PH Issue

[Smiler]

I am constructing my first organic soil mix I have mixed up

20 Lts Organic (MG and West) soil and 3 lites west peat mixture
5 liters perlite
2 cups blood fish and bones
2 cups lime
1/2 liter soil from around the plants in my garden

I have no access to guano or worm castings and will be using Biobizz organic grow and bloom, voodoo juice, maxicrop seaweed extract and molasses along with still water (no chlorides)

I have been mixing my soil ready for transplant, the lime was added yesterday watered and mixed, the PH yesterday was 6.7ish. When I went to mix it up today I checked the PH, it is now sitting at just above 5 in various places, not hot spots. I know that because of the lime PH should not be an issue but using extracts with a base ph of 5?

I have messed up somewhere, how can I increase the ph, do I need to buy more soil and increase the volume of the mix until it settles back at 6.6 or is their a quicker way.

Maj.Pothead has been a great help to me with the above but I think I may have miss-read his excellent instructions.

Thanks

 

[habeeb]

I say no mix soil with your soil unless is compost / composted ( adding stuff will not help unless you know exactly whats in "your" soil )

I say you need microbes to start breaking down the nutes (AKA tea or worm castings)

I say you need time for the lime to brake down, lime is not instant, the more months the better ( they say 6 months to fully brake down )

I say when trying to make soil, always have half the grow in bagged soil till your sufficient at making soil ( don't put all your eggs in one basket )

 

[Smiler]

Cheers, I'll get there eventually, good fun learning though.

 

[habeeb]

^ best attitude you can have !!

the fun is in the journey, not the destination.

I learn something everyday, and love not knowing everything there is to know.. I am far from good, but you have to start somewhere

 

[TanzanianMagic]

I am constructing my first organic soil mix I have mixed up

20 Lts Organic (MG and West) soil and 3 lites west peat mixture
5 liters perlite
2 cups blood fish and bones
2 cups lime
1/2 liter soil from around the plants in my garden

I have no access to guano or worm castings and will be using Biobizz organic grow and bloom, voodoo juice, maxicrop seaweed extract and molasses along with still water (no chlorides)

I have been mixing my soil ready for transplant, the lime was added yesterday watered and mixed, the PH yesterday was 6.7ish. When I went to mix it up today I checked the PH, it is now sitting at just above 5 in various places, not hot spots. I know that because of the lime PH should not be an issue but using extracts with a base ph of 5?

I have messed up somewhere, how can I increase the ph, do I need to buy more soil and increase the volume of the mix until it settles back at 6.6 or is their a quicker way.

Maj.Pothead has been a great help to me with the above but I think I may have miss-read his excellent instructions.

Thanks

How high is the runoff's EC? Too much fertilizer can lower the ph as they're mainly acidic. You could raise the soil's pH by just flushing out those fertilizers and lower the EC at the same time.

In fact you could adjust the amount of nutrients you give the plant by checking the runoff's EC.

After a flush, you can speed up the drying process by putting the pot on some paper towels and newspapers for a few hours.

Also, fertilizer builds up in the pockets of soil not colonized by the rootsystem. So use plain water between feedings at least once, and you don't have to flush as much.

 

[sednal]

you can order wormcasting easy as pie for free shipping....security issue?

I am constructing my first organic soil mix I have mixed up

20 Lts Organic (MG and West) soil and 3 lites west peat mixture
5 liters perlite
2 cups blood fish and bones
2 cups lime
1/2 liter soil from around the plants in my garden

I have no access to guano or worm castings and will be using Biobizz organic grow and bloom, voodoo juice, maxicrop seaweed extract and molasses along with still water (no chlorides)

I have been mixing my soil ready for transplant, the lime was added yesterday watered and mixed, the PH yesterday was 6.7ish. When I went to mix it up today I checked the PH, it is now sitting at just above 5 in various places, not hot spots. I know that because of the lime PH should not be an issue but using extracts with a base ph of 5?

I have messed up somewhere, how can I increase the ph, do I need to buy more soil and increase the volume of the mix until it settles back at 6.6 or is their a quicker way.

Maj.Pothead has been a great help to me with the above but I think I may have miss-read his excellent instructions.

Thanks

 

[Smiler]

Added more soil, watered and waited (not my strong point), all is now well, PH6.6, thank you all for your advice, onwards and upwards

 

[montehierba]

type of lime

type of lime

I checked a local fertilizer dealer who has what he calls CACO3 cientific term for it and it is the easiest way to forget about ph and calcium deficensy during your program, is natural, just pure lime rock heated and watered than it breaks down to powder instantly with massive temp change.
works quick and remains for a while!
will make your life easier! and your plants shinny dark green color!