No where around here seems to sell the dolomite lime, so I was wondering if I could just mix in some hydrated lime instead. I want to use a soil-less mix with Sphagnum, perlite, and vermiculite. I also have some epsom salt, maybe I can substitute that?
Hydrated lime is much more "powerful" aka caustic than dolomite lime. Use it sparingly or better yet look harder for dolomite. Yeah, I know, it's not the time of year for a wide variety of garden supplies - maybe online? Epsom salt is in no way, shape, or form, a substitute for lime.
I dont have a debit/bank account anymore so I can't buy things online. What about gypsum and some epsom salt combined? I just need a source of calcium. None of the food I find has it. Is it possible my water may be too hard? I could fix this with a brita water filter or would that take out the Ca?
If you have a Home Depot, they carry a product called Lily Miller "Soil Sweet" which is dolomite lime. With spring just around the corner, I'm sure you'll be able to find it there. I wouldn't use hydrated lime. The other thing you can use as a substitute is crushed oyster shell. You can get that at any farm/feed store. It is sold to poultry farmers, A 50# bag is 10 bucks at my local feed store. If you do go with the oyster shell, use some epsom salt for the magnesium. Oyster shell is rich in calcium but doesn't have the magnesium that dolomite does. Good luck chunk
Would I be able to mix those with some water when/if it shows Calcium def? There is some lime in my soil now but I don't know how much. It came with the seedling mix