Soil PH

[Dazzah]

Hi guys, anyone have any tips for lowering soil PH? Mine is testing around 8. Havnt used any in my grow yet, its great looking stuff with heaps of compost and peat etc.
I was wanting to use it in 2-3 weeks time, would sulphur help to neutralise it by then or usually takes longer?
Or should i get another batch of dirt
Cheers

 

[VinDeezle]

Had the medium been stored for a while? If the soil is not active, it can tend towards alkaline if it's loaded with carbonates. When the medium is active and full of roots and microbes, there is plenty of exudates (citric, malic, oxalic, lactic, acetic, fulvic, sulfuric, carbonic and succinic acids for example) to buffer the rhizosphere towards the slightly acidic nature roots thrive in.

I've had a few mediums that tested high 7s to low 8s out the bag but ended up sitting neutral to acidic once the rhizosphere developed.

If you are leaning on a harvest and don't want to risk any issues you can always grab some fresh medium.

 

[Dazzah]

Had the medium been stored for a while? If the soil is not active, it can tend towards alkaline if it's loaded with carbonates. When the medium is active and full of roots and microbes, there is plenty of exudates (citric, malic, oxalic, lactic, acetic, fulvic, sulfuric, carbonic and succinic acids for example) to buffer the rhizosphere towards the slightly acidic nature roots thrive in.

I've had a few mediums that tested high 7s to low 8s out the bag but ended up sitting neutral to acidic once the rhizosphere developed.

If you are leaning on a harvest and don't want to risk any issues you can always grab some fresh medium.

Thanks for the reply mate. Yeh it was brought in 600kg bulka bags for the misse’s raised veggie gardens. Has been in the bags for 6 months plus. Bag isnt sealed though
I did notice that the veggies she was growing, they did do well but always looked a pale shade of green. Wasnt a nitrogen issue i dont believe so i did the ph test and it was 8
Cheers

 

[VinDeezle]

Thanks for the reply mate. Yeh it was brought in 600kg bulka bags for the misse’s raised veggie gardens. Has been in the bags for 6 months plus. Bag isnt sealed though
I did notice that the veggies she was growing, they did do well but always looked a pale shade of green. Wasnt a nitrogen issue i dont believe so i did the ph test and it was 8
Cheers

That sounds about right for high pH. Always that slight yellowing. Low pH seems to have more immediate issues whereas the higher pH is usually lack of vigor and pale foliage.

Elemental S is probably your best bet, but it would be for next season I'd say. It's not an immediate action and can take a good coupla months to noticeably lower pH.