"john martin" wrote in message
...
I have just finished putting some camellias in a half/half mix of
john innes number 3 and ericeceous compost (hoping that this is the
best ratio of mix ) and I have been advised to use plenty of acid
type feed.

After going to the local garden centre I'm shocked to see how
*expensive* acid feed it is for just a small packet.

I think there is iron in it so is there any way to make up a cheap
acid feed my self?

For instance use some ordinary phostogen mixed with rusty nails or
brillo pads? Thanks.

Great post John.

I use a home brew compost made from coffee grounds and pine needles.
It gets very acidic i.e. ph 5.5 or less and works OK on blueberry
bushes which need a strongly acid soil. It's possible to mulch the
plant base with these ingredients and let the composting take place
right there. My only advice if trying the compost-in-situ technique
would be don't let the coffee ground 'cake' too much. keep them well
mixed with something else like paper, grass clippings, anything really
and spread widely around the plant. You can soak the paper in a weak
solution of citric or nitric acid which also produces the desired
effect. Both are readily available as crystals very cheaply for
descaling purposes and are safe to handle. The combined mush smells
horrible (stale coffee especially) and takes a while to get going as a
compost. Nettle and Yarrow encourage the micro-organisms - nettle
alone will do a great job if you don't have yarrow nearby. A little
diluted honey or even sticky brown sugar like muscavado will also
help - in tiny amounts.

I'd love to hear from others about home grown solutions to this one.

TJ