I use the inexpensive Rapi-test meter for soil. It works fine, but not for water. If your water is "hard," salty tasting, and leaving white deposits, it is significantly alkaline. Pretty much all tap water tests alkaline, but what matters is the AMOUNT of stuff in it, which pH does not reveal, so pH testing is not helpful. Water from western rivers and reservoirs is generally significantly alkaline.

Thanks, Michael. I've actually got a roll of pH strips that I use for water, so the soil testing information is really what I was missing. (I used the pH strips when trying to establish how to adjust water coming through the R/O filter to make it work for espresso....)

And so, I will go find a Rapi-test meter.

Susan

pH strips can be used for soil if you have strips that show an appropriate range of pH (various ranges are available). You mix the soil sample with DISTILLED water and then place a drop of the water on the paper using a glass rod, or maybe the handle of a clean stainless steel spoon.

Baby Faurax. It's as pH sensitive as Reine des Violettes. When either of those, or Blue Mist, begin turning light green and the flowers turn lavender or nearly white, it's time for more Ironite. Kim

Okay, well I have BF, RdV and BM, so I've got the roses to use as a test, but...does the turning light green mean the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, and what's Ironite?

So, Michael, the roll I have tests from 5.5 - 8 in 12 increments. Will that do the trick?

Susan

Iron becomes locked in insoluble compounds in high alkalinity, so the plants become chlorotic. The higher the alkalinity, the more chlorotic, therefore the more nearly white the foliage and flowers. Acidifying the soil releases the iron, resulting in more traditionally colored plants and flowers. Nitrogen acidifies as well as aluminum sulfate. Ironite has nitrogen and iron specifically formulated for our alkaline conditions. It's very difficult to burn with it, but it WILL permanently stain concrete, clothing, siding and patio furniture with rust from the iron. It's really good stuff and quite easy and effective to use. If your plants look the way you expect them to, everything is within their tolerance range. If they look washed out, you probably need to use it. I have used it on pretty much every kind of garden and specialty plant you can think of. Kim

Here is a link that might be useful: Ironite

Thanks Kim. I think that explains why when I went to look for an iron supplement for my chlorotic lemon tree last year, Ironite looked wrong to me because it didn't list "iron". Now I think I understand that it doesn't supply iron so much as make the iron available, right?

So so so much to learn....

Susan

landperson, 5.5 to 8.0 is enough range to tell if you have a problem at either end-- anything over 7 is too alkaline for the sensitive varieties, those that are not good at scrounging or assimilating iron.

But, light green new growth with darker veins is in itself evidence of iron deficiency caused by alkalinity (or in some cases by water-logging). In more extreme cases the new leaves are yellow or white; these are totally non-functional leaves, owing to the absence of chlorophyll, which the plant can't make without available iron. I would apply sulfur to reduce the pH in addition to an iron supplement.

Of course, as Michael suggested, make sure water logging isn't to blame for the condition. All Ironite contains varying levels of iron, as well as sulfur and micro nutrients. The labels are there as PDF files. The pelletized one I copied below. Kim

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:Total Nitrogen (N)1%1.0% Urea NitrogenSoluble Potash (K2O)1%Calcium (Ca)12%Sulfur (S)10%10.0% Combined Sulfur (S)Boron (B)0.02%Iron (Fe)4.5%2.25% Water Soluble Iron (Fe)Manganese (Mn)0.10%0.03% Water Soluble Manganese (Mn)Molybdenum (Mo)0.0005%Zinc (Zn)0.10%0.02% Water Soluble Zinc (Zn)Derived from Urea, Muriate of Potash, Calcium Sulfate, Sodium Borate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Sucrate, Iron Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Oxide, Sodium Molybdate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Oxide. F525Information regarding the contents and