Soil ph

[John2468]

I’m not sure where to post this, but can someone take me out of the rabbit hole regarding soil ph and if I should really worry about it too much, especially in pot grown plants? 

[Silas_Sancona]

38 minutes ago, John2468 said:

I’m not sure where to post this, but can someone take me out of the rabbit hole regarding soil ph and if I should really worry about it too much, especially in pot grown plants? 

No one size fits all / simple minds kind of answer..  Really just depends on what you're growing..

For many things, a pH range around neutral is fine / they'll grow well..

In the case of " picky pants " definitely pays to research what pH range is ideal for them.. Acid lovers = will do best in a potting mix that leans more acidic, same with those who come from areas where the soil is highly alkaline.. 

For example, most of the Echinocereus i grow are fine in a soil mix that is pretty much neutral, or ..at the very least.. leans slightly acidic. 


A few others?,  they're in a soil mix that has more limestone in it because that is what they want..  Grow them in an acidic mix, they will slowly -but inevitably- pout, and decline..  Know a couple growers who once asked me how my specimens of those species survive, yet they constantly killed theirs..  First question i asked was .." What does your soil mix look like."

As mentioned, it pays to research the origins of whatever your growing, down to the basic alkalinity / acidity of the native soil they grow in..

Water quality can effect things too...  Constantly water true acid lovers with hard, alkaline tap water, they will probably tell you they don't like it..