pH or calcium problem?

murfle

murfle

Disclaimer: I'm still a noob with this stuff, but I've been reading a lot.
 
So I got myself a yellow Trinidad scorpion plant from a home improvement store around the beginning of March. I transplanted it into a bigger pot when I got home. After about 2 weeks, there were signs of new buds forming. pH level was about 6. The leaves were showing signs of calcium deficit, so I added about 1-2 tbsp of dolomite lime. 
 
The leaves are still showing calcium deficit signs, but my pH is now about 7. Before I go adding more lime or eggshells, which I know are slow release, do I need to get the pH down first? My understanding is the calcium might be present but the plant can't use it do to the alkalinity of the soil...
 
I've got liquid fish emulsion, kelp, and a local brand general feed (8:2:6) in addition to a few slow release ones. I'm hoping I don't have to buy anything else... 
 
Any advice would be appreciated. Here's a pic of the new growth as of this morning.
C38sFV3l.jpg
 
After overwatering/edema this is the next most asked about issue I think asked... With as many recommended treatments I might add.
 
Any ideas why this 7 Pot pepper leaves are so wrinkled?
Shiny wrinkled leaves on tabasco plants
Wrinkled Jalapeno Leaves
What's going on with my peppers?!
Any ideas why this 7 Pot pepper leaves are so wrinkled?

Over the years below is the cure that seems to work most consistently.
 
Odd Looking New Growth

Cal-Mag worked in above and many other  instances I've read.

Hope this helps!
NECM
 
The_NorthEast_ChileMan said:
After overwatering/edema this is the next most asked about issue I think asked... With as many recommended treatments I might add.
 
Any ideas why this 7 Pot pepper leaves are so wrinkled?
Shiny wrinkled leaves on tabasco plants
Wrinkled Jalapeno Leaves
What's going on with my peppers?!
Any ideas why this 7 Pot pepper leaves are so wrinkled?

Over the years below is the cure that seems to work most consistently.
 
Odd Looking New Growth

Cal-Mag worked in above and many other  instances I've read.

Hope this helps!
NECM
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I have been through most of those posts already. But before I go throwing more calcium at my plant (I'll look at getting some Cal-Mag to have on hand anyways), shouldn't I be getting the pH down so it can absorb it? 
 
I've read conflicting reports that mixing in a bit of vinegar to your water will help...
 
Thanks again
 
murfle said:
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I have been through most of those posts already. But before I go throwing more calcium at my plant (I'll look at getting some Cal-Mag to have on hand anyways), shouldn't I be getting the pH down so it can absorb it? 
 
I've read conflicting reports that mixing in a bit of vinegar to your water will help...
 
Thanks again
Click to expand...
 
That was a 2X4 upside my head! Smokemaster's Witches Brew! 
 
This particular post, smokemaster's witches brew revisted, as seen by a nerd, delves into the pH issue you asked about. And here is a brief thread with the originator, SmokeMaster/Mike Laren, himself chiming in on the "how-to".> Smokemaster's Witches Brew
 
Hope this helps!
NECM
 
The_NorthEast_ChileMan said:
 
That was a 2X4 upside my head! Smokemaster's Witches Brew! 
 
This particular post, smokemaster's witches brew revisted, as seen by a nerd, delves into the pH issue you asked about. And here is a brief thread with the originator, SmokeMaster/Mike Laren, himself chiming in on the "how-to".> Smokemaster's Witches Brew
 
Hope this helps!
NECM
Click to expand...
 
This is excellent information. Thanks! I see your posts in the how-to :) Thankfully, my dolomite lime is already powder since I don't have an old coffee grinder to use ;) 
 
I think I'm going to take this opportunity to do some experimentation. Since I already have dolomite lime and eggshells in the soil for about a month now, I'm going to see what some vinegar does to my pH levels first. I'll try and keep it around 6 if I can. If I don't see any results in a week, I'll try this witches brew assuming there's still a deficiency.
 
Thanks again! You've been a great help.
 
You may want to put one of those wrinkled leaves under a microscope, and look for broad mites, before you throw any additional anything at them.
.
That looks a little different - but very similar - to what mine look like when they've been attacked.  This could be easily explained if your plants have been indoors, and are more tender than hardened off outdoor plants.
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Are the new, terminal buds, stopping growth while they're tiny, and turning brown?
 
solid7 said:
You may want to put one of those wrinkled leaves under a microscope, and look for broad mites, before you throw any additional anything at them.
.
That looks a little different - but very similar - to what mine look like when they've been attacked.  This could be easily explained if your plants have been indoors, and are more tender than hardened off outdoor plants.
.
Are the new, terminal buds, stopping growth while they're tiny, and turning brown?
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the response. I don't have access to a microscope, unfortunately. I bought the plant from a home improvement store, so aside from it being in their greenhouse, it has never really been indoors. The plant was healthy when I bought it. I did do something stupid, and I mixed in some backyard soil with the compost and potting soil though (something I've stopped doing now). 
 
There haven't been any new buds in a long time, while my habaneros are doing well with buds and flowers right now. However, a few weeks to a month ago, the buds have done exactly what you said. They turned brown, shrivelled and fell off. 
 
I'll put as much research into broad mites as I can, and start asking around for a microscope to use.
 
My mint has a bit of a white fly problem, so I've been spraying it with neem oil pesticide (which lists broad mite right on the label), and I usually apply some to my other plants (on top and under the leaves) at the same time, just to be sure. Been applying the neem oil once or twice a week for 3 or 4 weeks now. My understanding is it can take a week or three for the oil to work as it takes time for the generations to be affected. I had to switch to applying the oil at sundown because some of my leaves got a bit of sunburn. (yup, I learn the hard way)
 
I did add some vinegar to my last watering, and it brought the pH from 7 down to 6. The next day it was at 6.5, so I added a little more with some of the dolomite mixed in. I probably should have been more patient, but I didn't see any improvement.
 
Thanks again
 
If it is broad mites, Keep up the Neem treatment every 1-2 weeks for at least 3 months.
.
They are royal bastards.  I've not seen anything quite like them yet.  And if you have had whitefly, then that's a telltale sign. (they ride on the legs of the whitefly)
 
Yes.  That.
 
It's disgusting, and they pack a huge wallop of damage for such a small critter.  Will set you back weeks or months.
 
Thanks guys. Will keep the neem treatment going. 
 
How much do these guys spread? I'll keep my scorpion plant as far away as possible, but the leaves have definitely touched my other plants :|
 
Edit: Nevermind, they'll spread. I'll isolate as best I can
 
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