Soil-less mix testing

lakelady · October 18, 2011

I have some tomatoes in pots indoors. Some are not looking too good anymore and I can't figure out why. I have good light; it was a bit dry but I put a humidifier on right next to them. They aren't "wet" according to my meter they are "moist". So I got a test kit which has 4 little containers that you test for pH, nitrogen, phosphorous and potash.

I am borderline sufficient/surplus in Phosphorous. My ph reads at neutral 7.0. I"m a little deficient in Nitrogen, and depleted according to the test, in potash.

sheesh. I used lime and tomato tone and eggshells when I potted up (we have acidic soil). My mix is a soil less mix from Fox Farms, with a lot of pine bark fines, and some perlite. Is there a quick fix for this? I don't want to lose my plants and I'm not sure anything dried that I mix in will be helpful fast enough. I have some old woodashes in the fireplace, and some mushroom compost in the garage I was wondering if they would help.

Suggestions? I'm not sure these tests are totally accurate, but something is definately wrong with the plants as they are getting dry brown leaf tips, some of them yellowing between green veins, at the bottom and working their way up. The plants are wilted.

casserole · October 18, 2011

Egg shells are useless,they take years to break down. Try adding Epsom salts to your water can .Most moisture meters are junk. Sounds like they are dry.

dice · October 20, 2011

Underwatering and overwatering can both produce necrotic leaf
tips: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3068.html

The pine bark fines may have some sawdust in with them that is
sucking up nitrogen (bacteria trying to normalize a 400-1 carbon/nitrogen
ratio to 25-1 use the nitrogen to do it).

I would stay away from the wood ashes. It will raise the pH radically, and
at 7.0 you do not want it any higher.

You cannot really add anything liquid to the soil until it dries down into
the dry range on the moisture meter, without perhaps exacerbating root
problems that resulted from soil being too wet back when it was super
rainy and humid every day and you had algae growing on the top of your
container mix. You could try a quart of this stuff for first aid, it looks like
it has about the right ratios to correct your nitrogen and potassium
problems: http://www.thehydrosource.com/Nutrie...qmtq1i52aij4a5
(You can probably cut it down to 1/4 teaspoon per gallon and foliage feed
with it weekly until the soil gets dry enough to treat the soil.)

lakelady · December 11, 2011

Ah just saw this Dice, thanks for the tip! I like Fox Farms products

. I've been remiss in taking care of my plants and they look pretty sad after what was a good run. Sheesh, just like kids. They expect you to feed them

!

LuvsToPlant · December 22, 2011

It sounds to me ...maybe a magnesium deficiency.
Lower leaves affected first...yellowing...yet green veins.
Leaf edges browing...

I suggest a foliar spray on leaves of liquid kelp or seaweed every two weeks
till symtoms subside....for a quick fix.

October 18, 2011	#1
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Soil-less mix testing I have some tomatoes in pots indoors. Some are not looking too good anymore and I can't figure out why. I have good light; it was a bit dry but I put a humidifier on right next to them. They aren't "wet" according to my meter they are "moist". So I got a test kit which has 4 little containers that you test for pH, nitrogen, phosphorous and potash. I am borderline sufficient/surplus in Phosphorous. My ph reads at neutral 7.0. I"m a little deficient in Nitrogen, and depleted according to the test, in potash. sheesh. I used lime and tomato tone and eggshells when I potted up (we have acidic soil). My mix is a soil less mix from Fox Farms, with a lot of pine bark fines, and some perlite. Is there a quick fix for this? I don't want to lose my plants and I'm not sure anything dried that I mix in will be helpful fast enough. I have some old woodashes in the fireplace, and some mushroom compost in the garage I was wondering if they would help. Suggestions? I'm not sure these tests are totally accurate, but something is definately wrong with the plants as they are getting dry brown leaf tips, some of them yellowing between green veins, at the bottom and working their way up. The plants are wilted.

October 20, 2011	#3
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Underwatering and overwatering can both produce necrotic leaf tips: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3068.html The pine bark fines may have some sawdust in with them that is sucking up nitrogen (bacteria trying to normalize a 400-1 carbon/nitrogen ratio to 25-1 use the nitrogen to do it). I would stay away from the wood ashes. It will raise the pH radically, and at 7.0 you do not want it any higher. You cannot really add anything liquid to the soil until it dries down into the dry range on the moisture meter, without perhaps exacerbating root problems that resulted from soil being too wet back when it was super rainy and humid every day and you had algae growing on the top of your container mix. You could try a quart of this stuff for first aid, it looks like it has about the right ratios to correct your nitrogen and potassium problems: http://www.thehydrosource.com/Nutrie...qmtq1i52aij4a5 (You can probably cut it down to 1/4 teaspoon per gallon and foliage feed with it weekly until the soil gets dry enough to treat the soil.) __________________ -- alias Last edited by dice; December 23, 2011 at 12:53 AM. Reason: trivial

December 11, 2011	#4
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Ah just saw this Dice, thanks for the tip! I like Fox Farms products . I've been remiss in taking care of my plants and they look pretty sad after what was a good run. Sheesh, just like kids. They expect you to feed them ! __________________ Antoniette

October 18, 2011	#2
casserole Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dousman, WI Z5 Posts: 95	Egg shells are useless,they take years to break down. Try adding Epsom salts to your water can .Most moisture meters are junk. Sounds like they are dry.

December 22, 2011	#5
LuvsToPlant Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Maine (northeastern) USA Posts: 53	It sounds to me ...maybe a magnesium deficiency. Lower leaves affected first...yellowing...yet green veins. Leaf edges browing... I suggest a foliar spray on leaves of liquid kelp or seaweed every two weeks till symtoms subside....for a quick fix.