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Fruit & Orchards

does liquid iron lower ph

12 years ago

I was wondering if liquid iron lowers ph. It says it has copper sulfate in it. I have not got my ph to the necessary level for my blueberry bushes. I have some reddish tinted leaves, and the chorlotic looking leaves. I was going to give them a small does of iron to aid the transition. Would this be a bad idea.

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Comments (5)

fabaceae_native
12 years ago
The way I understand it, so-called "acid-loving" plants are not literally acid-loving but rather very poor absorbers of iron. Since iron is much more available at lower ph, things like blueberry can only survive under those conditions.

So, although I'm not sure to what extent liquid iron actually lowers ph, and this probably depends on the specific product you're using and the copper sulfate amount, it should clear up the problem, since it supplies the iron that the plant is lacking. It clears up chlorosis in potted citrus within days.
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
12 years ago
Hopefully you mean iron sulfate. Copper is toxic to the soil/organisms. Iron sulfate would be good until you can get the pH right.
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Woof! Looks like we are all over the map with the advice on this subject. Here's my contribution to the confusion; Blueberries require a mycorrhizal relationship - the coexistence of fungi with the roots. Sulfur kills fungi. Blueberries are native to areas where the organic material in the soil is predominantly the 'browns'; organic material high in carbon, low in nitrogen. Fungi grow well in this sort of soil. I live in Idaho where the pH of my clay soil is nearly 8. I have some blueberries that are getting established. I managed to kill one of the plants, but its replacement and the three others are surviving. I killed that one with sulfur before I learned about mycorrhizal relationships. What's making my blueberries start to really grow is mulching heavily with spruce tree duff; the 'humus' and needles from under mature spruce trees. I put a 4" layer of this all around the plants and put a weed barrier over that. Now the plants have started to add new growth and I was able to eat a few berries last year. I almost forgot to mention that I also add a liquid tree fertilizer that's sold locally called 'Thrive'. It works wonder on ailing trees, and the raspberries love it, too. Here is a link that might be useful: Link to find the Thrive product.
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No, your pH is fine to grow citrus in, Cali. Otherwise, your state wouldn't be one of the larger commercial growing citrus states :-) It is essentially impossible to lower the pH of the soil around your lime tree. Technically, for a short while during the winter, you're correct about the pH affecting micronutrient absorption. Your tree may be somewhat chlorotic, which is not unusual for us in California and Arizona during our wet, cold (relatively so) winters. Colder soil temps, along with the slightly high soil pH, can cause micronutrients from being absorbed well. I would apply a foliar application of micronutrients as well as a good citrus fertilizer application that also contains all the micronutrients. I like to use Grow More Citrus Growers Blend for a foliar application. As our soils warm up during the summer, then the tree will be better able to absorb micronutrients. This may be an iron or manganese (or both) issue. Hard to tell without photos. Patty S.
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brandond
Original Author
12 years ago
Fertilome liquid iron says it has copper sulfate as a trace mineral. SO Im assuming its a minor amount of it.
gonebananas_gw
12 years ago
In a related vein, the horticultural product "copperas" is iron sulfate, even though it sounds like it should be copper, which as mentioned would be very easily toxic.

I think iron sulfate may eventually produce some acidity as the unabsorbed ferrous (reduced) iron oxidizes and hydrolyzes. That is basically (excuse the pun) how horticultural aluminum sulfate produces acidity I believe.
kokopelli5a
12 years ago
My experience too. The Iron sulfate barely moves the needle on the overall acidity of the soil, but it has a dramatic effect on the plants.

I don't think it dissolves instantly in water, so the water and copperas have a chance to leach into the soil a few inches, making new acid along the way, and releasing nutrients especially iron, for a few centimeters as it does so.

Harvestman likes to say that highly organic soil doesn't have to have a low Ph to grow blueberries. I think its the same interstitial effect, only with organically created acids.

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