Info:Soil
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| ==Potting soil== | ==Potting soil== | ||
| - | + | Potting soil can contain several different materials wich makes it acid or not | |
| + | Some pottingsoils stay wet for a long time and those are usually not the best. | ||
| + | Normally it contains a fertilizer for a period of 6 weeks. See also '''[[Info:fertilizer]]''' | ||
| + | The soil must have a good dranaige so it is good to mix some perlite trough the soil. | ||
| + | Some people also mix some extra compost trough the soil but this can make it more acid, depending | ||
| + | wether there is enough lime in the compost or no lime at all. | ||
| + | Be aware that the water can leave the pot easiely at the underside. | ||
| + | The pH of the soil should be at least 6. | ||
| + | Last but not least, how bigger the pot the better it is for the banana. | ||
| ==pH of the soil== | ==pH of the soil== | ||
Revision as of 12:48, 9 May 2007
Contents |
What is pH
We speak about a low pH when the soil contains a high level of hydrogen-iones(H+). The more of these iones the more acid the soil is and the lower is the pH. With less of these iones the pH of the soil is higher. The pH-scale goes from 0 to 14, where pure water has a pH of 7, we call this neutral. So lower than 7 is acid and higher alkaline. Soil with a pH of 4.5 is 100 times more acid than a soil with a pH of 6.5. Soil with a pH of 4.5 will lack a lot of elements needed for healthy growth. Grounds who have a lack of humus need an extra 0.5 pH. So if a plant needs a pH of 6 in sandground you actually have to bring the pH to 6.5 With certain pH's some elements needed for growing are in the ground but not available for the roots because they make connections with other elements. This will cause diseases.
- Problems with a low pH
lack of Phosphorus(P) - bad growth especially young plants
lack of magnesium(Mg)
lack of molybdeen(Mo) especially in potting soil
To much mangaan(Mn), aluminium(Al) and iron(Fe) wich can poison the plant.
Loss of Kalium(K) and magnesium(Mg) due to watering
On clayground it causes a bad structure of the soil
- Problems with a high pH
Several diseases because of a shortage of Iron(Fe), mangaan(Mn), borium(B), copper(Cu), zinc(Zn) The organic humus will disappear more quicly especially on sandground.
- Optimal pH(H20)
For sand = 6.3
For clay = 7.2
Soil Type
Sand
Clay
Potting soil
Potting soil can contain several different materials wich makes it acid or not Some pottingsoils stay wet for a long time and those are usually not the best. Normally it contains a fertilizer for a period of 6 weeks. See also Info:fertilizer The soil must have a good dranaige so it is good to mix some perlite trough the soil. Some people also mix some extra compost trough the soil but this can make it more acid, depending wether there is enough lime in the compost or no lime at all. Be aware that the water can leave the pot easiely at the underside. The pH of the soil should be at least 6. Last but not least, how bigger the pot the better it is for the banana.
pH of the soil
Generally
For most bananas and plantains the pH has to be between 5.5 and 7.5. It is known that a very low pH will result in bad growth and deformed plants.
For AEAE
For Ensetes
For ensetes probably a neutral or higher pH of the soil is the best. From most ensetes and maybe all we know that they grow in a limy environment. (perrieri/glauca)
For other Musa
How to change the pH
To raise the pH you have to add lime to the soil and bring more air into the ground by spitting. Liming will improve the structure of the ground also
