I found it, before any fertilizer or anything is used on it, it's a ph of 5.5-6.5 (copied below from their site)
Macronutrients:
Nitrate, Phosphate, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium
Micronutrients:
Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Boron
pH Range:
5.5 - 6.5 (1:3, v:v water)
Electrical conductivity:
1.3 - 2.0 mmhos/cm (S.M.E.)
What's my problem?
I just wanted to let you all know that I did not use cheap potting soil. Unfortunatley I don't know the brand name because I have used some different ones, and don't remember what this particular batch was. I know it was one of those soil less mixes. I have a feeling that it just didn't get mixed properly at the manufacturer.
The lime that I got is called: Hi-Yield Agricultural Limestone.
The bag says it Neutralizes excess soil acidity, Improves soil bacterial action, helps fertilizer work better and improves physical properties of soil.
It is very finely ground and I started by sprinkling 1/2 Tbs on top of the soil in the biggest pots (10") and then watered it in. I don't know how long it takes to make a difference but I will check it every day to see if I have to add more.
The Ph meter I have, can be bought at a garden center or Walmart, and seems to work suprisingly well. It has a small metal rod that you push in to the moist soil, and wait for the needle to stop.
7 is neutral, higer is alkaline and lower is acid.
It's been about 30 hours since I put the lime on and the first couple of inches has moved up about 1/2 point to 6. Nothing happening futher down yet. I guess I need to water more.
Sure, yeah right PL, we ALL know you used the cheap soil!!!! Just kidding.
Don't worry, the plant will be fine, with no long term damage now that you know. We all learned from this.
Here's the amazing difference some lime can make.
I put 1/2 TBS on twice, watered it in, and went on vacation for 8 days. (BF was watering while I was gone)
This amount was put on my 10" pots. The ph is now close to 7.
The photo is of the same plant as above.
Looks great. well the lime said it allows the plant to use the fertilizer better. I will have to go out and buy one of these meters.
They look good, Kerstin. Add calcium only (about every 4 - 6 weeks) or when the ph-value is going down again.
I never check mine, I better start.
This message was edited Apr 21, 2006 10:39 AM
As I stood in a lineup at a garden centre yesterday I found myself staring at a big pile of bags to fertilize grass. The quick-green type. 16-8-12. How does that sound? Especially if you have a lot of brugs to green up?
Hi Liz, I've just come back from the garden centre right now and while i was Browseing through fertilisers there I was wondering exactly the same thing!
Bruno
In Louisiana, where the soil was quite acid, I always tried to add ash from fireplaces to my beds. I just continued the same practice after I moved to central Texas, not thinking about the vastly different soil. Then I read that this alkaline soil, or actually limestone with a tiny bit of soil over it, needed anything but ashes. Also, I stopped crushing my eggshells into the heap where I throw my coffee grounds and various peelings. But since you have an acidic soil, you could consider adding those things I no longer use.
Liz, its probably a fertilizer like Osmocote.
I don't know my fertilizers that well but Osmacote is a slow release while these Quick Green grass fertilizers are quick release. I know that when I have applied them to my lawn the grass greens up within a week.
And I bet the prices are much cheaper. Why not try it?
Liz, I tried Quick Green years ago with brugs.Young brugs did grow very fast, no flowers and one wind broke them.
You can mix it with other fertilizer to force the growing but using it only..? I believe the Brugs will miss some stuff.
I was thinking about using it as well as the fertilizer, just as a quick green up.
You must watch the brugs, the quick up should not be too long.Hmm, how to explain...you will get twigs like in a dark overwinteringroom..soft and not good for outside growing.