Comments on: Soil pH .

By: Sally

Sally — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:56:03 +0000

Hello
Thank you for getting in touch. I get the logarithmic scale, I get that the lower the number – the higher the acidity. So I think it’s all coming together -albeit slowly!

By: Ray Hendess

Ray Hendess — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 18:12:30 +0000

Your question and answer “What does pH actually mean ?” “Potential Hydrogen Ions” sounds good, but is wrong. pH is a scientific abbreviation standing for the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. Thus the lower the number, the higher the acidity (higher acidity has more hydrogen ions).

By: Sally

Sally — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:16:33 +0000

Hello. Thank you for stopping by and getting in touch.
I am sorry to hear about your flowers – very upsetting to see them blossom and then go! And you are right that 8 is not ideal for tomatoes – they would be much happier at a pH of 6.0-6.75 – at this level most nutrients plus all the major and minor trace elements will be avaliable to the plant. With an alkaline soil of 8 some of those nutrients are not going to be avaliable to the plant – they get “locked up” – a result of the alkaline soil making them insoluble – and if they are not able to travel into the plant via water – then the plant doesn’t get them – and that causes deficiencies and problems. And hence back to your problem.
To adjust soil pH to a more acid reading – so down toward the 6.0 to 6.75 range the normal approach would be to add Sulphate of Ammonia – but – and sorry not to be of more help – I dont’ want to advise you in any detail as I don’t know what the application details are. Each year I use growing compost fresh from the bag – as I don’t have any soil in my garden that I could transfer to buckets -so it wouldn’t be right to tell you how to do something I haven’t done!

And again on the feeding regime – follow the manufacturer’s instructions as each product varies. But one tip I have come across a lot and now use myself is rather than feed once a week – is to feed the weekly amount split into smaller amounts – so to feed the same overall – but to do in smaller amounts more regularly.

Sorry not to be able to solve your problems – but I hope it all works out – and that you get some nice tomatoes for the summer!

Sally

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:11:50 +0000

I planted tomatoes in buckets. I just checked the soil as my tomatoes have blossom drop. It is in the alkaline level. I have a acid-alkaline tester and it is on the 8 in the alkaline level.
What do I need to do to get the right PH???

Also I water when the soil is between med to dry. I try not to over water. Also I feed them with ortho tomatoe food but not sure how much and how often.

Thanks for any help you can give me.
Charlotte

By: Sally

Sally — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:39:40 +0000

Hello
Thank you for stopping by and getting in touch – and solving the mystery – the answer for which was under my nose all along! sometimes that’s the best way of learning – as once explained never forgotten!

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 12 May 2011 14:52:17 +0000

Answer to your last question: And why in pH is the p lower case and the H upper case ?

You mentioned it in the earlier part: potential Hydrogen ions.
Hydrogen’s atomic symbol is H.