General Chat forum: Question on Lime

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Views: 39, Replies: 16 » Jump to the end
Dee2
Oct 3, 2011 7:58 AM CST
Name: Dee Enslow
Chipley, FL (panhandle)
I have a question, probably a dumb one but gonna ask anyway.

How effective would lime be with the hoyas that like the lime if you take the pelleted lime and dissolve it in water then water it in.

Just wondering

Dee
ImageJulieK
Oct 3, 2011 8:26 AM CST
Name: Julie Kennedy
UK
No Dee - its a good question, and certainly one I don't know the answer to. Confused
Maybe we could also may a list of Lime-loving hoyas aswell?
Mairzeedotes
Oct 3, 2011 9:21 AM CST
Name: Marcy
S. Calif
I used to use it in the past in my mixes. Haven't bought any lately, but seemed to make some of them grow more. I would just put a couple of scoops of it into my mix when I was mixing it up. I have also used coral calcium to add to the bottom of some of them's pots, but I can't rember which ones they were. Ha. I think imperialis was one that liked it.
Carol would know about this.
Imagepropmaker
Oct 3, 2011 9:40 AM CST
Name: Dominic Murray
Lanzarote, Canary Islands

With the Hoyas that supposedly like Lime, I crush up egg shell in a pestal and mortar and sprinkle it ontop of the pot
Imagecpawl
Oct 3, 2011 10:11 AM CST
Name: cindy
Delta, BC,Canada
I agree I use egg shells to.
Dee2
Oct 3, 2011 11:46 AM CST
Name: Dee Enslow
Chipley, FL (panhandle)
Maybe this is something I will try during the winter months.
ImageJulieK
Oct 3, 2011 12:17 PM CST
Name: Julie Kennedy
UK
propmaker wrote:With the Hoyas that supposedly like Lime, I crush up egg shell in a pestal and mortar and sprinkle it ontop of the pot


Dom, do you know which hoyas like lime? Cummingiana...and...???
Thanks
Julie
AlohaHoya
Oct 3, 2011 2:19 PM CST
Name: Carol Noel
Hawaii (near Hilo)
It's all about choices.
Ted Greens catalogue talks about those which he thinks need calcium. I do not add it to my mix at all - I used to, but then again, I used to have a lot of problems with my media. Calcium tends to raise the pH in the soil and DL told me that the soil he tested in his wild collected plants was consistently between 5.5-6.5 so I haven't felt the need. Yet...I don't use a very acidic planting medium either. For the very serious collectors, I would recommend a total soil/medium analysis will give you an idea if you need calcium or not. Was also told that Eriostemmas like it.....
Leap. The net will appear.
Imagepropmaker
Oct 4, 2011 12:42 AM CST
Name: Dominic Murray
Lanzarote, Canary Islands

I generally put it on my Eriostemmas and H imperialis, but, like Carol says....Not sure if it's needed
ImageJulieK
Oct 4, 2011 1:14 AM CST
Name: Julie Kennedy
UK
Well, I don't use it either - so I was just wondering if it made a huge difference.
I don't grow eriostemmas - ha! I know my limitations, and as for imperialis, I have one pathetic specimen that is clinging on...but doesn't grow much Sad
So I guess I'll just stick to what I do for now - but perhaps change the medium imperialis is growing in to see if that helps.
Iochroma
Dec 28, 2011 10:26 AM CST
Name: David
San Francisco Bay area
Dee, pelleted lime could be a little risky - if its the kind made for your lawn it could have "quick lime" in it, which could burn the plants. If it was just pelleted dolomite, it would probably be OK, but I would let it dissolve slowly and naturally.

On egg shells: I remember reading something recently on just how insoluble egg shells are in soil. I didn't save the post, but is was from someone who had some soil science background and seemed credible. The upshot was that oyster shell or agricultural lime was better.

A big 50 # bag of limestone should cost less than $10 in the U.S. I save oyster shells and crush them by running over them with the car Big Grin
AlohaHoya
Dec 28, 2011 11:55 AM CST
Name: Carol Noel
Hawaii (near Hilo)
It's all about choices.
I really think that a soil analysis is necessary before starting to add any special minerals... Calcium IS necessary for cell health in plants...but not needed if your medium already has it. ALSO, calcium does not 'migrate' well...best to add it to the whole pot so it gets near the roots where it needs to be to do any good.

Leap. The net will appear.
Iochroma
Dec 28, 2011 12:37 PM CST
Name: David
San Francisco Bay area
I agree with Carol.

Testing is very informative. Unfortunately, the cheap testing kits and devices aren't accurate, and a good lab will be very expensive ( at least it is in the U.S. ).

I always add the oytershell in with plenty of compost - the acids in the organic matter buffer and aid in dissolution.

Chicken crap should work nicely for that... Smiling
AlohaHoya
Dec 28, 2011 1:55 PM CST
Name: Carol Noel
Hawaii (near Hilo)
It's all about choices.
There you go!!! Another suggestion is that you look up the 'signs' of lack of calcium....more nec. on vegies.
Leap. The net will appear.
Dee2
Dec 29, 2011 7:09 AM CST
Name: Dee Enslow
Chipley, FL (panhandle)
Thanks Dave, plenty of oyster shell here, got some to try in the spring when repotting time comes

Dee
Imagepropmaker
Dec 30, 2011 3:58 PM CST
Name: Dominic Murray
Lanzarote, Canary Islands

I wish I could run over the owner of the last restaurant I ate Oysters at here....never mind the b***dy shells....was very ill for nearly a whole week....!!
AlohaHoya
Dec 31, 2011 12:29 AM CST
Name: Carol Noel
Hawaii (near Hilo)
It's all about choices.
Been there, done that too, Dom. Bad part of it was the owner was a client of mine (ooops) when I designed menus...and I had to tell him... Whistling
Leap. The net will appear.

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