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Ph question for anyone

fupalooter

fupalooter

So my soil is testing around 8pH on my little 10 dollar tester from Lowe's. I have recently done a foliar Epsom spray as well as a small bottom watering with some Fish emulsion (5-1-1) since the pH check. Should I be concerned considering I am going to be planting up to their final bags sometime this weekend? I do have some blood meal and cow manure and sphagnum moss on standby for potting up. Do you suggest I mix some of this into my MG Moisture Control potting soil? As always, thank you ahead of time for the help.
 
-Jesse
 
Miracle grow should be pH balanced, I'd trust it more then the 8$ tester you bought, unless you're talking about the  cheap litmus paper test's which are reliable.
 
I got chlorosis on my seedlings with a pH of 7.8    so I'd take care of that if I was you. I needed to repot anyway, so I just started out with fresh ProMix, which is buffered to pH neutral.
 
Monkey Hunter said:
Miracle grow should be pH balanced, I'd trust it more then the 8$ tester you bought, unless you're talking about the  cheap litmus paper test's which are reliable.
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No its a cheap two prong tester that has light detecter, ph and moisture test on it.
 
 
 
stickman said:
I got chlorosis on my seedlings with a pH of 7.8    so I'd take care of that if I was you. I needed to repot anyway, so I just started out with fresh ProMix, which is buffered to pH neutral.
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I have been searching all around me in Jacksonville for ProMix. I cannot find it at any of the local nurseries that are around me. I wish I could though.
 
fupalooter said:
I have been searching all around me in Jacksonville for ProMix. I cannot find it at any of the local nurseries that are around me. I wish I could though.
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Try Lowes and Home Depot, and local hardware stores.
 
fupalooter said:
No its a cheap two prong tester that has light detecter, ph and moisture test on it.
 
 
 
 
I have been searching all around me in Jacksonville for ProMix. I cannot find it at any of the local nurseries that are around me. I wish I could though.
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Try cleaning both prongs with steel wool before each use. You will get a more accurate reading.
 
I would definitely get a more accurate reading before assuming there's a problem.  One of the reasons MG works, is because it's buffered to provide the right amount of nutrients at the proper pH.  As much as pro-mix is anyway.  I'd be more concerned about acidifying your soil if you aren't using a buffered sphagnum peat moss.
 
Yeah I don't trust the cheap home testing solutions anymore.  I used a home tester and it said that my PH  ~7.5.  Being concerned about a high PH I sent a sample to my county cooperative extension to be tested and they said the PH was 6.3.  From now on, if I want to test my soil/potting mix I'm using the cooperative extension.
 
willard3 said:
Get the Ph down to 6-6.5. I grow in aeroponics and this works best.
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Most definitely, having the right pH is essential for healthy plants.  The problem is, if the tester is off and you lower it, when it was already in a good range, you're creating problems that didn't exist.
 
Thanks everyone for the advise. I think I am going to just leave it alone and just pot up and throw some cow poop in with it to fert. They all seem to be growing well right now so I dont want to mess a good thing up because of a cheap ole' tester.
 
 
compmodder26 said:
Yeah I don't trust the cheap home testing solutions anymore.  I used a home tester and it said that my PH  ~7.5.  Being concerned about a high PH I sent a sample to my county cooperative extension to be tested and they said the PH was 6.3.  From now on, if I want to test my soil/potting mix I'm using the cooperative extension.
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How long does it take to have that test done? Seems like it is kinda a bit intensive for container gardening.
 
fupalooter said:
How long does it take to have that test done? Seems like it is kinda a bit intensive for container gardening.
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They quoted me 3 weeks, but I got the results in 1 1/2.  It is indeed intensive, but you learn a lot about the nutrient value of your mix.  The test cost me $10 and told me PH, N, P, K, Conductivity (EC), Calcium, Magnesium, Boron, and Sodium levels.  I got the test done because the high PH reading from the home kit and because my plants were growing at a snails pace with very light green leaves.  So I suspected a nutrient lockout scenario because of the high PH.  However, the PH turned out being fine and I had a VERY low N count (3 ppm when optimal is 110-174).  So yeah, you learn a lot about your mix from those tests.  I'll be sending samples in every year from now on so I can be prepared for the upcoming season.
 
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