Quote:
Originally Posted by ChefBert
So what is making my mix so acidic? Simply the pine bark fines?? Then why do so many people use pine bark fines in their mix recipe's?
Is hardwood ash the same thing as muriate of pot ash? Just work it into the top portion of soil and water it in?
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Most people use the pine, but may not realize the acidity. Maybe they put in enough dolomite to balance it. It's really unusual, because most of the country has acidic soil to begin with. And of course most of the country gardens in the soil. Unlike Florida, which has alkaline soil due to our state being mostly made up of a limestone foundation. But we garden in pots here, so it's sort of like we aren't even gardening in Florida, lol.
That is digressing, the reason that you are so acidic is not only because of the pine bark, it's also because peat itself is very acidic. Without the dolomite lime, the peat can get a pH as low as 3.
I don't know anything about hardwood ash, very sorry.