How and with what to acidify the soil for hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas prefer slightly acidic soil, with a pH of 5-6. If our soil is too alkaline, you can acidify it yourself. Below you will find several ways to acidify the soil for hydrangeas.
You can acidify the soil for hydrangeas:
- by adding peat or pine bark to the soil
- by watering hydrangeas with a solution of vinegar or citric acid
- by using acidic fertilizers intended especially for them
Each of these methods requires the use of an appropriate agent on the ground around the hydrangea.
Various acidification methods require caution. You must select the appropriate dose depending on the amount of soil you want to acidify.
It is worth equipping yourself with a pH meter. It will allow you to constantly control the pH of the soil, which translates into the amount of acidifying agents used.
Let’s see how to use each of these products and how to acidify the soil for hydrangeas.
How to acidify the soil for hydrangeas?
Acidification by adding peat or pine bark to the soil.
Peat is an organic material that lowers the pH of the soil and improves its structure. Pine bark has similar properties and additionally inhibits the growth of weeds.
To acidify the hydrangea soil, sprinkle peat or bark around it. Typically, about 5-10 liters per square meter is enough. After scattering, you need to gently mix them with the top layer of soil.
Acidification of hydrangea soil by watering hydrangeas with a solution of vinegar or citric acid.
Both of these products have strong acidifying properties and are easily available. The watering solution is prepared from 1 liter of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice. Then, water the hydrangeas with it once every two weeks.
With this acidification method, you must be careful not to overdo the amount. Too much acid can damage hydrangea roots.
Acidification of hydrangea soil by using acidic fertilizers intended especially for them
Such fertilizers contain minerals that lower the pH of the soil and provide hydrangeas with adequate nutrition. Granular or liquid fertilizers are available on the market. Remember to use them according to the instructions on the packaging.
Hydrangeas are usually fertilized once a month from April to August.
Acidifying the soil for hydrangeas is not only a way to improve their health. It also changes the color of flowers.
Some hydrangea varieties change color depending on the soil pH.
For example, bouquet hydrangeas have flowers:
- blue on acidic soil,
- pink on alkaline soil.
Garden hydrangeas, in turn, have flowers:
- white on neutral soil,
- red or purple in acidic or alkaline soil.
To obtain the desired color, you need to adjust the acidification of the soil to the expected color of the flowers.
How to acidify the soil for hydrangeas with vinegar?
Vinegar is a natural and cheap way to lower soil pH. You can use both spirit and apple vinegar.
It is best to acidify the soil for hydrangeas:
- early spring,
- before the hydrangea blooms, or
- in autumn, after the leaves have fallen.
Preparing a vinegar solution for acidification is not complicated.
Here’s how to do it step by step:
- Measure the soil pH using a special tester or litmus paper. If the pH is higher than 6, you can use vinegar.
- Prepare a solution of vinegar and water in a 1:10 ratio. For example, if you have 1 liter of vinegar, dilute it with 10 liters of water.
- Water the hydrangeas with a solution of vinegar and water, trying not to wet the leaves and flowers. Use about 2-3 liters of solution for each bush.
- Repeat the treatment every 2-3 weeks until the soil pH drops to the desired level. Remember to re-measure the soil pH before each watering. Enjoy beautiful and healthy hydrangeas 🙂
Vinegar is an effective way to acidify the soil for hydrangeas. However, it must be used in moderation and caution.
Too high a concentration of vinegar can damage plant roots and disturb the balance of microorganisms in the soil. For this reason, you should always dilute the vinegar with water and constantly monitor the soil pH .
How to keep acidic soil under hydrangea?
Soil acidification is not a one-time operation. This is a process that requires regular monitoring and improvement. The soil tends to become inert under the influence of rain, irrigation or fertilization.
For this reason, you need to check the soil pH from time to time. It is worth using appropriate acidifying or acidity-maintaining agents afterward.
Here are some ways to prevent soil pH from rising :
- Avoid liming the soil. Lime is a substance that raises the pH of the soil and neutralizes its acidity. They are often used to improve soil quality and prevent fungal diseases. If you want to have acidic soil for hydrangeas, you must give up liming or limit it to a minimum.
- Avoid fertilizing with alkaline fertilizers. These are preparations that contain carbonates, nitrates, or chlorides. These compounds raise the pH of the soil and reduce its acidity. They are often used to stimulate the growth and flowering of plants. To maintain acidic soil under hydrangea, you need to choose acidic or neutral fertilizers.
- Avoid watering with tap water. Tap water often has a high pH and contains calcium and magnesium salts. These ingredients increase the pH of the soil and reduce its acidity. It is definitely better to water hydrangeas with distilled water or rainwater.
Do hydrangeas like acidic soil?
Hydrangeas are acid-loving plants that grow best in soils with a low pH. In such soil, the flowers have more intense colors and are healthier.
In alkaline soils, they may have problems with yellowing leaves and poor flowering.
Bouquet and garden hydrangeas change the color of their flowers depending on the presence of aluminum ions in the soil. The aluminum ion is only available in acidic soils and causes blue or purple flowers.
In alkaline soils, the aluminum ion is unavailable and causes pink or red flowers.
The cool thing is that you can change the color of hydrangea flowers by changing the soil reaction. This way you can create a unique color composition.
The change in color of hydrangea flowers does not occur immediately, but gradually over several weeks or months.
By watering the soil under hydrangeas and gradually acidifying the soil, you can create unevenly colored flowers that no one else has.
What pH should the soil for hydrangeas have?
Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The pH scale runs from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline). 7 is the neutral point.
Hydrangeas grow best in acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Appropriate pH is crucial when growing hydrangeas.
Acidic soil makes it easier for the plant to absorb important nutrients such as iron, manganese, and boron. These ingredients are necessary to maintain healthy growth and intense color of hydrangea flowers.
In alkaline soil, these nutrients may be less available. This may lead to deficiencies and weakening of hydrangeas.
Soil pH also has a direct impact on the color of hydrangea flowers. In acidic soil, flowers tend to turn blue or purple.
In more alkaline soil, the flowers turn shades of pink. If you dream of blue-flowered hydrangeas, acidic soil is a must.
Acidic soil also promotes healthy hydrangea root development. Plants planted in appropriate soil have a better chance of developing a strong root system.
This translates into the overall efficiency of the plant and its ability to survive more difficult conditions. This is especially important in winter when hydrangea struggles with frost.
To sum up, soil pH is crucial for growing hydrangeas. It affects nutrient availability, flower color, and overall plant growth.
