Using Lime

[Dutchie_Boy]

Now that we are well into spring it is time to start fertilising my bonsai again. I know that juniper and pines like the soil to be sweetened with lime. I am also aware that azaleas, camellias, gardenias, stewartia and cypress are not that keen on it.

So, just to make sure I don't make a mistake what plants do you use lime on and which do you avoid?

Cheers

Mark

[Brian]

Thats interesting as I thought pines and junipers were acid loving instead of lime. I only apply lime to figs.

[squizzy]

Dutchie boy,

I am with brian on this one. I thought that pines created a naturally acid soil by dropping there needles. I thought this was the main reason you dont see many weeds in a pine plantation ( the soil is far to acidic). I plant pieris, azaleas and clivias under pines in my landscaping as they are the only reliable plants that will grow in these conditions. I would be keen to hear if I have been wrong.

Cheers

Squizz

[shibui]

I agree that pines are acid loving but my junipers have grown better with a sprinkle of lime or dolomite. The ones in the growing beds have sulked for 2 years but have put on a sudden growth spurt since I checked the soil pH and found it close to 5 and applied a couple of doses of lime to bring the pH up closer to neutral. Figs also do better with lime. Even pines will grow better with a pH around 6 than in very acid conditions.

Potting mix in pots does not react the same as garden soil and may already have a high pH so before adding any lime I would attempt to test the mixes and establish what conditions you already have.

The real answer to the query is that it depends on what pH you already have whether lime should be added, then consider the optimum pH for each particular species.

Squizz, I believe light is the biggest limiting factor in pine plantations. you will notice plenty of weeds under the pines around the edges of the block but fewer as you get into the interior where it is darker. It is also possible that there is another aleopathic reaction to substance/s released by the trees. Quite a few plants use chemical warfare in an attempt to keep space to themselves.

[Damian Bee]

Squizz, I believe light is the biggest limiting factor in pine plantations. you will notice plenty of weeds under the pines around the edges of the block but fewer as you get into the interior where it is darker. It is also possible that there is another aleopathic reaction to substance/s released by the trees. Quite a few plants use chemical warfare in an attempt to keep space to themselves.

That is an interesting study, visiting a Radiata Pine plantation near Port Fairy a few years back I noticed Xanthorrhoea and Correa as dominant specimens in the undergrowth. This was astounding at the time but after looking into what shibui has described it is interesting that some plants are able to cope and even thrive under such conditions/bombardment despite the Radiata Pine being an introduced specimen

[Dutchie_Boy]

Some good information there thanks.
So which species would you recommend not using lime on.

[shibui]

Again it depends on the starting pH of the soil. If the soil is REALLY acid I reckon even azaleas would appreciate a little lime - it is all about getting the optimum pH for the species. At my last place both soil and water were quite acid and I had trouble growing azaleas. Here they are growing fine.
In general:
NO lime for Azalea and Rhododendron, blueberry?,
not sure about gardenia as I have not grown them.

[squizzy]

Well there you go Shibui,

Interesting. see the attached link. http://wood.uwex.edu/2010/11/18/pine-needles-cause/

I will be putting more thought into this from now on.

Squizz