ciratac

> PH over 9?!? is it possible?

Technically it's possible, but I don't know whether tap water with pH this high would
even be allowed. You'd certainly see an awful lot of foaming when you mixed it with
anything even a little acidic.

9 isn't terribly alkaline, but it might be enough to notice. An alkaline solution will feel soapy
to the touch.

However, I'm betting that your test system is misleading you. Buy a bottle of distilled water
and test that. If your system is working, it should measure exactly 7.0. If not, I wouldn't
go making decisions about my soil based on these measurements.

A soil pH test kit good for like 10 uses should be a few bucks at the garden center. Or
you could buy a meter, which would be more expensive, more accurate, and
would last a while.

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Reddawgy

A lot of good data, but i don't think the water alone will hold your soil. As mentioned, test the soil after you adjust it. I would use the hydrated lime. A good mix in my opinion for 3 gal of good potting soil, NOT the pre fertilized stuff would be a bout 3 tbls of organic fert. Maybe 2 of Espoma and 1 guano, then add 1 tbls of lime and mix. I never tested the pH but it works.

Most organic ferts are balanced in thier mix, manure is acid, blood is acid, castings are mild acid, crushed shell is base, greensand is weak base, bone meal is base. They all dissolve at differet rates so the pH will change but should always be around midrange. The espoma above needs no extra lime, but that guano will. In a garden outside i would use hyrdated lime to change the pH now, but agro for continued balance. In a pot i would jusy go hydro. By the time the agro starts effecting pH you'll be harvesting. So always throw the old soil in a garden or compost. OH YA, horse manure is full of weed seed, it is not killed in digestion. Cow manure is waaaaay better, preferably from milking cows with growth hormones, natural ones not additives. That part i was told, the cow versus horse i know only too well. Damn near ruined my garden one year, cow only, pig stinks like human, similar digestive tract, nobody uses that stuff...lol.

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i do not condone drug abuse, i do support freedom. I do not grow marijuana, but feel others have that option and deserve accurate information.

Lizzie Borden

That's why I compost it first. Horse manure has the perfect C:N ratio for composting.