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Perkinston, Mississippi

I have calcium nitrate but use it very sparingly because of the high nitrogen, have enough with my other ferts.
I want to add more calcium and came across a product called Rot-Not RX which is 10% calcium (calcium chloride) and nothing else. Would this be a goid cslcium supplement? I was told calcium chloride is practically useless but I find that hard to believe. Is that true? Also, while I'm thinking about it, what should I use to spray on the pumpkin as it's growing? Any particular calcium or recipe? Thank you.

4/8/2014 12:25:41 PM

Perkinston, Mississippi

Sorry about spelling errors, on phone trying to type.

4/8/2014 12:26:53 PM

Minnesota

I have used calcium chloride but won't be any more. I think it's hard on soil life. If you want it cheap buy a bag of ice and snow melt. Calcium acetate or calcium thiosulfate could work but would get spendy. I'd just try to get enough calcium in your soil to begin with using gypsum, lime, and or bonemeal.

4/8/2014 1:18:23 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Very hard on soil.. I would avoid it and use a Calcium Chelate or Hydroslate(SP) like Nutri-Cal

4/8/2014 1:23:47 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I use calcium chloride to hold down the dust on our gravel road. It is a very harsh salt that draws in water. If you get it on your hands it tries to suck the water out of your skin. I wouldn't use it on any plants.

4/8/2014 4:40:43 PM

Perkinston, Mississippi

We are all talking about the same stuff right? This stuff https://www.totallytomato.com/dp.asp?pID=50404&c=22&p=Rot-Not+Rx
Surely if it's not good for soil life and people use it for dirt/gravel driveways they wouldn't market it for tomatoes? I would think anyhow. So, basically this stuff shouldn't even be used at all for plants and I should bring it back to the feed store? Dang, the guy at the feed store swears this stuff is great for tomatoes but then another guy down the isle said the stuff was garbage and he wouldn't use it if they gave it away for free but I thought it was just because it didn't have any beneficial aspects. Thanks!

4/8/2014 6:39:08 PM

Stanwood, Washington

I believe Calcium Chloride is the main ingredient in Liquid Gypsum. I know a lot of growers use liquid gypsum as a way to add large amounts of calcium. The problem with Using Lime and Dry Gypsum is that they will both affect the PH so youcant really add super large amounts without throwing your soil off kilter.

4/8/2014 6:41:41 PM

Stanwood, Washington

I really am not knowledgable enough about fertilizer chemistry to comment on any possible bad effects from Calcium Chloride but I used liquid gypsum last year and All 3 of my pumpkins beat my personal best so it definately didn't kill the plants. I used it again this spring.


http://soillogic.com/index.php/products/liquid-gypsum/detailed-information

4/8/2014 6:59:03 PM

Perkinston, Mississippi

Thank you Captain. What would be the recommended amount of Gypsum to use per plant? Thanks everyone for their input.

4/8/2014 8:51:51 PM

Nottingham, UK

Gypsum is essentially Calcium Sulfate and I would imagine that the Calcium chloride that you refer to Captain, is just an ingredient and not present in the liquid form you mention.
Calcium chloride is probably dissolved in water and mixed with a suitable metal sulphate. In lay mans terms the Calcium and sulphate combine to form gypsum which is insoluble in water. The gypsum precipitates and this drives the formation of more gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O). What is left in the water is a salt (metal chloride).

Makes you think about the chemistry going on in your soil when you mix something like calcium chloride and potassium sulphate. There you have a chloride factory which is not good for the soil

4/9/2014 8:49:50 AM

BC, Canada

gypsum is used because it does not change soil pH. Gypsum is also used to make heavy clay soils more friable. If you Google I know that there are some great articles explaining gypsum and how to use. Best way to add calcium and sulfur to the rhodos and azaleas because it doesn't raise pH.

4/9/2014 11:08:58 AM

Stanwood, Washington

Did some reading on the net. There is some conflicting info but according to the more "scientific looking articles" you are correct Dry gypsum will not change soil PH. I was thrown off by the sulfur content.

Shovel,
Download the Langley soil estimator off of the GPC page. Enter your patch size and all of the info from your soil test. Then you can plug and play different fertilizers in different amounts and it will tell you what the end result will be in your soil. It has a preloaded list of fertilizers to choose from and both liquid gypsum and dry gypsum are included.

http://www.greatpumpkincommonwealth.com/index.php/resources

4/9/2014 5:36:24 PM

Perkinston, Mississippi

Wow, thank you. That is awesome! Thanks again Captian 97 and thank you everyone else who took the time to answer.

4/9/2014 10:32:17 PM