Question for Meyer Mike about using vinegar in plant water

2 years ago

Mike, I hadn’t heard of this before but sometime back you commented that you used a TBS/gal in each watering to acidify the water. Ive used it for about a month now on both tropicals and succulents. I think they seem to like it. I always flush at each watering anyway. But a few questions I have:

1) are there any plants that should NOT be watered w/ this? (LOL I should have asked this before jumping in w/ both feet)

2) since most of my tropicals are in 5-1-1 & some succulents in gritty w/ bark, which is already acidic, will this raise the soil to an acidic level that is inhospitable to them?

3) I usually fert. at 1/4 strength. T.Y. , Im trying 1/2 strength for spring & summer & about once a month I also add 1/2 tsp of epsom salts to water for mg & CA. I use regular old miracle grow in the yellow bottle & I dint think it contains either of those 2 nutrients. Is it ok to use the Epsom salts in the same watering as the vingar AND the fert or will the 3 together cause some sort of reaction?

TIA

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
did you start with having your water tested.. whats the use of changing your water.. if you dont have the base information to make changes ...

why do you think your plants need all this fert .. they are plants.. not children.. they dont need constant feeding ... i would fear salt buildup in my media... if i were ferting this much ....

that said.. you are probably growing them better than i ever did.. lol ... so what do i know ... just throwing out the info so you may use or ignore it as you will ...

ken
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
The only reason to acidify irrigation water is if your water is very alkaline (high pH) and you are growing acid loving plants. And that does not include the vast majority of cacti, succulents and other houseplants.

Since the recipes for both the 5-1-1 and the gritty mix include adding dolomitic lime to buffer pH to a neutral or slightly acidic level - what the majority of most plants prefer - I am unsure why you feel the need to acidify further.

Despite ken's comments, containerized plants DO need consistent fertilization as all nutrients are continually leached out with frequent waterings. I find that the reduced watering most cacti and succs prefer defer the need for fertilization to only once a month or so during the primary growing season (and i seldom fertilize at all when they are indoors for the winter).. But I use Dyna Gro's Foliage Pro for containerized plants so no need to muck around with Epsom salts. Or vinegar in the irrigation water :-)

And a thorough watering when you do will flush any salts build up.
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Rebecca/N. IN/z6A
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Ken & Gardengal:

I fertilize weakly, weekly- my tropicals. I use rain water, melted snow, water from my dehumidifier or in winter, if no snow, I use RO/DI water from the store, since my dehumidifier slows to a crawl. I flush all plants thoroughly when I water. I started adding vinegar b/c I read in a post where Meyer Mike commented that he used a TBS of vineger w/ every watering & he grows beautiful plants that seem to bloom often so I thought it may be something my plants would like. I have heard to add epsom salts in very low doses about once a month if your fert doesnt contain CA or MG, which mine doesnt list either of those. I believe Foliage Pro is good. IIRC Al had told me at one point the Miracle Grow fert I use is in the right numerical formula, same as Dyna grow, 24-12-6, I think? its easier to get (at store vs online) but I do realize its missing some micronutrients.
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
2 years ago
Sorry I didn't even see this. I am g;ad you got great advice above. I learned from the best above too)
Rebecca/N. IN/z6A thanked Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)

Question for Meyer Mike about using vinegar in plant water

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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Question for Meyer Mike about using vinegar in plant water

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Related Discussions

Rebecca/N. IN/z6AOriginal Author

Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)

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BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Rebecca/N. IN/z6A
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