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Learning2Much
One Step @ aTime
Registered: 08/25/05
Posts: 86
Last seen: 17 years, 9 months
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Garden Lime = More Acid No way?
#5491346 - 04/07/06 10:47 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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I was trying to get my new casing mix to get more Alkaline because I understand my optimal ph would be around 7.8 or so. I currently am at around 6.8
I tested my Garden Lime, the stuff you buy from Home Depot or Lowe's and it testing around 6.7 or so.
I tested it by putting a handful into an empty jar and some water.
I thought garden lime would raise the alkaline level? I might say forget the lime and get some of that calcium carbonate sand from pet co
But has anyone else experienced this or am i just ass backwards, lol??
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HippieChick
Chicks can do it too!


Registered: 02/20/05
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: Learning2Much]
#5491365 - 04/07/06 10:54 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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I find the best lime to use for this is Hi-Yield horticulteral lime.
Peace,Love,Happiness and Harmony Hippie Chick
-------------------- Peace,Love and Happiness HC Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose.............. I LUV My Greenhouse http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/5545848#5545848 My First Pans http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/6212058#6212058
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Learning2Much
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: HippieChick]
#5491371 - 04/07/06 10:57 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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where ya find that at?
But is that not crazy that Lime would be more acidic than alkaline?
Weird?
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HippieChick
Chicks can do it too!


Registered: 02/20/05
Posts: 5,958
Loc: Midwest
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: Learning2Much]
#5491379 - 04/07/06 10:59 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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A garden shop. When I make my casing mix I use 30 cups sifted peat, 30 cups of verm and 1 cuo of Hi-Yield. Ph will come out to 7.4.
Peace,Love,Happiness and Harmony. Hippie Chick
-------------------- Peace,Love and Happiness HC Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose.............. I LUV My Greenhouse http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/5545848#5545848 My First Pans http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/6212058#6212058
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Learning2Much
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Registered: 08/25/05
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: Learning2Much]
#5491396 - 04/07/06 11:07 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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HippieChick, I will check that out tomorrow. Thanks for your all your wisdom! 
Told you I was going to have a ton of Questions, lol!
I would also like to know if anyone has had a more acid result from the Garden Lime you buy at Lowe's. Also, It might be my P.O.S. PH Meter for all I know.
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HippieChick
Chicks can do it too!


Registered: 02/20/05
Posts: 5,958
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: Learning2Much]
#5491416 - 04/07/06 11:14 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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What kind is it, Horticultural or dolometic?
Whatever lime you get make sure it contains no more then 2% magnesium.
If you're still at 6.7, you just haven't added enough lime yet . Get the HI-Yield brand I mentioned, follow the recipe I gave you, at least the ratio and you should be fine. As long as the ph of the verm you're using isn't way off. I believe agar said it can vary, but none of mine has. But I just picked up a 200 quart bag,lol.
Peace,Love,Happiness and Harmony Hippie Chick 
And you weren't lieing about those questions, were ya 
But hurry up, my pain meds are kickin in 
-------------------- Peace,Love and Happiness HC Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose.............. I LUV My Greenhouse http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/5545848#5545848 My First Pans http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/6212058#6212058
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Learning2Much
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: HippieChick]
#5493821 - 04/08/06 05:21 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Hippie, I just went out and bought the Hi-Yield brand you recommend. Looks good! -- I went to test it with a "rapitest" pH Meter and put a bit into some water and tested it. Did not move a bit?? Sounds wack to me
Anyone recommend a pH Meter that is not a p.o.s ?
Or where can I buy the strips at, can't find them any where?
Ideas comments??
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RogerRabbit
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: Learning2Much]
#5493878 - 04/08/06 05:39 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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PH meters that work in water are the glass bulb type. The hydroponic guys have them. The probe type soil PH testers won't work properly in water, so disregard the readings you got.
If you got the hi-yield that hc told you about, it is hydrated lime. Hydrated simply means 'water soluable' so it goes to work right away. Use at the rate hc said or even a bit more. If I add one cup to twenty cups of peat, the ph comes out to around 8.1
Just remember to only count the peat when figuring the lime, don't count the verm. It's also much better to mix the dry hydrated lime with the dry peat, then add water. I also recommend gypsum in your casing mix. You can use it at up to ten percent of the peat. Get it at the same garden center you got the lime at. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Learning2Much
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#5494181 - 04/08/06 06:56 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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I did add some gypsum to the casing - Not sure what it does though?? Just read it from the forum somewhere.
Do you know where I could get the litmus paper's to test??
Thanks for the feedback Roger!
Well when I test the ph of my casing I am not getting anything either. ( With the Rapitest pH Meter)
Any ideas on how I could test my probe to see if it is crap or is there one out there that might be better?
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BPJohnny
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: Learning2Much]
#5494188 - 04/08/06 06:57 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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You can get litmus paper at the pet store in the fish supplies. I am not sure if you can use it though? i here alot of people talking about probes
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RogerRabbit
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: BPJohnny]
#5494469 - 04/08/06 08:24 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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You can use the litmus paper by squeezing some water out of your casing mix into a shotglass, but be sure to wear gloves so the sweat on your hands doesn't compromise the reading. However, it isn't always necessary. If you'll mix the hydrated garden lime as directed above, you'll be fine. Anything above neutral and below 8.5 will be cool. I shoot for 8. Most of the probe type ph meters I've used have been crap. They consist of two dissimilar metals with an insulator between. The meter itself is a voltage meter, and the acidity of the soil makes the dissimilar metals function as a battery, making the volt meter swing either to the positive or negative depending on whether the soil is acid or sweet. The problem is, different soil textures will effect the probes in different ways. Sandy soil has a lot of contact with the probes, while a loose casing material has much less contact. That's why I prefer paper, or you can go to a garden center and get a soil test kit. Even the cheapie test kits have a ph test. Just follow instructions on the box. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Learning2Much
One Step @ aTime
Registered: 08/25/05
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#5494592 - 04/08/06 08:59 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Roger, Thanks!
I went out and bought the little cheapy kit.
Where have you bought your litmus paper before? Can't find it anywhere!
Does the stuff BP Johnny mentioned at the pet store work? My pH meter is just like the one you mentioned. Its already in the trash, lol.
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EquilibriuM
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Registered: 07/17/05
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: Learning2Much]
#5494612 - 04/08/06 09:04 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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you can also buy litmus at pool supply places...
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RogerRabbit
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: Learning2Much]
#5494615 - 04/08/06 09:05 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Stamets sells the test strips on fungi.com. I would imagine any test strip for liquids would work. Just remember you'll have to squeeze some water out to test. Be sure to let the material sit for an hour or two before you test, then stir it well and take your sample. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Learning2Much
One Step @ aTime
Registered: 08/25/05
Posts: 86
Last seen: 17 years, 9 months
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Re: Garden Lime = More Acid No way? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#5494635 - 04/08/06 09:10 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Thanks for the insight. It is truly appreciated!
I going to bookmark this and pick up a few things tomorrow.
THANKS AGAIN!
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