Bicarbonate of Soda.

[Nocturnal Stoner]

Hi
I'm making a soil mix consisting of some organic soil, perlite, decomposing plants from my garden, nutrients and I've added bicarbonate of soda, I heard this would raise the pH of my soil, is this true?

Thanks

[JackdaWack]

why even use it?

[bongerstonerd00d]

why even use it?
Jack, maybe he wants to raise the pH, huh ?

Yes, bicarbonate of soda is aka as baking soda (alkiline), so it will raise your pH since that is what you are trying to accomplish, Nocturnal. Personally I'd make my mix without baking soda, test the pH of the soil and then adjust from there. Doesnt make much sense to raise the pH of the soil to 7.8 for example, and then need to lower it to the 6.8 range. And, if you are using tap water I am willing to bet that you will need to lower the pH, not raise it.


b0nger

[JackdaWack]

that was my question..

[Nocturnal Stoner]

yeah at the moment I can't actually afford a pH meter and I took sum pH paper from school and the pH of my soil was 5, so I needed to raise it.

[JackdaWack]

5?? wow thats really low for soil.

[Mrs. Greenjeans]

5?? wow thats really low for soil.
It depends Jack. If a person is using readily available potting soil like Scott's or Miracle Gro (which is made by Scott's), the 800 helpline will tell you that their preparations have a pH of 5.0. How do I know this? I called the number.

As for other commercially available preparations, I have no idea.:)