PH at 7.2. How to use lime???

F

Firsttimer

Active Member
My ph is a little high. I am in Fox Farm ocean soil. I transplanted about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I am not using nutes till the plants tell me they need it. They are doing well right now. My water is right at 7. My ? is how to use lime to get my ph down in my soil. I asked the guy at the grow shop I go to and he said to just sprinkle some on top of the soil, bud did not say how much. Plants are not looking bad but ph is starting to go up since last week. Plants are almost 1 month old. Thanks.
 
battosai

battosai

Well-Known Member
Firsttimer said:
My ph is a little high. I am in Fox Farm ocean soil. I transplanted about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I am not using nutes till the plants tell me they need it. They are doing well right now. My water is right at 7. My ? is how to use lime to get my ph down in my soil. I asked the guy at the grow shop I go to and he said to just sprinkle some on top of the soil, bud did not say how much. Plants are not looking bad but ph is starting to go up since last week. Plants are almost 1 month old. Thanks.
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becareful when u use lime on a living plant. lime+water equals heat this stuff can burn u because its so alkaline :P so that means by adding lime you're ph will go up. on the other hand acids will bring your ph down. ive never had a problems with my soil being to alkaline...ive only had the opposite problem.

but there are options.

i'm not sure what the best way to bring organic soil down is. maybe watering your plant with cold coffee? putting a few drops of sulfuric acid with water in a watering pot? (not a metal one tho) or maybe trying to flush it out with water.

if someone has a better knowledge of organics please continue or correct where my post leaves off-

hope this at least stops u from adding lime before u kill your plants.
 
babygro

babygro

Well-Known Member
Firsttimer said:
My ph is a little high. I am in Fox Farm ocean soil. I transplanted about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I am not using nutes till the plants tell me they need it. They are doing well right now. My water is right at 7. My ? is how to use lime to get my ph down in my soil. I asked the guy at the grow shop I go to and he said to just sprinkle some on top of the soil, bud did not say how much. Plants are not looking bad but ph is starting to go up since last week. Plants are almost 1 month old. Thanks.
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Firstly, do not add dolomite lime once the plant has been potted, you need to add it before you pot the plant at a ratio of 1 oz to 1 gallon of soil and make sure you mix it in thoroughly. I say again do not use it once the plant has been potted in the soil.

Secondly, if your soil ph is going up and you're not using nutrient additives then your irrigation water must be the source of raising the ph level in the soil - ph test the irrigation water and if necessary use ph up or down to correct it before you water the plant.

Thirdly, a ph of 7.2 really isn't that much to worry about but you'll need to monitor and check your irrigation water which could well be the source of it. It's worth allowing water to stand for 24 hours so some of the elements it contains can evaporate before watering your plants with it.
 
battosai

battosai

Well-Known Member
babygro said:
Firstly, do not add dolomite lime once the plant has been potted, you need to add it before you pot the plant at a ratio of 1 oz to 1 gallon of soil and make sure you mix it in thoroughly. I say again do not use it once the plant has been potted in the soil.

Secondly, if your soil ph is going up and you're not using nutrient additives then your irrigation water must be the source of raising the ph level in the soil - ph test the irrigation water and if necessary use ph up or down to correct it before you water the plant.

Thirdly, a ph of 7.2 really isn't that much to worry about but you'll need to monitor and check your irrigation water which could well be the source of it. It's worth allowing water to stand for 24 hours so some of the elements it contains can evaporate before watering your plants with it.
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from what i understand organic ferts from foxfarm dont lower the ph. water could be really basey for sure. and u can add lime to soil with a living plant u just have to be careful--u have to add a spoon of lime to a gallon of water, then let it sit for a while to cool down--the water will get really warm . once it cools down just water your plants for like a week or do alternating waterings until the ph is back to balance
 
mogie

mogie

Well-Known Member
To be safe buy ph up and down. This way no guessing. And your plants won't suffer if you made the wrong call. A ph of 7.2 is too high you want it down to 6.7 at the highest,
 
FilthyFletch

FilthyFletch

Mr I Can Do That For Half
Yeah Id avoid the lime once the plant is in the soil.Kinda like when planting grass side.you lime 2 weeks in advance so the shock doesnt kill new roots.Id go with the ph down from like a pool store or walmart get your water down to 5.5 with nutes( add nutrients first then adjust) and try that for a few eeks and keep testing the soil and see if that helps.Your soil shouldnt go up unless your adding the culprit to the soil.once its bakanced keeo watre with nutes aroun 5.5 to 6 or in that close are if yu go above 6.3 your getting high again..
 
organick

organick

Well-Known Member
Let the soil microbes do the work.
I add lime after the pot has been potted. Because I use a PINCH of lime with top dressing (top dressing: bat guano, mulch, worm castings, comercial organic mix or any balaced combo of good stuff soaked in water ad applyed befor watering). The plant is used to the lime because i added some to the potting soil it's in. Eazy and consistant with the lime, in that order.
 
GrnMan

GrnMan

Well-Known Member
Thirdly, a ph of 7.2 really isn't that much to worry about but you'll need to monitor and check your irrigation water which could well be the source of it. It's worth allowing water to stand for 24 hours so some of the elements it contains can evaporate before watering your plants with it.
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Yea dude, 7.2 isn't something to worry about in a soil grow. 8.0+ or 6.2- would be something to worry about. Just use some ph down from the pet store. Shits cheap, don't worry about using lime. You can be more accurate with the ph down from the pet store.
 
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