It should be. I don't know how it wouldn't be. The only other thing I've ever done is add some dolomite lime to my mix.... its ph neutral and helps stabilize it. What is the PH you are you watering with? How are you testing the soils ph?... Run off or with an electronic soil ph tester? Is the ph tester trusted and or calibrated correctly? Sorry I don't know how else to change the PH drastically, I mean they are called ph up and down.... what could be better at raising the PH up and down besides ph up and down?