PH problems

[Aratilis]

i have a very high soil ph of 8.5 how do i bring this down? I tested this by digital ph tester milwakee 600. took it from the drained water of the plant.

My soil contains 1/3 of each vermiculite, perlite and peat moss.

Another thing, is it ok to use vinegar for lowering ph of water?

Much thanks!

[Frog]

Your run off is that high?

What's the soil read?

How Can I Raise or Lower the pH of my Soil Mix?
Adjusting your soil pH:
Once you have determined the pH of your soil with a good tester, you can amend the soil if needed to accommodate the plants in your garden using inexpensive materials commonly available at your local garden center.

* Adjust soil pH slowly over several days time, and check pH often as you go. Radical changes in pH may cause osmotic shock damage to the roots.

Raising soil pH: (to make it more alkaline)
It is generally easier to make soil mixes more alkaline than it is to make them more acidic. The addition of dolomite lime, hardwood ash, bone meal, crushed marble, or crushed oyster shells will help to raise the soil pH.

[Aratilis]

yeah my run off is 8.5

is vinegar bad? for PH down?

[McBudz]

Whats the pH of the solution before you run it through the soil? Also did you calibrate the meter first with the 7.01 calibration solution it should have come with?

[Aratilis]

6.0 is the ph of the solution.

i dont have a calibration solution, but the seller said that its calibrated to 4.0 solution. Il try to get a calibration solution and PH down too. But in the mean time can i use vinegar? Thanks MCbudz!:)

[McBudz]

I haven't used vinegar myself. I'll look into it for you. Somethings up with your soil that is really high for 6.0 going in. Tell me more about your soil? High in lime? have you flushed it out?

[Aratilis]

its a soil mix called Ramgo seedling mix / potting mix , I dont think this has much nutes in it if any, this is all i can find here in Manila. i added dry peat moss, perlite and vermiculite too onepasrt of each in the mix.mm Il try to look for the package and take a photo of this soil mix.

i always water my plants by over pouring the pot and have excess water drain down, i alternate half strength nute solution and plain water every other watering, is this flushing or i should have running water into the pot?

thanks again mcbudz!

[McBudz]

Originally Posted by katayama

its a soil mix called Ramgo seedling mix / potting mix , I dont think this has much nutes in it if any, this is all i can find here in Manila. i added dry peat moss, perlite and vermiculite too onepasrt of each in the mix.mm Il try to look for the package and take a photo of this soil mix.

i always water my plants by over pouring the pot and have excess water drain down, i alternate half strength nute solution and plain water every other watering, is this flushing or i should have running water into the pot?

thanks again mcbudz!

next time its ready for watering flush it with straight water. Use 5 times the capacity of the container. 1 gallon pot flush with 5 gallons of water. Then add water with nutes since we just flushed all good and bad out of the soil. Then check runoff again.

[Aratilis]

il do that tomorrow Mr. McBudz! thanks!

[Aratilis]

oh another thing, i forgot to ask do i use tap water straight from the faucet for flushing or Ph adjusted water?

[McBudz]

Originally Posted by katayama

oh another thing, i forgot to ask do i use tap water straight from the faucet for flushing or Ph adjusted water?

i usually use straight water from the filter. Then ph the nutes at the end and measure runoff

[Aratilis]

great ! thats how il do it then, and il keep you posted! :)

[McBudz]

Also here is a post on ways to adjust Soil pH.

[Aratilis]

THANKS! how do i administer these so called buffers though? like the lemon juice will i put it inthe soil or use it for ph down of water? cause im using vinegar for ph down adjustment for watering.

[McBudz]

Originally Posted by katayama

THANKS! how do i administer these so called buffers though? like the lemon juice will i put it inthe soil or use it for ph down of water? cause im using vinegar for ph down adjustment for watering.

I would add it in small amounts to the solution you are adding to the soil. Do not add anything directly to the soil.