Gardening: does Calcium Carbonate raise soil pH?

[Bribie G]

I've got a heap of Calcium Carbonate that I bought years ago with my brewing salts but never use. I now have a diverse patio garden in pots and about to grow several pots of a new plant that doesn't like acidic soils rich in organic stuff. As I have on hand good commercial potting mixes such as Osmocote etc I understand that they can be on the acidic side.

Am I right in thinking that my "brewing" Calcium Carbonate is just "agricultural lime"?

 

[Not For Horses]

No you're not right in thinking that.
It is very very very expensive lime.

 

[Bribie G]

Oh the humanity, I must have paid at least $3 for it - I hope the plants appreciate it.

 

[Stinger]

to react the lime needs mixing through the soil and kept moist.
The Carbonate reacts to displace the hydrogen ions in the soil "pH" = percentage Hydrogen ions.

As you increase pH toward a level around neutral pH7 then most soil nutrients become more available for plants to uptake.

 

[Bribie G]

Thanks. I mixed a half handful with half a 10L yogurt bucket of sandy garden soil and a good potting mix. Time will tell.