Powdered lime question
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OnlyDopesSmokeDope
Member
stabilize the ph
Maybe, look at the label.
Dolomite lime is from dolomitic limestone
'garden' lime and agrcultural lime is usually from calcitic limestone
Both are good, but I've seen dolomite lime labeled as garden lime. Still said dolomite on it though.
If it doesn't say dolomite, it's probably calcitic.
As long as it doesn't say hydrated anywhere.
Wet
Dolomite lime is from dolomitic limestone
'garden' lime and agrcultural lime is usually from calcitic limestone
Both are good, but I've seen dolomite lime labeled as garden lime. Still said dolomite on it though.
If it doesn't say dolomite, it's probably calcitic.
As long as it doesn't say hydrated anywhere.
Wet
scroglodyte
Well-Known Member
no.......garden lime doesn't have the mag......
scroglodyte
Well-Known Member
lime degrades into calcium ions, CO2 and water when in contact with acids, by tying up hydrogen ions (acid). cool stuff. it provides a stable ph by its buffering.
VX420
Active Member
So If 6.0 is good 12 is better..
noxiously
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure that a ph level of 12 is good for anything lol. Which that brings up another question. I know I've read it plenty of times in the past, but I've been hydro for a while and can't quite remember. What is the optimal PH level in soil? I would guess that it's somewhere around 6.5 to 7.0, is that close?
Desr
Well-Known Member
heres the chart.not my photobucket lol.http://media.photobucket.com/image/ph chart cannabis/HippyVibes/untitled.jpg
noxiously
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the link Desr. I find it interesting the difference in PH levels between Hydro and Soil. I'm pretty sure there is a good reason behind it, I just don't know what it is lol. So if one would to grow in soil it would be best to lower their soil PH down to 6.5, based off of that chart? It looks like at 6.5 (in soil), that more nutrients are made available for the plants to thrive. Now the next question is, in soil, how do you lower the PH levels down? I have two soil PH meters, one digital and one analog, they both read fairly close to one another, but what is the best method of reading the soil PH? I hear people talk about "run-off", but how do you test any of the water that comes out of the bottom of the pots? I know these questions are pretty amateur level, but again, I have been researching Hydro for some time now and I have pretty much forgotten all about soil, since I do prefer the ease and simpleness of hydro.
noxiously
Well-Known Member
O.K., I stopped being lazy and googled how to test the PH in soil, one way that I keep coming across is:
Gather 1 cup of potting soil into a plastic Ziploc bag. Remove objects like rocks, twigs and wood. Also remove any insects that may be present.
2 Roll the bag and shake it until the soil is very loose and fine.
3 Scoop out one heaping spoonful of the soil into a clean, dry container. Add 1 tbsp. of bottled water and stir it with the soil until it makes a muddy mixture. Leave it alone for an hour before testing.
4 Stick a piece of soil pH test paper into the mud mixture. Leave it in the mud for 60 seconds. Then take it out and compare the color of the test strip to the results on your soil pH kit.
Not sure how accurate this is. The main reason I ask ya'll how you do it is because you all are the real pros at growing, atleast growing the things we enjoy to grow. Do you all just use water that is PH'd to 6.5 when you water and that in turn gets the soils PH levels to drop down to the adequate levels? Also, what is a good method at testing the nutrient levels in the soil. I have seen those soil test capsules in the store, I have used them in the past as well, but they just don't seem like they are very good. Too bad there isn't a better way, other than sending a sample off to be tested.
Gather 1 cup of potting soil into a plastic Ziploc bag. Remove objects like rocks, twigs and wood. Also remove any insects that may be present.
2 Roll the bag and shake it until the soil is very loose and fine.
3 Scoop out one heaping spoonful of the soil into a clean, dry container. Add 1 tbsp. of bottled water and stir it with the soil until it makes a muddy mixture. Leave it alone for an hour before testing.
4 Stick a piece of soil pH test paper into the mud mixture. Leave it in the mud for 60 seconds. Then take it out and compare the color of the test strip to the results on your soil pH kit.
Not sure how accurate this is. The main reason I ask ya'll how you do it is because you all are the real pros at growing, atleast growing the things we enjoy to grow. Do you all just use water that is PH'd to 6.5 when you water and that in turn gets the soils PH levels to drop down to the adequate levels? Also, what is a good method at testing the nutrient levels in the soil. I have seen those soil test capsules in the store, I have used them in the past as well, but they just don't seem like they are very good. Too bad there isn't a better way, other than sending a sample off to be tested.
