Question on how much lime

[joe fresh]

well here is my mix:

1 bale--107 L of promix
1 bag---30 L of shrimp compost
1 bag---20 L of EWC


thats a total of 157 Liters of soil, which according to my calculations is about 40Gal.

from what i understand 2 TBS per GAL of soil is the norm.

here is my dilema...


i have 36 GAL rubbermaid bins, and i have problems fitting just the promix bale (107 L)in my 36 gal bins.

so does that mean im not calculating my soil properly?


@ 2 TBS of lime per GAL of soil, with my mix above(not sure if it is a REAL 157 liters), how much lime should i mix?

 

[Scrappy4]

Be aware when you get responses to this pro mix has lime in it. The label lists both dolomite and calcitic lime as ingredients. I have found it ph's to 7 right out of the bag.......shredder

 

[joe fresh]

hey scrappy,

i have actually done tests, and promix w/myco right out the bag is 5.8 ph and 1.1 EC

from what i gather i should be adding 5 cups of lime per 157 liters of soil....am i correct?


and i was also wondering if my calculations of my total soil are correct, or if for some reason i shouldnt rely of the amount on the label on the bag?

 

[grapeman]

hey scrappy,

i have actually done tests, and promix w/myco right out the bag is 5.8 ph and 1.1 EC

from what i gather i should be adding 5 cups of lime per 157 liters of soil....am i correct?


and i was also wondering if my calculations of my total soil are correct, or if for some reason i shouldnt rely of the amount on the label on the bag?

Joe - I use ProMix as a base and I always add DL. But I measure in parts. I have a pan that is 10 cups (1 full pan equals 1 part) exactly and I make several bins (7 exactly) at a time, adding the ProMix, EWC in the proper proportions or parts. 1 CF = @119 cups or 12 of my pans. If you break it down and measure all the ingredients out in their proper proportions, you'll have a more accurate mix.

As Burn 1 says on the first page of the "Organics for Beginners" thread, a part is a part is a part. Just as long as you use the same part for all ingredients and you now what that part is in terms of, let's say cups, you can then do the math and add the proper amount of DL. Oh, and like Von says, you can always add your perlite last, but you have to know that it is going in there so you can add the correct amount of DL. For instance, 3 parts Promix, 1 part ECW is 4 parts. But you now you will be adding 1 part of perlite later. You still need to figure that part in your equation so you include that part in your calculation so you will add the correct amount of DL. Doing it this way let's you mix all your soil and organic ingredients very well before you add perlite... since perlite really doesn't need the lime.

 

[Aeroguerilla]

The bales of promix unpack to more then what they state... that may have thrown you over

 

[Azeotrope]

Not sure you actually need lime with a good organic mix. PH tends to work itself out with organics. Cal/Mag might be a legit reason to make sure there is some lime, but again through other sources, you usually have enough. Diversity on your mix and teas/ferts is the key.... Just my 2 cents.

Happy growing to you.

 

[Pipe Dream]

your rubbermaid containers are probably liquid gallons. Dry galons is cometely different measurement that's why your having issues I think.

Wie I'm here do you guys know if FFOF has lime in it already?

 

[Scrappy4]

hey scrappy,

i have actually done tests, and promix w/myco right out the bag is 5.8 ph and 1.1 EC

from what i gather i should be adding 5 cups of lime per 157 liters of soil....am i correct?


and i was also wondering if my calculations of my total soil are correct, or if for some reason i shouldnt rely of the amount on the label on the bag?

I never used to test and just added 3 cups to a bale of dolomite lime. Now I cut it with peat to lower the ph, and then add dolomite to get the ph up to 6.4. I'm surprised yours tested so different....scrappy

 

[joe fresh]

ok, some good answers here....

well as for the mix, its gonna stay where it is, ive had good results with it before, but i would just add a couple handfuls of lime with out measurement.

as for the parts of each amendment, im good with what i have now,....i know its not perfect, but it will do....

my main reason for trying to get the lime right is for PH.

so since it would seem my calculations are off....how many Gallons of soil does my mix make?

 

[joe fresh]

I never used to test and just added 3 cups to a bale of dolomite lime. Now I cut it with peat to lower the ph, and then add dolomite to get the ph up to 6.4. I'm surprised yours tested so different....scrappy

well, i think it has a large part to do with where they harvest their peat from, and what kind of lime and how much they add to the mix....i also think that it differs from batch to batch, and from diff parts of the country

 

[ExoSteve]

I would had Dolimite only for the ingredient that need it...

-Pro-Mix (already have dolomite in it)
-Perlite (no need of Dolomite)
-WC (need it)
-Shrimp compost (need it)

...

 

[MIway]

The bales of promix unpack to more then what they state... that may have thrown you over

yeah, i just did up roughly 72gal of the hp & used a bale & a quarter or so... so i'd ballpark it to be 50-55gal per bale broken up.


op... i don't personally think the lime is a bad thing & use it myself... promix outta the bag w/o adding in add'l lime, just runnin my feeds in the 6.3-6.5 range, on drops so it's a ballpark for me. add back lime at the start of flower & in 4 weeks or so again @ 1tbl per gal. so, only thing i can see is to offset back the add's u will be using, like Steve suggested.

in the mean time, what's the total amount of soil u want to have to fill in whatever pots? that's the number of gallons you will want to ballpark your estimate on... and i'd just toss in 1-2tbl... it's really soft stuff & isn't a big deal to add too much vs not enough. peace.