Lime/Calcium = Gold!

[The Poet]

Fellow enthusiasts...


Just a note to say thanks and that my plants are all fine.
The solution was simple but finding it took several crops!

Rain water has no minerals in it.
What does this mean to a plant?
Well... a plant that is growing in potting soil and watered with rain water...
must have added minerals.

My plants respond famously to one... Lime/Calcium.
This was the answer to the last what... two years!
Lime, hydrated lime did the trick, then, I found Espoma 'garden lime' and stocked up!
I remember when I was a kid I could run my fingers around the dry bath tub
and my fingers would be covered with white powder, lime!
This is what plants need.
{white 'chalk rock' ie. limestone is the predominate natural stone here in Iberia}
its everywhere outside around here ...
{everywhere except in my potting soil...till now}

So thanks to the owner of the hydro store who pointed out that minerals don't evaporate,
and everybody on the forum for putting up with me.
It is obvious that minerals don't evaporate! I just never really thought about it.
and I had no idea how important minerals are to plants.
I'll use my {free} rain water and rather than store bought cal-mag a sack of lime is cheap and lasts forever.
{I'll keep an eye on PH}


God s great Sabu...


The Poet...


It's December!
Lets all 'git inert' and go Coon Hunting tonight





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[zem]

Lime provides calcium and neutralises PH in the soil. There are many other minerals required and calcium is actually not considered a trace element since plants need relatively much of it. By improving your PH you are as well making it easier for the plant to absorb all types of elements and minerals that it needs.

 

[The Poet]

Zem...


Yes... Lime/Calcium and ph!

I finally learned how to use a ph kit and it is very interesting.
{I was forced to, in order to solve the problem}
Every watering I mix a batch of 'water', check ph and adjust.
I check the run off too and hey! This is really big!
I can't believe I have not learned it before.

Anyway, beautiful dark green foliage, no signs of deficiencies.
It was so easy! ...

So that is it?
Has Lime/Calcium saved the day?

My plants would produce but they were not happy.
It has been years since I started using rain water
and it just never occurred to me rain water is devoid of minerals.
I understand ph too!

Next: Hydrated lime is said to be bad because of being 'hot'
and having chemicals one doesn't want in ones plants.
Garden lime, i.e.. Dolimite lime is 'said to be' good for cannabis plants.

Hydrated? Doesn't Hydrated mean mixed with water?
Espoma garden lime doesn't mix with water and my bag of hydrated lime mixes perfectly.
I have never seen a bad reaction from an application.
{I mixed 1 tsp per gallon rather than the recommended 1 tablespoon}
The hydro store here has it on their web site Hydrated lime!
It's a shot of health for plants, they just perk right up!
It sure helped us with the rainwater problem.


postscript: I read that "1 tsp of hydrated lime per '5 gallons' of water"
will make rain water more palatable to ones plants.
At that rate my sack of hydrated lime will last 100 years!

2. I experimented and have decided that for one gallon of rain water,
four shakes from this little plastic container with a 'salt shaker' under the lid that celery salt came in
makes for dark green growth and doesn't require much adjusting of the 'P/H.
and that corresponds to 'one tsp per 5 gallons'.

3. No! four shakes from my little celery salt shaker is too much and I have settled on:
three 'shakes' per gallon.
three 'shakes' of hydrated lime in a gallon or one tsp in 5 gallons.

Correcting ph is simple and everything is good.


Rain water...

Thank you...

The Poet...


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[RubyRed]

I been using rain water for years with great results. and NO added ****

Everyone has an opinion though