Dreaded pH lockout - How much Dolomite do you use?

[Guest]

I've learned to love soil and hate it at the same time... Love the low maintenance but hate the pH lockout issues and troubleshooting them.

One question I have is: Does anyone have a good recipe for the REAL amount of dolomite lime you add, based on soil type?

Example: Most say 1-2tbspn of dolomite per gallon of soil. If using Foxfarm Oceanforest, this seems to be WAY too much. If using topsoil, 2tbspn might actually be the right amount.

So I'm looking for those who are 'used to' mixing it up for their input on how much dolomite they actually use along with their soil type. I seem to be at

FoxFarm Oceanforest - 1/2tbspn per gallon
Miracle Grow - 1tbspn per gallon

 

[Steaks]

ive been using the 1tblsp per 1 gallon of ffof. Out of the 6 plants i have going only one looks a little odd. You think the oyster shells in OF reduce the amount of lime needed for it?

 

[minds_I]

Hello all,

I have used D.lime with OF myself at about 1tbsn/gallon of soil.

I use premioxed organic soil now..Kelloggs Patio Plus and I use about the same with it.

And while I may get some flack for this, I find I have much less troubles if I get the pH of my solutions to around lower 6's.

I use ewc/guano/kelp/molasses teas which after bubbling always have a pH of around 8.5. I use Alaska fish and EJ Bloom in conjuntion with apple cider vinegar to adjust my tea solution pH down.


minds_I

 

[Guest]

I use a very decent organic soil, and the pellet dolomite lime sure helps prevent alot of leave damage. I was sceptacle at first, but could not beleive how much it helps.

I add the pellets as directed. I will also grind the pellets in a coffee grinder to dust if needed to make a lime tea. I will add that tea to any plant that needs it, mostly right after transplant.

 

[Guest]

I've had alot of experience with both promix and ocean forest with dolomite,promix needs 2 tbls per gallon soil and ocean forest needs one tbls.Dont use a 1 gal nursey container to measure your gallon of soil because its normally only about .6 gal.

 

[Blackvelvet]

Growing in a soilless mix

Growing in a soilless mix

For soilless mixes, you use powdered/pulverized dolomite lime 0 to 10 pounds per cubic yard.

72 teaspoons dol. lime per pound
cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
.15 cubic feet = 1 gallon

1 teaspoon per gallon = 2.5 pounds per yard
1 1/3 tablespoon per gallon = 10 pounds per yard
2 tablespoons per gallon = 15 pounds per yard...too much!

I use the least amount of dolomite lime to only get my ph between 5.6 and 6.2 I then add low amounts of calcium and magnesium in my water.

Nitrate nitrogen like calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate are the prefered thing to be feeding your plants. Ammonia/urea nitrogen is toxic to plants in large amounts especially in potting soils. When plants take up nitrate nitrogen, oh- is released from the roots. Ph will rise. This is a big reason not to overlime.

I don't depend on lime to buffer the soil. I adjust the fert water ph after adding everything to 5.8

When you have a new soil mix to try and are unsure of how much lime you need, you experiment. Get 3 or 4 containers like a 1 gallon. Add your soil mix. Add 1,2,3 and 4 teaspoons lime to each container. (Your trying different rates) Stir it up. Wet the mix well. Wait 1 week. (incubation) Take 1/4 cup soil mix and mix with 1/4 cup distilled water. Stir. Wait 30 minutes. Test slurry ph. You can then find the best lime rate.

Tip: Plants require large amounts of sulfur to grow. Its a macronutrient. If your ferts lack sulfur and don't have epsom salts, potassium sulfate, etc... and your not using sulfuric acid (battery acid) as a ph down, you can mix 3/4 teaspoon powdered gypsum per gallon into your soil mix at planting time along with any lime. This is about 1 1/2 pound per cubic yard. This may not however supply enough for an entire crop cycle.

 

[inflorescence]

For soilless mixes, you use powdered/pulverized dolomite lime 0 to 10 pounds per cubic yard.

72 teaspoons dol. lime per pound
cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
.15 cubic feet = 1 gallon

1 teaspoon per gallon = 2.5 pounds per yard
1 1/3 tablespoon per gallon = 10 pounds per yard
2 tablespoons per gallon = 15 pounds per yard...too much!

I use the least amount of dolomite lime to only get my ph between 5.6 and 6.2 I then add low amounts of calcium and magnesium in my water.

Nitrate nitrogen like calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate are the prefered thing to be feeding your plants. Ammonia/urea nitrogen is toxic to plants in large amounts especially in potting soils. When plants take up nitrate nitrogen, oh- is released from the roots. Ph will rise. This is a big reason not to overlime.

I don't depend on lime to buffer the soil. I adjust the fert water ph after adding everything to 5.8

When you have a new soil mix to try and are unsure of how much lime you need, you experiment. Get 3 or 4 containers like a 1 gallon. Add your soil mix. Add 1,2,3 and 4 teaspoons lime to each container. (Your trying different rates) Stir it up. Wet the mix well. Wait 1 week. (incubation) Take 1/4 cup soil mix and mix with 1/4 cup distilled water. Stir. Wait 30 minutes. Test slurry ph. You can then find the best lime rate.

