I see a lot of people adding Lyme to their figs. I wanted to know why it is added I think to raise the ph? I also wanted to know how much. To add to a potted plant and how often. Any advice on how to use and and what kind would be helpful. Sorry is this has been discussed many times before

Answers vary from a whole layer ( bellacare style) to just mixing in a cup per large ( one full gallon) container. I just mix in with the dirt in a bucket, until I think it's enough...often 2-3 cups per 5 ga. bucket...bucket is 3/4 full to allow room for mixing.


You dont worry to much about Lime ( I see you have auto correct, but I have Lyme as well, lyme is named after old Lyme, CT, about 9 miles form plum Island Gov. Laboratory ).

What you should worry about is Fertilizer.... don't mix in anything but a very slow release fertilizer, and not too much nitrogen. :)

Thanks for the reply that answered everything and my fertilizer questions.

Also sorry about your lymes. My brother just had it really bad to the point where he thought he was dying. He spent 50k out of pocket to find answers to why he wasn't feeling right. After 6 months of antibiotic injections he seems to be himself again.

Lyme lives in a human cell for 180 days ( or so I was told by Dr. Eva Sapi). I will PM you ( maybe tommorow), and I really hope your brother continues his recovery.

Happy to help,

Lewi

Everybody has their own ideas, no doubt figs don't seem to mind lime. But every University paper on pH for figs, such as LSU suggests a slightly acidic environment around 6.0-6.5 pH. So I never use it, and my figs are thriving. Even 1st year figs producing fruit. Tap water is so basic it seems to me in a few years you would have problems.
The south or many areas in the south have naturally low pH so lime is called for in ground plantings. My mix is already balanced.

I use lime stone on the top of my potted figs.
Just as you would use mulch.
Each time you water the tree it feeds a small amount of the lime to the tree
This has worked for me.

Thanks for all the reply's. My fig cuttings from winter are 5' tall without it so I think they are doing fine. I'm in no rush to put lime on them with that kind of growth.

Hi,
On another hand lime is a good insect deterrent like for ants, slugs ...
I got sick of ants nesting in a pot with 3 thriving cuttings, so I did wet the lime and made a layer on top of the pot (on some I lime-paint the trunks).
Don't quote me : "Ants rely on acid to organize/talk together. Raising the PH or getting their body to get the lime powder will destroy them" - that is my theory ...
As with every new technique, you need to master the quantity to use... So start slowly with just one or two trees.
See if that makes a difference for you or not .

Jds,
thank you for the tip, will try some pelletized lime on some ants this afternoon. :)

Drew and LSU may be right, but if figs can grow out of rocky limestone, grow on waste from building materials...then I have no qualms about using lime....

I did not see any effect on fire ants. perhaps I should use more of it to make a difference.