Kellee - pH escape

How to

Notebook

have the best garden

Notes about the garden

Use to help fix the plants

Backpack

Soil pH directly impacts the growth and quality of many plants. A gardener wants to know if their land has acidic soil, slightly acidic soil, or alkaline soil that impacts the health of their garden. The pH level of garden soil determines the types of garden plants that naturally thrive there.

Tiririri-ri!

Introduction

Why pH matters....

What takes part in garden plant health?

Enter the password

Backpack

Plant

Plant

This plant has stunted growth. There is yellowing between the veins on their leaves, and the leaves are drying out. We tested the soil and the chart has the results.

Backpack

What do you think we should do to find out what is wrong with plant?

mmm

A. throw it out

B. test the soil

C. give it water

Backpack

Plants use nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash for healthy growth. Plants also require the correct pH levels in order to use nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash. Phosphorus is for strong roots. Nitrogen is for healthy green leaves Potash is for flowers and fruit development

What plant food is for healthy green leaves?

read the last page...

mmm

Backpack

Click the image to get a full screen image

The tests were run, what is wrong with the soil?

A. pH is too high - alkaline

B. pH is too low - acidic

C. too little nitrogen

D. too much phosphorus

What was the pH of the soil?

Look at the tests

Backpack

Missions

Next plant is a tomato...

Backpack

Plant

yum!

The garden has been watered from the rain barrel. The tomato plants are happy and healthy with lots of water and soil with a pH just below 7.0. Can you determine what the soil pH is and what has caused it?

tomato plant

Backpack

Click the image to get a full screen image

Look at the pH of the soil.

Why do you think the pH is slightly acidic to make those tomato plants happy?

What was the pH of the soil for the tomato plant?

Enter the password

Why is the rainwater more acidic?

Enter the password

Backpack

Missions

Fruit bushes

Backpack

plant

Shrubbery

Raspberry vs Blueberries

Food

Can you grow them together?

Backpack

Here we go!!

Click to find out what kind of soil each plant likes

Trying to grow a blueberry and raspberry bushes. The blueberries are doing FANTASTIC! But the raspberries growing in the same section are wilted and have lost a lot of leaves. The flowers arent even showing on it. Why is one bush doing so well and the other is not?

Backpack

Ahhh....

Bluberries love acidic soil, need a consistent nitrogen supply, and benefit from high nitrogen fertilization. Blueberry bushes are at the top of the list for plants that thrive in acidic soils. The ideal pH of soil for blueberry bushes is 4.5 – 5.0

Backpack

Here we go!!

Click to find out what kind of soil each plant likes

Trying to grow a blueberry and raspberry bushes. The blueberries are doing FANTASTIC! But the raspberries growing in the same section are wilted and have lost a lot of leaves. The flowers arent even showing on it. Why is one bush doing so well and the other is not?

Backpack

OH???

Raspberries love slightly acidic soil, need a seasonal fertilizationization. Soil pH in the 5.5 – 6.5 range is ideal for growing raspberries

Which plant likes more neutral soil?

Enter the password

Which plant is the dirt best for?

lowercase and plural

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Missions

Colorful flowers

Backpack

Plant

which color

You have beautiful hydrangeas! They are the perfect shade of BLUE! Unfortunately, you need them to be purple and pink for a table arrangement. What can you do?

hydrangea

Backpack

Plant

which color

You have beautiful hydrangeas! They are the perfect shade of BLUE! Unfortunately, you need them to be purple and pink for a table arrangement. What can you do?

hydrangea

Backpack

Most hydrangeas will thrive in fertile, well-draining soils that receive plenty of moisture. Generally speaking, acidic soil, with a pH lower than 6.0, yields blue or lavender-blue hydrangea blooms. Alkaline soil, with a pH above 7.0, promotes pinks and reds. With a pH between 6 and 7, the blooms turn purple or bluish-pink.

Can you fix the flowers?

What pH do deep blue hydrangeas like?

Look at the chart for the pH.

Backpack

What do you need to add to the soil to get purple. Look at the pH sample to determine:

A. soil acidifier

B. water

C. garden lime

Soil sample:

Click the image to get a full screen image

What pH do you need to have purple flowers?

Enter the password

What pH do you need for pink flowers?

Enter the password

Backpack

Missions

Yellowing and dying trees

Mission

yellowing christmas trees

Planks

The trees are a muted green color, not vibrant like last year. Ive tested the soil, and many of the nutrients are lost. I just fertilized the trees too. Why would all the nutrients be gone already?

Backpack

Here are your feild notes

What do you notice about the tree and plant food in the soil?

surplus, adequate, deficient

Backpack

CLUE

poor trees!

What is causing the weakened tree growth?

A. pH

B. potash

C. phosphorus

D. nitrogen

Backpack

CLUE

Interesting!

What is causing the loss of green in the leaves?

A. pH

B. potash

C. phosphorus

D. nitrogen

Backpack

CLUE

UM??

What is causing the loss of fruits and nuts?

A. pH

B. potash

C. phosphorus

D. nitrogen

Backpack

A. low pH

Take a look at your notes again....

B. high pH

C. neutral pH

What could be causing the problem.

What was the soil's pH?

Enter the password

Why did you choose rain? What kind of rain is it?

Enter the password

Waaaaa!

Sadly, the plants are dying try again.

Keep trying!

SO SAD!

Sadly, the plants are dying try again.

Keep trying!

Well that isn't good!

Sadly, the plants are dying try again.

Keep trying!

NOPE!

Sadly, the plants are dying try again.

Keep trying!