Watering blueberries with pH adjusted water

[Wolfie]

Hi,
I've finally took the plunge and bought myself a couple of blueberry bushes and potted them up using the right type of compost. I know that they require a pH of around 4.5 - 5.0 so would it be ok to water them with water that has been adjusted with pH Down as used in hydroponics? I can check the pH using the meter I use for my fishpond so I know it would be accurate. I'd welcome any help before I buy the pH down in case I kill the bushes.

[pigletwillie]

What is used to bring the ph level of the water down?

If it is ok for growing in you could use it in an attempt to keep the compost at the right PH value. I would be more inclined to use rainwater where possible and use your ph meter to keep an eye on the value and then use your adjusted water to correct any upwards creep in the value. That way you save on chemicals and know what the compost values are as well.

My preference aside, I can see your logic and it indeed makes sense if perhaps a tad overkill.

[carlseawolf]

i was also thinking about this problem , i was thinking along the lines of tea as it contains tannic acid , and possible mulch of pine tree shreddings or if you don't change your fish tank water for a long time it can go down to about 6.0 but that would require very hardy fish to live in it. and also coco bean husks as a mulch.

[Wolfie]

After a quick browse on the web I've found that pH Down is actually 81% Phospheric acid so it does look a little dangerous I imagine it could cause problems if it gets spilt so maybe not one of my greatest ideas
Tea could be a good idea, Carlseawolf. I'll have to get the meter on a cuppa to see what the pH is. I did also wonder about lemon juice as well.

[pigletwillie]

I just use sulphate of iron twice a year and my bushes (all 20 odd) are planted directly into the ground with a good helping of ericaceous compost. It works well, they look good, fruit well and none have died so it works well enough for me. By using pots you shouldnt have a problem at all keeping the ph down.

[carlseawolf]

iv;e just done the tea test with a liquid ph test and problem is its the same colour as the tea. it's just a darker shade with the ph mixed in it

[Wolfie]

I think the tannin in the tea would stain the paper so I've just put the meter on some liquid from a squeezed out teabag and it came out at pH 5.8. Not quite as low as I hoped, but definitely in the right direction

[carlseawolf]

just got the fruit expert out and it recomends a ph of 5.5 but the lottie next to me grows them in the ground with peat mulch and gets a good crop so 5.8 should do the job !

[carlseawolf]

how about scattering the tea leaves out of the bags as a mulch on the bed.

[pigletwillie]

Mine hover around the ph6 mark and drop down quite a bit after feeding and applying the sulphate of iron. I let them get on with it.

[Wolfie]

I'm probably worrying about them too much and trying to get things too perfect. Is it too much to ask of them to get a crop off them this year? They were bought in 2 litre containers and have been planted up in 5 litre containers using ericaceous compost. I haven't mulched them yet but I hope to do this next week.

[pigletwillie]

They will start to crop from year three if your lucky, gradually ramping up their yield which is best from year 5-6 onwards. Just never put any manure around them, ever.

[Wolfie]

Thanks for the information Pigletwillie, it's much appreciated. I knew someone on here would be able to help with my question. I'll probably mulch with bark but Carlseawolfs idea of using tea leaves could be a good alternative (as long as I remember not to compost them).