question about dolomite

[darthvapor]

I got some beat up plants that a bro was gonna throw away. I like to adopt them so I can hone my skills and try and make them better. They are already potted and Im trying to think how I can add dolomite lime to the soil. They are showing deficiencies and I think its because the soil doesnt have lime in it so the ph doesnt climb from 5.8 back to 7 like my other plants do with the lime mixed in the soil. Any suggestions

 

[jojajico]

im confused u do want the PH to go up or down? or what.... lol i dont understand the question.

 

[JJScorpio]

I have put a tablespoon of lime in my water before or you can work a tablespoon into the top of the soil before you water. If it is over a gallon of soil, mix another tbs in next watering......

 

[darthvapor]

jojajico I do want the ph to climb. I like to feed at a ph of 5.5-5.8 and have the lime in the soil slowly raise the ph back to 7 that way all the nutes become available at their best absorbed ph levels and the plant feeds efficiently. do you understand my explanation?

 

[Guest]

I would transplant into soil conatining dolomite before I'd mix it with water and try to water it in,its just not made for that.

 

[jojajico]

jojajico I do want the ph to climb. I like to feed at a ph of 5.5-5.8 and have the lime in the soil slowly raise the ph back to 7 that way all the nutes become available at their best absorbed ph levels and the plant feeds efficiently. do you understand my explanation?

yea i think i get it but the way you state it.... dolomite lime is a buffer if the pH in the soil goes down due to feeding it doesnt produce some chemical reaction to make it go back up. dolomite lime has a pH of 7 so it is useful when preparing soil but when you feed you should feed with a solution that is in the desired pH level. not expect the dolomite lime will raise the soil after its been lowered by your solution. now im nto saying that feeding with 5.5 -5.8 solution will lower the overall pH of your soil that depends on numerous factors. but the best wat to insure that your pH is stable is to feed with a pH between 6.5 and 7.

 

[Guest]

I agree jojajico,but do this experiment sometime it'll make you wonder if balancing nute PH is even necessary,acoording to some folks it isnt when lime is used with the soil.Pour a high PH liquid like 8 very slowly through the soil until getting runoff and test the ph of the runoff.Now do the same with a low ph liquid like PH5,the runoff of either will be near neutral.I do balance my nute ph because I've been doing it so long with the same ferts,it just takes a second,but sometimes I wonder if its really necessary.

 

[Mackawber]

Take a tablespoon of the dolomitic lime, crush it up and add it to a gallon of distilled or RO water. The plants will love it.

 

[LORD BENIS]

I think Ballastman hit the nail on the head.
What size pots are they in now? I would transplant into a new mix w/ dolomitic lime added. I use one part peat, one part perlite, one part earthworm castings, and one tablespoon per gallon of the dolomitic lime.

 

[jojajico]

u should never exceed 20% earth worm casting in your mix it will cake together and the nitrogen will burn your plants.