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Post by roofgardener on Jul 13, 2015 18:30:11 GMT
It is indeed Daitheplant.
It is a function of the activity of hydrogen ions in an aqeous solution, which in turn can be measured as an electrical potential between a reference electrode, and an activity-sensitive electrode.
curiously, becuase it is a logarithmic scale, pH is dimensionless. We say "Ten volts" or "100 lumens", but just "pH 7" ... seven WHAT ? Seven nothings.. it's just seven.
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Post by daitheplant on Jul 13, 2015 18:38:19 GMT
It is indeed Daitheplant. It is a function of the activity of hydrogen ions in an aqeous solution, which in turn can be measured as an electrical potential between a reference electrode, and an activity-sensitive electrode. curiously, becuase it is a logarithmic scale, pH is dimensionless. We say "Ten volts" or "100 lumens", but just "pH 7" ... seven WHAT ? Seven nothings.. it's just seven. 7 on a scale of 14 tells the layman that his soil is neither acidic or alkaline. That is how they sell PH meters/soil testing kits. |
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Post by roofgardener on Jul 13, 2015 18:48:21 GMT
Indeed Daitheplant.
For my current project, I need acidic soil... but I don't know HOW acidic yet.
***update****
concensus seems to be around pH5, or even 4.5
Now I just need to work out how to go about achieving that pH level in my "soil".
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Post by daitheplant on Jul 13, 2015 19:00:56 GMT
Indeed Daitheplant. For my current project, I need acidic soil... but I don't know HOW acidic yet. ***update**** concensus seems to be around pH5, or even 4.5 Now I just need to work out how to go about achieving that pH level in my "soil". Flowers of Sulphur. |
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Post by roofgardener on Jul 13, 2015 19:10:10 GMT
I was thinking vinegar !
But how do I prevent it from being leached away ?
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Post by daitheplant on Jul 14, 2015 19:48:43 GMT
You can`t. Flowers of sulphur, however, will permanently change the PH.  |
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Post by roofgardener on Jul 14, 2015 20:25:00 GMT
I'll bear that in mind - thanks Dai'
Now... what about the peas ?
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Post by daitheplant on Jul 14, 2015 20:31:42 GMT
What about them?
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Post by SueA on Jul 14, 2015 21:15:39 GMT
I had a look at your pea plant pics. roofgardener & it could be a few things. As you said you didn't put drainage holes in it could be as you thought that they've 'drowned', if you pull them up & the compost is wet & the plants have no roots that's probably what's happened. Peas also don't like to be too hot so maybe they've got scorched/parched if you've had them somewhere very hot & humid. |
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Post by roofgardener on Jul 15, 2015 9:39:00 GMT
Hmmm... they where in direct sunshine during the hot period SueA, so perhaps that was a contributory factor ?
I've got a slightly more shady wall I could grow them again ? It doesn't get so much direct sunshine, but it DOES get plenty of indirect light. What do you think ?
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Post by SueA on Jul 15, 2015 21:24:39 GMT
I'd give them a go there roofy they might do better with a little bit of shade as it probably gets roasting hot up on your roof in the sunshine.  |
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Post by roofgardener on Jul 22, 2015 8:32:11 GMT
Well, I pulled the two dead ones out of the line, and plonked them onto the autopsy bench.
As SueA predicted; there was no main stem; it had rotted away at ground level. There where lots of roots, but they didn't really connect to anything, and both pots smelled of swamp ... e.g. sulpher/methane. Conclusion: death by drowning.
I've got another 4 just coming on from seed; I'll be more careful with these.
CAPSICUM CATASTROPHE
One of my capsicum plans has shriveled up and died. Well.... it's almost dead, anyway.
Over a period of a week, the leaves gradually wilted and curled up. No discoloration, mould, visible insects or anything. It looked EXACTLY how I would expect it to look if it was dehyrdrated.
For want of anything better to do, I assumed "parasite", and uprooted the plant, and put it in clean compost.I noticed at the time that the main stem was white and 'soft' at ground level.
I gave it some water/food in its new pot, and a stick to support it.
I've been looking up the symptoms in my various books, and online, and am coming to the conclusion that it could be Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae). I shall be burning the old soil, and disinfecting the original plantpot !
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Post by daitheplant on Jul 22, 2015 18:51:35 GMT
I`m thinking, Roofus, that it could be OVER watering.
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Post by roofgardener on Jul 22, 2015 20:27:22 GMT
Well, perhaps Daitheplant. My initial feeling is otherwise, however.
The plant was in a group of three, all of which where watered/fed at the same time (and same quantities), and in identical pots with identical compost quantities. The dead plant was roughly the same size as the others.
All in all, if I was over-watering, I would have expected the other two to show symptoms.. but they are thriving.
So I won't rule your thoughts out... but I'm still leaning towards some sort of pest or virus.
On further reading, I now suspect either Dengue Fever, or perhaps an attack by Moth-Ra ? (the Readers Digest Guide to Fruit and Vegetables suggests the latter ? )
As a precaution, and following the guidance in the Readers Digest, I have bricked up the Roofgarden, and set fire to my Landlord.
Lets hope this stops the spread ! I will keep you all informed.
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Post by SueA on Jul 23, 2015 10:47:55 GMT
Roofy I just noticed you saying you needed acidic soil for a project, if it's for something you are going to grow in a pot or raised bed etc. you could just use a bag of ericacaeous compost which should have a pH of around 5, I use that for blueberries & other acid loving plants. I think the last one I got was by Levingtons.
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