Re: coffee grounds as acidifiers
- To: "medit-plants"
- Subject: Re: coffee grounds as acidifiers
- From: G* B*
- Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 16:30:40 +0200
>We, in So Cal (with an expresso bar in our Nordstrom's women's lingerie
>department, too, buddy - I wouldn't dare go anywhere else for MY coffee!),
have
>such alkaline soil that it would take a LOT of coffee to hinder plant
growth.
>And, as soil is as much a product of climate as it is of the parent
material
>rock underneath, I would conjecture that most of the Mediterranean climates
of
>the world have more alkaline to neutral soil as well. Of course that also
means
>that most Medit plants would rather be in alkaline soil...
>
This one seems to have slipped past with no challenge so I'll query it.
In my experience most of the old Gondwana derived soils - which includes the
Med. areas of South Africa & Australia - are actually quite acidic, unless
specifically derived from limestone parent material. Also, being heavily
weathered, they are badly depleted of phosphates. Thus you'll find many of
the fynbos formation plants are alkaline intolerant ( eg, the ericas &
proteas ) & may also be susceptible to phosphate toxicity. There is a
distinct limestone belt in the Cape Agulhas area with its own highly
specialised & adapted flora but there is very little change over to the
acidic formation species.
I am open to contradiction by our Aussie friends but suggest the situation
is much the same there.
I'd be interested in the situation in Chile where I would imagine the soils
to be of a younger igneous parent material as the Andes are still forming.
Any ideas ?
Regards
Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph SA 021 7904253 Fax SA 021 7905139 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