Tip: Plants require large amounts of sulfur to grow. Its a macronutrient. If your ferts lack sulfur and don't have epsom salts, potassium sulfate, etc... and your not using sulfuric acid (battery acid) as a ph down, you can mix 3/4 teaspoon powdered gypsum per gallon into your soil mix at planting time along with any lime. This is about 1 1/2 pound per cubic yard. This may not however supply enough for an entire crop cycle.

THAT was a damn good answer ladies and gentlemen.

 

[Guest]

I have to disagree,if you think 2 tbls per gallon for promix is too much you havent used promix.As for testing "slurry" a week after mixing,what good does that do?I want to mix once and have it carry me throughout flower.When I test my soil PH at harvest I want it in the lower sixes,I know what its going to read a week after I mix it lol.As for cu yards and ft of soil,maybe thats good for some but I mix by the gallon,this is indoor soil.Also,I do depend on the lime to buffer my soil ph,thats its intended use.As for adjusting nute PH I still do that,though I dont believe it to be necessary with properly limed soil.Pour some 5 or 8 PH liquid slowly through properly limed soil and you will get a neutral runoff every time.I only balance my nute PH out of habit and because its easy lol

 

[crazyhorse]

Yup! Nice work B.V.

 

[SoulShine]

Klutter, Great question, and Blackvelvet, great answer!! I copied and pasted that into a word doc for later reference. Thank you.

My question is, where to find dolomite lime. I'm a newbie and am using the organic "moonshine mix" found in the organic section of this site, but had to omit the DL because I could not find it. I checked Lowes, Wallyworld, HD, my hydro shop, (they told me to go to nurseries) and 2 nurseries (one had hydrated lime but neither had DL). I do not live in a metro area and do not have many more options. Can you guys tell me where you find it? Do I just have lame nurseries?
SS

 

[Blackvelvet]

Klutter, Great question, and Blackvelvet, great answer!! I copied and pasted that into a word doc for later reference. Thank you.

My question is, where to find dolomite lime. I'm a newbie and am using the organic "moonshine mix" found in the organic section of this site, but had to omit the DL because I could not find it. I checked Lowes, Wallyworld, HD, my hydro shop, (they told me to go to nurseries) and 2 nurseries (one had hydrated lime but neither had DL). I do not live in a metro area and do not have many more options. Can you guys tell me where you find it? Do I just have lame nurseries?
SS

Home depot and lowes will have dolomite lime. Look with the lawn fertilizers. It comes in 50 pound bags for about $4. Get pulverized/powdered not pelletized. If you come across "garden lime", check the ingredients. It should be 2 parts elemental calcium to 1 part elemental magnesium. Example: 20% calcium and 10% magnesium. If you found some with 30% calcium and 3% magnesium, you can still use it. But, you will have to occassionally add magnesium like epsom salts from the drugstore to your water to make up the difference.

 

[pastor420]

If you have hard water lie myself then you may be adding it with each watering....LOL

 

[Space Ghost]

Tip: Plants require large amounts of sulfur to grow. Its a macronutrient. If your ferts lack sulfur and don't have epsom salts, potassium sulfate, etc... and your not using sulfuric acid (battery acid) as a ph down, you can mix 3/4 teaspoon powdered gypsum per gallon into your soil mix at planting time along with any lime. This is about 1 1/2 pound per cubic yard. This may not however supply enough for an entire crop cycle.

howdy Sproutco

 

[SoulShine]

Thanks Blackvelvet,
Maybe I've just been looking in the wrong sections. Might be where the grass seed is. I was looking with the soils, perlite, that sort of thing. I even asked an employee at HD, but might have gotten a dull one. I'll look again.

SS

 

[HeadyPete]

It needs to be mentioned that dolomite lime is slow acting, and needs a couple weeks of "cook time" in the mix before it becomes effective. Also, it does not mobilize in the soil. It only affects the immediate area around the pellet and does not leach down. For this reason it needs to be thoroughly mixed into your soil.

effin battery acid again...

 

[inflorescence]

all picture post.

 

[B.C.]

2 cents

2 cents

I have used FF OF fer years and have never added lime.They do jus fine without it.Them folks at FF gotter dailed in purdy damn good.Take care..BC

 

[Guest]

Caution if you use 2 to 1 cal/mag dolomite like what was suggested before,make sure to be careful with it or it will turn your plants a sick shade of yellow.I tried some different dolomite once,26% cal and 13% mag with tapwater,big mistake.I've used speedi-grow lime for years with no problems and no defeciencies,30% cal 3% mag.

 

[Guest]

I personally have never found dolomite at home depot or lowes... they seem to carry the pellitized and the hydrated lime, but nothing else. Could just be my area though.

I had to shop far and wide to pick some up (avoiding the hydro store of course). Ended up finding a local nursery that carried it.... might be your best bet.

 

[Guest]

Avoiding the hydro store of course?No wonder you're having problems.I'm sure things are different everywhere,but hydroponics businesses are not something to fear normally.Be aware sure,choose a store wisely(I have 3 to choose from).I was a frequent farmer at wormsway for years before one of the employees opened a shop down the street,now I go there.I bought everything from hydro stores,3 1K vertizontals,cd-6 propane co2 generator, cap controller,all my nutes and ocean forest,how can you do it without one?Maybe you have something to fear from your hydro store in town,or maybe people have just been giving you bum info making you paranoid,I hope its not the latter