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Soil & Water Management

Track soil tests, map pH levels, manage composting, schedule irrigation, and monitor water quality for healthier growing.

🧪Soil Testing & Logs

  1. Navigate to the Progress tab and tap "Soil & Water."
  2. Tap "+ New Soil Test" to log results from a home kit or lab report.
  3. Enter pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic matter percentage.
    If you have a full lab report, you can also enter micronutrients (calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, boron), CEC, and base saturation.
  4. Assign the test to a specific garden bed or zone.
  5. Review the recommendations panel.
    Verdix analyzes your soil results and suggests amendments: lime to raise pH, sulfur to lower it, compost for organic matter, bone meal for phosphorus, etc. Quantities are calculated based on your garden size.
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Test your soil at least once a year, ideally in early spring before planting. Send samples to your local cooperative extension service for the most accurate results — home kits give a rough estimate.
Soil Tests - empty state with pH ranges reference
Soil Tests - empty state with pH ranges reference
Soil Tests - new test form with location, pH, NPK, organic matter
Soil Tests - new test form with location, pH, NPK, organic matter

🗺️pH Mapping

  1. In the Soil & Water section, tap "pH Map."
  2. Take multiple pH readings across your garden and pin them on the map.
    Tap a spot on the garden layout to place a pH reading. The map uses color-coding: red for acidic (<6.0), green for neutral (6.0-7.0), blue for alkaline (>7.0).
  3. View the spatial pH visualization to identify problem areas.
  4. Track amendment history and follow-up test results for each zone.
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Most vegetables prefer a pH of 6.0-7.0. Blueberries need acidic soil (4.5-5.5), while asparagus tolerates more alkaline conditions (up to 7.5).
Soil Tests - pH ranges reference chart
Soil Tests - pH ranges reference chart

♻️Composting Tracker

  1. In Soil & Water, tap "Compost" and then "+ New Pile."
  2. Select your composting method: Hot Compost, Cold Compost, Vermicompost, Bokashi, or Tumbler.
  3. Log inputs as you add them.
    Track brown (carbon) and green (nitrogen) materials. Verdix calculates your C:N ratio and warns if it's out of the ideal 25-30:1 range.
  4. Log temperature readings for hot compost piles.
    The ideal hot composting temperature is 130-160°F. Verdix charts your temperature over time and tells you when to turn the pile.
  5. Mark milestones: turned, moisture added, finished, screened, and applied.
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A balanced C:N ratio is the key to fast composting. If your pile smells bad (too much nitrogen/green), add brown materials like dried leaves or cardboard. If it's not heating up, add green materials like grass clippings or kitchen scraps.
Soil Tests - new test form for compost and soil analysis
Soil Tests - new test form for compost and soil analysis
Compost Tracker - Add to Compost form with Material, Type green/brown toggle, Amount with unit options, Temperature, Notes
Compost Tracker - Add to Compost form with Material, Type green/brown toggle, Amount with unit options, Temperature, Notes
Compost Tracker scrolled - Active Pile empty state, Getting Started tip about C:N ratio, Recent Additions
Compost Tracker scrolled - Active Pile empty state, Getting Started tip about C:N ratio, Recent Additions

💧Irrigation Scheduling

  1. In Soil & Water, tap "Irrigation."
  2. Set up your irrigation system type: drip, sprinkler, soaker hose, hand watering, or smart controller.
    If you use a Rachio or Orbit smart controller, Verdix can integrate directly to show run times and adjust schedules.
  3. Configure watering zones that match your garden beds.
  4. Enable weather-adjusted scheduling.
    Verdix reduces or skips watering after rainfall and increases watering during heat waves and drought periods. The adjustment is based on evapotranspiration (ET) calculations.
  5. Track water usage over time in the Water Log.
    Log gallons used per watering session. Verdix calculates cost per garden bed based on your local water rate.
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Deep, infrequent watering is better than shallow, frequent watering for most plants. It encourages deeper root growth and more drought-resistant plants.
Irrigation Management - water usage and log watering form
Irrigation Management - water usage and log watering form
Irrigation - schedule, water quality log, and efficiency tips
Irrigation - schedule, water quality log, and efficiency tips

🔬Water Quality Testing

  1. In Soil & Water, tap "Water Quality."
  2. Log water test results: pH, EC (electrical conductivity), dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, and hardness.
  3. View crop-specific alerts when water quality parameters are outside the ideal range.
    For example, high alkalinity water can gradually raise soil pH. High EC water can stress salt-sensitive crops.
  4. Track well or municipal water quality over time to spot trends.
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If you're on well water, test at least annually. Municipal water users should check their annual water quality report — chloramine levels can affect soil biology.
Irrigation - water quality log and efficiency tips
Irrigation - water quality log and efficiency tips
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