EasyBloom Forum

NEED would be approbate and here's why: A few months back I went to Home Depot and bought a plant called, Endless Summer Hydrangeas because it had really nice blue flowers. I didn't do a soil test prior to planting in my front yard, only to later learn that the flowers turn pink in acidic soil. A simple PH test would have told me to amend my soil. So instead of manly blue flowers, I got girly pink ones. :( --- not that there is anything wrong with pink, but for a single guy...

I've also had issues with plants needing phosphorous, but mistaking the condition as a nitrogen deficiency and vice versa.

Christopher, I laughed out loud at your pink flowers. Have you amended your soil since then? How often do you test now?

Glade you liked that story. :) -- To answer your question, for flowers in the font I test once a year. In my back yard where i have a rasied garden bed, I check everytime grow something new in that spot. I been using the square foot gardening method and I make my own soil mix. I would guess I've checked the soil from Janurary 2010 till now about 4-5 times already.

the Easybloom definiatly needs to upgrade for ph testing.

I agree with Christopher and Sheri. The reading of ph would be a marvelous addition. I have blueberries which need an acidic condition but I need to know the effects of their drain off in order to choose plants to place around them. The soil tester Christopher uses is a good idea but is bother. I can take "testings" to my extension agent who will send them for soil readings. How often should I do that? and from how many areas around the "homestead"?

I agree that if it measured pH and npk more people would buy it and it would be the ultimate gardening tool. people would be willing to pay more i know i would. It is a great tool in it self but for the serious gardener this additional information is vital.

Yes, honestly NPK would be a huge benefit! I about killed my first plants because I didn't have a clue about NPK and now that I do it would be nice to confirm it's all in balance with something like easybloom. Doesn't have to be a daily reading, even monthly would be a bit much, but just being able to check in and make sure things are still reasonably close to ideal would be nice. High Nitrogen makes pepper plants pretty dead, which is why you should never plant pepper plants in Miracle grow Potting soil, just as an FYI to anyone considering such things.