What Is The PH Of Eggshells?

I've found so many articles about eggshells and their use to help make soil more alkaline, but I have yet to be able to find an actual PH value for them.

Does anyone know?

Thanks :)

 

There is no pH for eggshells or any other solid. A liquid has a measurable pH.

Eggshells have calcium which is one of the major alkali cations - Ca++. Adding eggshells will eventually help reduce the soil's acidity but will not make your soil alkaline. Here's a bit of soil chenistry that might help.

 

Thanks! I'll have a look at the link...

 

Grinding the shells up (as fine as you can) will make them more effective as a lime source

 

I've also heard of soaking the shells in water and using the eggshell water on your plants. (Hmmm... I wonder what the PH of that water would be?). This is all new to me, so I find it quite interesting :)

 

Unlikely to change the pH of the water much, unless the water is already strongly acidic.

 

You might also check out calcite or limestone. There are roughly 3000 eggshells in a lb of limetone.

Bob

 

In that case, would it be okay to use homemade compost that has a lot of eggshells in it (but not terribly ground up) with acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons?

 

No, because the acidity of the soil water would dissolve the calcium easily.

 

Aha! Thanks very much.