't help further. But it's a math calculation. Google says .043 cu yards. So it should equal .043 cups. Which according to google calculations 2 teaspoons.

 

[GOLDBERG71]

Make sure you mix it well. Some say let it sit a week and mix daily and keep moist. I try to do that myself but sometimes it doesn't work out and I haven't noticed a problem. But the quicker I use it the longer I mix it. If you don't mix well each pot could act differently and only increase problems. Ideally you want to treat everything the same. Plant height makes it easier to keep lighting equal. Same for soil equal amount lime then you can water with equal ph. But if most of the lime ends up in one pot. That pot will react differently to your feeding compared to the other 2. In general I've found rushing thing and cutting corners only hurts yourself in the end.

 

[GOLDBERG71]

1 cup per cubic yard?

Yes - when I mix I use a 3.8 cu yard bale of Bx pro mix with mycorrhizae I then add 4 cups of Dom. Lime and mix well. Then I add a 4 cu yard bag of large perlite and mix a lot more.

 

[GOLDBERG71]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the replys' funny enough where one of u said about they never check the run off thats what another grower once told me. The soil im gonna use is a mix between vitma-mix pro with perlite and westgates multi purpus compost with a ph of 6.5-7, would i even need to add any lime considering the ph. A big problem i have is watering heavy and pushing the buffers out, maybe thats why i had such a low run off on my last grow? I just dont want to run into the same probs this time lol

I'd watch it with multi purpose anything. You have a purpose do what's best for it. Adding compost adds unknowns. The whole point of me using pro mix is because I want to start with a blank slate. This way I know what goes in and when. So I should also know the expected reaction among all things added. Unless you mixed the compost yourself you'll never know everything that is in there. So I'd ask the question how can you know how it will react with what you add later when it's breaking down???

 

[GOLDBERG71]

I know nothing about compost but I believe I've read it has to sit a while before it's usable or it could damage your plant but I have no idea why?

 

[polo the don]

Looks like Goldberg pretty much covered all the bases. One thing I will add is that it's hard to have too much dolomite as long as it's WELL mixed. That's my 2 cents.

 

[a mongo frog]

Yes - when I mix I use a 3.8 cu yard bale of Bx pro mix with mycorrhizae I then add 4 cups of Dom. Lime and mix well. Then I add a 4 cu yard bag of large perlite and mix a lot more.

do u mean 3.8 cubic feet?

 

[GOLDBERG71]

Looks like Goldberg pretty much covered all the bases. One thing I will add is that it's hard to have too much dolomite as long as it's WELL mixed. That's my 2 cents.

I've read the same thing but I hate giving advice. Then saying it's hard to over due it. lol

 

[a mongo frog]

Yes I did Sorry I'm cooking food also.

what r u cooking?

 

[GOLDBERG71]

do u mean 3.8 cubic feet?

Yes I mean cubic feet. Spaghetti with sausage.

 

[GOLDBERG71]

I might have made that mistake more than once. But it is a cup per foot.

 

[GOLDBERG71]

Someone told me once about over water. Don't forget it's a freaking weed. It's origins are from the wild and we all know weeds will grow in your yard without water and the grass dying. But again don't over due that. Over water also is prime breeding ground for fungus gnats. So I lift every pot now before watering and if it's not ready. It waits another day. Watering is one of the few things I do to each plant on an individual basis.