Buyer beware

[toofarnorth]

I noticed some of my potted plants struggling.  I was trying to figure out what the problem was.  I had used the same mix for a long time with no problem.  It was only the last batch I potted up, so I checked and found the ph to be below 3.  That is as low as my meter reads.  To make a long story short, I usually put a handful of store bought composted manure in the mix for nutrients. Well, the store was out of my usual brand so I got another brand.  Manure is manure, right?...NO.  I checked the ph on the manure and it was very low.  Everything else in the mix checked out ok.   I only put a couple handfuls in a 10 quart tub and it dropped the ph to below 3.  Manure is usually pretty neutral, but not this.  I had to re-pot everyone of them. Lesson learned.  Check every batch BEFORE putting it in pot.



TFN.

[david]

The manure trap
Manure is not manure. It goes through a whole range of nitrogen contents as it decomposes therefore the ph is also altered. Some "manure" that you buy at big box stores are actually compost with added urea. I have only a few container citrus and I feed with fish emulsion or manure tea.

[marro]

Sometimes I use alfalfa pellets, feed for horses, the kind without salt, it works pretty good and cheap.Leave it steep for a few days, you can smell it a mile away. The same as kelp. Try it.