8 replies to this topic

[cpa]

Hi All.

I'm using alternatives to peat for some of my plants.  Neopeat has a pH of around 6-7, so I was wondering how to go about acidifying the medium.

Does anyone have opinions of the following to reduce the pH?  I can't find any specifics anywhere about what would and wouldn't work and if it wouldn't work _why_ it wouldn't work - any unforseen harmful effects etc.  Is

phosphoric acid
sodium bisulphate
aluminium sulphate
iron sulphate
sulphuric acid
nitric acid
citric acid
lemon/lime juice
apple cider vinegar

I suppose the best way to ask the question is this: is there anything in the above list I should particularly avoid?  I'm hoping to determine the cheapest/most readily available to me.

Thanks.

[mantrid]

cpa, on 28 July 2012 - 13:40 PM, said:

Hi All.

I'm using alternatives to peat for some of my plants.  Neopeat has a pH of around 6-7, so I was wondering how to go about acidifying the medium.

Does anyone have opinions of the following to reduce the pH?  I can't find any specifics anywhere about what would and wouldn't work and if it wouldn't work _why_ it wouldn't work - any unforseen harmful effects etc.  Is

phosphoric acid
sodium bisulphate
aluminium sulphate
iron sulphate
sulphuric acid
nitric acid
citric acid
lemon/lime juice
apple cider vinegar

I suppose the best way to ask the question is this: is there anything in the above list I should particularly avoid?  I'm hoping to determine the cheapest/most readily available to me.

Thanks.

I would have thought those salts listed would be neutral or alkali. I would avoid Sulphuric, nitric and phosphoric acids as they would likely burn the plants to a crisp. Your best be would be the organic acids. Ive tried citric and tartaric (I think) to acidify sawdust for growing VFTs. It failed dismally, they nearly died before I put them back into peat.

I think the best approach would be to try and get a natural growth of sphagnum on it, which may may create an acid medium for you. What ever you try let us know the outcome.

[Ian Salter]

I'm pretty sure that some years back that a comercial nursery was using sulphuric acid for their ballast tanks of tapwater but it was a long time ago.
I have also been trialing Neopeat as a loose experiment for now with combinations of pure Neopeat, mixes with Sphagnum (that is growing fine in the media), perlite and chopped old Sarracenia pitchers in various mixes and Chopped pitchers as a single growing media.
In the near future I intend to carry forward any promising mixes in a more refined experiment.
The trial plants are all equal sized divisions of  S. rubra ssp gulfensis, mutant green form, Yellow river.
As said this is a loose initial experiment and is in a tray with peat mixes so probably sharing acidity etc..
Tim Bailey has been using Coir based media for some time and is planning on expanding trials and although acidity is slightly lower i'm not sure he has needed to adjust the acidity.

[David Ahrens]

Why on Earth are you trying to acidify the mix. Wouldn't it be far easier just to use peat.
I have grown VFT's from seed in coir and they grow very well. I haven't tried other CP's but I do grow my houseplants in coir, cheeseplants, Streptocarpus, Bromeliads.
If you promise not to tell anyone, I used to use sulphuric acid to acidify tap water. I used to use it when I ran out of water in the Summer. Marston Exotics used this system for years, computer controlled though. Where I am in Essex, I found that about 6 mls of 10 % sulphuric acid per gallon used to bring the pH down to about 5.5, about right, but it's not critical.  I take no responsibility for anyone who burns themselves using acid. If you must dilute the conc acid, always add it to water first, not the water to acid. Also wear goggles, a tiny spec in the eye of acid can leave you blind for life in that eye. Even 10 % sulphuric acid on your jeans will leave holes if not washed off, so don't wear your best Levis. Use an broad spectrum aquarium water test kit to get the pH right.  Your plants will need repotting every couple of years because there will be a build up of salts in the compost.

[mobile]

How about humic (fulvic) acids?

[jimscott]

Why not just add pine needles to the medium instead of playing with acids?

[cpa]

Thanks for the replies and input everyone.

Why am I not using peat?  I want to try something else.  Neopeat for example is very easy for me to get hold of.  There's also the environmental impact issues of using peat, that I don't want to get into an argument about.  Basically I just want to try something else.

Thanks for mentioning Tim Bailey - he seems to be having success with coir.

I've used nasty acids when I've done lab work before, so I will take suitable care if I use any.

Sphagnum, pine needles and humic acids are all good suggestions thanks, I'll try some things out and see what happens...

[mobile]

Aside from the environmental debate, the fact remains that peat is getting increasingly difficult to source in the UK and will get more so in the th near future. We therefore need to be finding alternatives. Personally I have not had much success with coir, but I know the likes of Tim Bailey has. I would appreciate it you could keep us updated on your Neopeat experiments, in particular the acidification.

[billynomates666]

Hi Cpa

I dont profess to know much about this, other than I read somewhere that vinegar has only a short term action (three to four days) the citric acid was said to be better as it didnt react with the organics of the substrate as much.

Have you thought of using sulphur or flowers of sulphur and water to make sulphurous acid?

I have used pine needles and pine bark, both of which worked well, giving a slow release of acid and tannins which seemed benificial.

Cheers
Steve

Edited by billynomates666, 30 July 2012 - 12:53 PM.