Quick question about ph

[flodas]

When u grow in soil and use syntethic fertilizers do u ph the water lets say ur water is 7.
Im gona add dolomite for the first time ever now and some ppl say that u dont need to ph the water cause the soil im gona use is self bufferd 5.5 to 6.5 add a litlle dolomite to that and u dont need to ph water am i right ? / Thx flodas

 

[macsnax]

No need to check ph in soil unless you start seeing some really it of whack leaves. The lime will help too.

 

[Johnei]

Dolomite Lime reacts to acid and neutralizes it. The only issue is to find that sweet spot to know how much to use for any particular soil. I use 1-2 Tablespoons per gallon rule of the powdered Dolomite Lime, and I also use the Dolomite Lime pellet form which is slower release longer lasting, just a good sprinkle of the pellets over the soil I'm mixing for a combo of both, not too much. Just what I do.

Good Growing.

(I suggest if the soil is mainly peat based, 2TBSP/gal, if it's not peat based and some nice black gardening soil, then 1TBSP/gal, because peat is always driving the pH down.)

 

[flodas]

Dolomite Lime reacts to acid and neutralizes it. The only issue is to find that sweet spot to know how much to use for any particular soil. I use 1-2 Tablespoons per gallon rule of the powdered Dolomite Lime, and I also use the Dolomite Lime pellet form which is slower release longer lasting, just a good sprinkle of the pellets over the soil I'm mixing for a combo of both, not too much. Just what I do.

Good Growing.

(I suggest if the soil is mainly peat based, 2TBSP/gal, if it's not peat based and some nice black gardening soil, then 1TBSP/gal, because peat is always driving the pH down.)

Its a peat soil base great thank you for the advice. Better less than more

 

[Johnei]

While we're at it, some more info for you to think about concerning the Dolomite Lime.
It only reacts to acid, so imagine a scenario where you trust to not pH your waterings and you water with pH 8 water into a neutral pH soil, the dolomite will not react because there is no acid condition for the dolomite lime to neutralize or buffer pH back up to around neutral. Dolomite Lime is very useful in peat based soil mixes like Promix/Sunshine mix/Lamberts etc. because no matter what pH you water, the peat moss is always pulling the pH down into acidic territory and the dolomite lime reacts and buffers and stabilises things around or just below neutral. Synthetic salts also drive things acidic, why good in many different soil compositions. Hope you understand what I'm saying and this helps you.

Good Growing.

 

[flodas]

No need to check ph in soil unless you start seeing some really it of whack leaves. The lime will help too.

alright i was checking the runoff last time on my garden plants and they had aound 4.5 but thats the runoff. Besides that they where al good looking Do you ph the water going in to the soil or should i just dont ph it and let the soil take care of it ?

 

[Johnei]

Runoff of 4.5 in a peat soil is usually a sign of too much salts/too much ferts build up, or the pH of the peat took over because the buffering capacity is not there at all.

 

[macsnax]

I used to ph water for soil. I haven't in quite a while. I also add oyster shell flour which helps buffer the ph and adds calcium. Some of it is available right away and some breaks down over time.