I picked up a large bag of "garden soil" and only now see that it's
"acidy", for use around shrubs and the like.

If I want to use it as a potting soil, how can I de-acidify it?

Just add a little lime. If none available then cement would serve as well I
would have thought.
Brian.
"barbie gee" wrote in message
...

I picked up a large bag of "garden soil" and only now see that it's
"acidy", for use around shrubs and the like.

If I want to use it as a potting soil, how can I de-acidify it?

On Sun, 09 May 2004 09:50:35 -0500, barbie gee
wrote:


I picked up a large bag of "garden soil" and only now see that it's
"acidy", for use around shrubs and the like.

If I want to use it as a potting soil, how can I de-acidify it?


Add some whiting. This is a form of calcium carbonate. It can be
purchased at most hardware and paint stores. In texture and
appearance it resembles four. Add 2 tablespoons per gallon of soil.
If you decide to use agriculture lime instead, add one teaspoon per
two gallons of soil.

"Brian" wrote in message
...
Just add a little lime. If none available then cement would serve as well
I
would have thought.
Brian.

Lime takes a long time to work. I would try wood ash if you are going to use
it for potting soil. Here is a product that I picked up at garden show but
haven't tried yet. It is called pH+Plus www.heartnsoil.com

-al sung
Hopkinton, MA
Zone 6a

barbie gee wrote in message ...
I picked up a large bag of "garden soil" and only now see that it's
"acidy", for use around shrubs and the like.

If I want to use it as a potting soil, how can I de-acidify it?

Ground limestone, wood ashes, or rock phosphate.
Be aware that garden soil is generally too heavy to use as potting
soil , you will need to add leaf mold or compost and sharp sand or
pearlite to open it up a bit.
If you web search "John Innes #3" you will find a good deal of info on
general potting mixes.

Take it back and get another next time you drive by the place you got it
from. =



barbie gee wrote:
=

I picked up a large bag of "garden soil" and only now see that it's
"acidy", for use around shrubs and the like.
=

If I want to use it as a potting soil, how can I de-acidify it?

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business. Quoted by the Ho=
uston
Chronicle Lazy Gardener as 1 of 7 best gardening websites in Houston.
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

Alan Sung wrote:
"Brian" wrote in message
...

Just add a little lime. If none available then cement would serve as well

I

would have thought.
Brian.


Lime takes a long time to work. I would try wood ash if you are going to use
it for potting soil. Here is a product that I picked up at garden show but
haven't tried yet. It is called pH+Plus www.heartnsoil.com


Mason's lime (slaked lime) will work immediately.

I don't see being acid as a bad thing for potting soil; municipal water
is always alkaline and will neutralize the acid over time.

Bob

barbie gee wrote:

I picked up a large bag of "garden soil" and only now see that it's
"acidy", for use around shrubs and the like.

If I want to use it as a potting soil, how can I de-acidify it?

If you are potting flowering plants, DO NOTHING! Most flowering
plants prefer an acidic soil. Exceptions include dianthus,
primula, and cactus.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 19 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/

The message
from zxcvbob contains these words:


I don't see being acid as a bad thing for potting soil; municipal water
is always alkaline and will neutralize the acid over time.

Is that *always* true of municipal water in the USA? it isn't here in
the UK.

Janet.

On 5/9/04 3:23 PM, in article ,
"Janet Baraclough.." wrote:

The message
from zxcvbob contains these words:


I don't see being acid as a bad thing for potting soil; municipal water
is always alkaline and will neutralize the acid over time.

Is that *always* true of municipal water in the USA? it isn't here in
the UK.

Janet.
Hi Janet
I wouldn't think it could possibly be true. There are just two many
areas with different water sources. Here in Fort Langley we had a well and
much of our copper pipes were eaten through. Not sure if it was acidic water
or electrolysis. But now they blend the well water with mountain source
water (which is soft). The ratio must vary as sometimes the water is soft,
sometimes it is hard and sometimes in between.
I have never thought about our drinking water as being acidic or
alkaline? Just hard or soft.
Gary

Janet Baraclough.. wrote:

The message
from zxcvbob contains these words:



I don't see being acid as a bad thing for potting soil; municipal water
is always alkaline and will neutralize the acid over time.


Is that *always* true of municipal water in the USA? it isn't here in
the UK.

Janet.

There are probably some exceptions somewhere, but yes. If the natural
water supply is acidic they will increase the pH at the treatment plant
to keep lead from leaching into the water from old pipes.

Bob

"David Ross" wrote in message
...
barbie gee wrote:

I picked up a large bag of "garden soil" and only now see that it's
"acidy", for use around shrubs and the like.

If I want to use it as a potting soil, how can I de-acidify it?

If you are potting flowering plants, DO NOTHING! Most flowering
plants prefer an acidic soil. Exceptions include dianthus,
primula, and cactus.

Thank you, David. After scrolling down the responses, I was afraid all were
going to overlook this most basic of all points, that most flowering plants
(and a good many broadleaf evergreens) prefer, or at the very least will
tolerate, acidic soils. I'd also have to question exactly what type of
"garden soil " the OP is using - potting soils generally contain very
little in the way of actual soil. It is too heavy and not free draining
enough to be very suitable for container plantings. They might want to look
into lightening things up a bit with the addition of sand or perlite.

btw, I'd also contend that most primulas prefer soils in the pH range of
5.5 to 6.5 - certainly on the acidic side. Generally, plants which orginate
as woodland or shade plants and those preferring moist conditions also tend
to prefer soils on the acidic side.

pam - gardengal

Subject: de-acidify some soil?
From: barbie gee
Date: 5/9/2004 9:50 AM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:


I picked up a large bag of "garden soil" and only now see that it's
"acidy", for use around shrubs and the like.

If I want to use it as a potting soil, how can I de-acidify it?



Most plants like acidic soil. Don't be surprised finding acidic potting soil,
almost all potting soil is acidic.

-



theoneflasehaddock

Subject: de-acidify some soil?
From: gary davis
Date: 5/9/2004 10:18 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

On 5/9/04 3:23 PM, in article ,
"Janet Baraclough.." wrote:

The message
from zxcvbob contains these words:


I don't see being acid as a bad thing for potting soil; municipal water
is always alkaline and will neutralize the acid over time.

Is that *always* true of municipal water in the USA? it isn't here in
the UK.

Janet.
Hi Janet
I wouldn't think it could possibly be true. There are just two many
areas with different water sources. Here in Fort Langley we had a well and
much of our copper pipes were eaten through. Not sure if it was acidic water
or electrolysis. But now they blend the well water with mountain source
water (which is soft). The ratio must vary as sometimes the water is soft,
sometimes it is hard and sometimes in between.
I have never thought about our drinking water as being acidic or
alkaline? Just hard or soft.

Hard would be alkaline, soft, acidic, I believe. I might be mixed up, though.

-

theoneflasehaddock

Subject: de-acidify some soil?
From: zxcvbob
Date: 5/9/2004 10:57 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

Janet Baraclough.. wrote:

The message
from zxcvbob contains these words:



I don't see being acid as a bad thing for potting soil; municipal water
is always alkaline and will neutralize the acid over time.


Is that *always* true of municipal water in the USA? it isn't here in
the UK.

Janet.

There are probably some exceptions somewhere, but yes. If the natural
water supply is acidic they will increase the pH at the treatment plant
to keep lead from leaching into the water from old pipes.

There are quite a few exceptions. The area I'm from has mostly slightly acidic
tapwater.
You can always check the water quality report from your local water company.

-


theoneflasehaddock