2 good articles on pH and Potting Mix

PureHarvest · March 21, 2016

From Promix's website.

Explains what limestone does for the mix and how long it takes to react with the first watering for pH adjust (7 days from initial watering).

http://www.pthorticulture.com/en/tra...growing-media/

And this article explains how the pH of your water source is important in relation to it's alkalinity content.
This information leads me to think that if you are going to re-use potting mix you need to seriously consider adding limestone again the second year to adjust what has been changed by the alkalinity (or lack of) of your water and the nitrogen source you used, as it is reacting with the calcium carbonate in your potting mix:

http://www.pthorticulture.com/en/tra...-to-medium-ph/

RayR · March 21, 2016

Very solid info there. Thanks for posting them.

My Foot Smells · March 21, 2016

Interesting. I guess if you are going to be a "master" gardener, you probably need to invest in a soil tester. I've really just been guessing by plant reaction to be truthful, as sending off a sample is not really convienent for me.

Does everyone on here have a soil tester? or go by sense of smell?

PureHarvest · March 21, 2016

I have a ph/EC tester but it will not test the soil itself.
Just nutrient solution, water, or leachate from a container.

If I was testing soil or soilless mix I'd take it or send it to my local lab.

Worth1 · March 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by My Foot Smells

Interesting. I guess if you are going to be a "master" gardener, you probably need to invest in a soil tester. I've really just been guessing by plant reaction to be truthful, as sending off a sample is not really convienent for me.

Does everyone on here have a soil tester? or go by sense of smell?

Cheap soil tester and experience.
Been made fun of a few times here but I dont really care.

Worth

PureHarvest · March 21, 2016

Sending a sample; they only need a cups worth. Drop a sandwich bag into a postal one rate box and call it a day.

RayR · March 21, 2016

It depends on what you are testing the soil for. A PH meter is an indispensable tool for me for testing all the different beds and container mixes I have. Also for testing when making seed starting mixes and testing soil samples to see what effect plants are having on the PH over time like the article says. Also for testing your water sources.
An EC meter is useful for testing water purity, salt buildup in soils and concentrations of acids and bases, nutrient solution strength, and more.

March 21, 2016	#1
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	2 good articles on pH and Potting Mix From Promix's website. Explains what limestone does for the mix and how long it takes to react with the first watering for pH adjust (7 days from initial watering). http://www.pthorticulture.com/en/tra...growing-media/ And this article explains how the pH of your water source is important in relation to it's alkalinity content. This information leads me to think that if you are going to re-use potting mix you need to seriously consider adding limestone again the second year to adjust what has been changed by the alkalinity (or lack of) of your water and the nitrogen source you used, as it is reacting with the calcium carbonate in your potting mix: http://www.pthorticulture.com/en/tra...-to-medium-ph/ Last edited by PureHarvest; March 21, 2016 at 09:14 AM.

March 21, 2016	#2
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,465	Very solid info there. Thanks for posting them.

March 21, 2016	#3
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	Interesting. I guess if you are going to be a "master" gardener, you probably need to invest in a soil tester. I've really just been guessing by plant reaction to be truthful, as sending off a sample is not really convienent for me. Does everyone on here have a soil tester? or go by sense of smell?