can i crush pelletized dolomite to get powdered ?

if i crush up the pellets will the powder be fast acting or still time release? i need fast acting buffer asap...

Fast acting buffer would be a compost tea imo. Maybe an ewc slurry and good mulch.

Just a thought,

P-

The "pellets" are just powdered dolomite lime stuck together with a "binder" that quickly dissolves in water. They do that so the stuff can be easily spread in the garden without making a dust cloud. Also, so that it will work in backpack style fertilizer or seed spreaders.

What makes you think you need a "fast-acting buffer"?
(i.e. Why are you fretting about pH?)

i was pretty stoned last night when i put this up lol i was under the impression pelletized is slowrelease and powder isnt. thats not true?

Not really true, no.

If you want to prove it to yourself, drop a few of those pellets into a glass of water and watch them "dissolve". Note... This is just the binder dissolving, not the lime itself. Dolomite lime is just ground up rock. It's slow release even in powdered form.

Again... Why the interest in a "fast acting buffer"?

Most of the time when people panic and look for "fast acting" pH adjusters in an organic grow, they end up causing more problems than they fix...

Usually the problem is not pH in the first place.

because i havent used lime in my recycled soil in few months, had some ph problems. added pelletized lime instead of my usual powder and still notice on a few plants either minor lockout or ph. maybe the limes hot(i didnt cook it) so its prob not working properly from not cooking it down? its real minor but i hate minor probs as much as major probs.

some recipes ask for pelletized and powdered, why if they both break down the same?

well i had no prblems at all with the soil mix iv been using until i ran out of lime.

Dolomite lime is not "hot". I mix it straight into the soil I start seeds in, and sometimes it doesn't even have a full 24 hours of "cook time".

Can you post pics of the "pH problems" you're seeing? Now you've got me curious...

Really, though, dolomite lime doesn't need to be added back each and every time you recycle your soil. It breaks down slowly.

SpicySativa said:

The "pellets" are just powdered dolomite lime stuck together with a "binder" that quickly dissolves in water. They do that so the stuff can be easily spread in the garden without making a dust cloud. Also, so that it will work in backpack style fertilizer or seed spreaders.

What makes you think you need a "fast-acting buffer"?
(i.e. Why are you fretting about pH?)

Click to expand...

Not always....I got some and I put some pellets in a glass of water......it sat on the counter for weeks until all the water evaporated....afterwards, all the pellets were still sitting there looking like they really hadnt dissolved much at all.