Would this work to keep the soil sweet, it's a dumb questiion but I still would like to know. I think I remember using it for African Violets years ago, (40) Norma
Horticultural Charcoal
Norma...unless your soil is VERY acid, I wouldn't think you would need to sweeten it. Horticultural charcoal is generally used (or, so I am told) in the bottom of pots that have no drainage so that the water does go bad). I keep testing my soils Ph and it is right in the middle...perhaps on the acid side of the scale, about 6-6.5. I haven't found it bothers any of them....yet. :oD
My soil is akaline. Do I need to correct this? Norma
Does natural water make that big of a difference.
Would adding lime to the water help? Norma
Norma...Alkaline is the opposite of Acid and means that you do not need to add lime. You might get a little Ph kit and test your soil - 7 is a neutral Ph and most hoyas grow in leaf litter (NOT in the rocks) or on trees which tend to be acid. Some growers advise adding bonemeal or lime to soil of certain hoyas...I have found it doesn't make that much difference and your soil water is alkaline already. Depending on your soil mix you can make adjustments.
My soil tests out at 5.5 to 6.5 and it seems to be ideal.
As for water: big cities add a lot of chemicals to their water which tropicals don't like, I find. If you leave your water sit out in the open for 24 hours before using it, chemicals like chlorine and flouride will "flash off" (dissipate). You might also test your water and add something acid to it (like vinegar) until you reach a balance. Test your water every day or everyother day for about a week to see if it has a constant Ph or if it changes. Our water is rain water - pure and simple (we live on catchement) which tends to be on the acid side. I see only benefits in the plants that live outdoors and get rained on nearly every night.
I hope this helps.
This information I already knew, what I didn't know is how accurate are the test kits, how much are they? I know what is the opporsite of acid. I know that I can leave out water overnight, I did that with tropical fish. I also put charcoal in the filter however. I know what is good Ph
I guess it's the well water that is good because it is pure without the chemicles added in to make it usable to drink.
I now can start cutting pretty regularly, no problem. I didn't know that there were so many syn. names in theis species, I thought there was a registery. Too bad that there isn't, if it was set up 30 years ago, we wouldn't be having these problems. Perpaps the expert should be working on a registery? Norma
Charcoal is highly porous and due to this absorbs/retains nutrients well but it in itself doesn't influence the soil properties including PH.
PH level interactions are pretty complex and I only know the basics from aquariums. Hard tap water may cause high PH levels and Hard water treated with softners (e.g. with salt Ion exchangers) may be detrimental to plants. Excessive use of Phosphate rich fertilizer may cause a low PH,...etc.
I would think perhaps bone meal would be good, 1-10 low nitrogen, that will help make flowers and not growth. Does this sound right? Okay I will work on this, I just wonder wheather it is acid or not. I doubt that it could be acid, I am using Huntington soil mix, which should be a balanced PH.
My plants there are really doing well, just enough light and well water, fertilized once a week. They root out in 7 days or less, in just pumice for growing medium, just amazing.
My H. sportioides is growing like a weed under their care. I can't wait until it flowes. We have a tropical curator now, that has a passion for Hoya, and more so Dischidia, he will only allow species to be exhibited in the Tropical House. Perhaps when he sees the flowers on the hybrids he will allow them to be shown. Norma
Norma
I just read a post on a fern forum I belong to: One of the big growers uses charcoal on the tops of his pots to filter out any toxins ... seems it would be easier to do this at a source of water! Charcoal/ash is high in Potassium. Bonemeal is very alkaline... Remember every time we add something new, it is changing a chemical composition our plants are in. If something is not working, then it is time to seek a cure...in the meantime...my motto is: "If it ain't broke don't fix it".
:o)