Hi all,
I don't write often but thought I should this time.

Marty said:
Actually, most plants will tolerate
fertilizer with Phs far from their optimum tolerance,

pH problems are mostly *nutrient* problems, and since bonsai growers
frequently fertilize, usually with a full-spectrum chelated fertilizer,
there's not much to worry about.

I used to pot my bougies with a mix in which I used white lava rock (it is
not pumice, but something like red lava rock except for the white colour
and with smaller pores). Using this I had too many problems with chlorosis.
Once somebody told me that the problem was the pH due to this white lava
rock and that this had to do with the nutrients uptake. The chlorosis
persisted even when I used chelated iron and/or epsom salts, or when I let
the soil dry out a little bit more. Last year I replaced the white lava
rock and started using the coarse sand that is commonly used for swimming
pool filters and chlorosis stopped suddenly. Since then I have had no
problems with chlorosis again (except during heavy rains and/or
overwatering) and my bougies seem to like this kind of sand which as far as
I know has a neutral pH. I am not very good at chemistry and I might be
wrong regarding the pH-nutrients uptake stuff, but it worked for me.

All the best to you all

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