Even with years of experience growers are surprised by PH :))
We have been talking about proper PH for growing our African violets and I so happened to come across a story about it.
After 45 years of growing this person was surprised ! Things had settled down and now he had time to give his neglected AVs some T. L. C. :))
He realized there was a problem in his AV world . The variegated plants that he had repotted had two rows of green leaves and the centers were coming in green.
He had variegated plants that nver turned greew, were GREEN. Then the blossoms that were suppose to have edges didn't have any edges. Blooms were sparse. This woke him up something was definirely wrong.
So he borrowed a PH meter from a friend and fount all the plants PH read 8.0 alkaline.
So then he checked the bag of peat which had been bought in the Fall and it was fount alkaline. In 45 years of growing African violets , had he ever had a bag of peat that was alkaline. They had always been acid. So when ever he made his mix he always added dolomite lime. Then he checked with the Utilities to find out what the PH of their water was. They told him it was 7.5 alkaline. So every time he watered his plants he was adding more lime. Over the years he often spoke to groups about PH and told them if their soil was too alkaline .He told them to add 1/2 tspn. of vinegar to 1 quart of water. Or if their mix was too acid to use 1 tspn. of baking soda only twice a month.This brought their soil up to 6.0 and 7.0 on the meter.
You will find if your mix is too acid your plants will get tight centers and make you think you have Mites.
Now the opposite of this problem by using baking soda twice in a month will bring the soil back up to neutral when a PH is registering 5.0 acid.
So he took his own advice and watered these plants three different with vinegar solution.You can also add Flowers of Sulphur to your mix to hel bring the PH down to neutral but this way is a little slower acting.
His vareigated plants started coming back with variegated centers but no way could he bring these plants with two rows of green leaves to show. Also once again his plants began to bloom well with edges.
He still has to watch his plants as his waterPH is still registering a PH 7.5 alkaline.
You know your never to old to learn. Never too much growing experience to learn. this was the first time in 45 years of growing experience years this happen.
Even with years of experience growers are surprised by PH
Great info, thanks Ali!
Your welcome I was going to add this when we were talking about PH the other day but decieded to do a new thread. So many of us just like this grower with 45 years experience of growing AV's thought the PH of peat could be PH 8.0 .
Also take into consideration of water and fertilizer PH being used. I test my soil after all is done.
Wow, Allison, I thought you were talkin' bout me, for a minute there. PH : )
Well it could probaly be all of us at one time or more times lol
I wanted to bump this important information
Thanks, Allison. I went back and checked my plants. They are at 6.5 to 7.0. Most of them are at 6.9. I think I didn't have enough perlite in my last batch of mix. I think the soil might be too wet for wicking. I lifted all the wicks out of the wells yesterday. I will let everything dry out a little and see what happens.
You are a good reminding peep!
That's good Nanna..lift a few out of their pots once in awhile you will be surprised they may be too wet in the middle even soggy ...
Good thinking. Thanks for the advise.
I have had many a times plants hhm not as many blooms as before , or dry up top even pushing a finger in light pot but not drinking up what I put into the saucer. hhmm. So I decided needs re-potting, new soil better PH...to un-pot and find a soggy soppen plant.
Last week I forget who it was was having a problem with their plant. I asked her to lift it out of the post most likly the plant was too wet even though she was wicking properly. sure enought it was. This can happen very easy.