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Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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Posted by
it_better_be_organic (
My Page) on
Thu, Jun 22, 06 at 18:07
| Just wondering...what is everyone's opinion on this?
So far I have been hearing two different opinions:
1) Using fish emulsion that has just been mixed with water is ok, because even though the acidity of the solution is generally 3-5pH, the soil and the life within it will somewhat neutralize the acidity.
2) When using fish emulsion make sure to attempt to adjust pH before using (either by aerating, using hydrated lime, or both)
(I am talking about fish emulsion out of the bottle at the store - particularly "Neptune's")
Which opinion is correct? What do you suggest? I'm wondering if it's ok to use the solution right away, or if the acidity will be too much of a shock to the plants. Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| By the way the plants are either vegtables, herbs, or flowers. A wide range. I know some plants may be sensitive to certain pH's but if you can just give me an answer in general which doesn't account for "extremes" (plants that can't handle extreme pH swings, or plants that are very sensitive to pH change) |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| I wasn't even aware fish emulsion was acidic until your post. I went and mixed 1 ounce with a gallon of water (the instructions say 1-2 ounces per gallon). I measured the ph of the solution with a litmus strip capable of reading 4.5 to 7.5. It registered 6.0. I then added a second ounce of emulsion and retested. The ph was 5.5. I have never had a problem on anything I have used it on as best I can tell and being organic I doubt it stays acidic after it quickly breaks down. Nearly everything trends toward neutral. In any event what you need to consider is that the rain generally has a ph of 5.5 or lower. Given this I can't see the harm to any plant with a fish emulsion fert with a ph of 5.5. |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| If that fish emmulsion was did have a pH that low (3) it would burn your plants really fast, pour some sulfuric acid on a plant and see what happens. If the fish fertilizer was as low as 5.5 it also would burn plants fairly fast, try putting some vinegar on a plant and see what happens. |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| Sulfuric acid would have a much lower pH than 3, unless it was unreasonably diluted. Vinegar would be pH 3. HCl at something like 4% v/v is zero. Sulfuric acid at about 4% v/v would be negative. |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| -- try putting some vinegar on a plant and see what happens. -- I do put vinegar on plants, acid lovers anyway. I use vinegar with my tapwater to get the ph to 4.5 for bluberries (that's why I have litmus test strips). A ph of 5.5 isn't going to burn anything. If it did then there would be no plant life on earth since the rain is more acidic. |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| By the way, a little pH 5.5 liquid fertilizer WON'T burn anything, unless it needs really high pH soil. |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| I grow plants that like alkaline conditions because thats what my soil is like and Ive never burnt a plant with fish emulsion in the years Ive been using it. you worry way too much monkeyman ;) TG |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| I actually threw some (different brand though) around the veggies straight, a few weeks ago, because I was in a hurry, and nothing was damaged. I didn't put it on the plants themselves, but within a few inches of them, and then I watered after. The reason I did this was because some of the plants had yellowed and I figured fish emulsion might help. It seemed to. I think I'll start using fish emulsion for those blueberries that I worry about. I had no idea it was acidic. |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| off to get some fish emulsion! well, maybe when the stores open. i also have a blueberry...and an azalea...and lingonberries...and neutral to alkaline soil :) |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| hey trance i dont worry too much, i remember using fish emulsion on plants once and the leaves yellowed and dropped so i thought N was being locked out because of the acidity but looking back it may also have been just lacking N.. I will follow everyone's advice and won't bother changing pH of the stuff before using; thanks |
RE: Fish Emulsion & Dealing with its acidity...........
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| The main reason why fish emulsions is so acidic, is shelf life. The manufacturer actually adds acid to stop decomposition. Otherwise, the emulsions would continue to ferment and eventually would build up enough pressure to cause the bottle to explode. The low ph destroys "things" that make it ferment/decompose. I have found that adjusting ph helps the nutrients to become available quicker resulting in faster even growth after fertilization. Not adjusting the ph seems to add a couple of days of lag to the burst of growth after fertilization. Bubbling the mixed fish emulsion solution for 24 to 36 hours or longer, will help raise ph. Also lime can be added to the solution for a quicker adjustment of ph. Either way the soil will buffer to the correct ph anyway. Personally I adjust. |
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