Making your own acidic soil is simple; here's how to easily grow azaleas and gardenias well

I often hear friends who love growing flowers complain that it is really hard to grow flowers well, especially flowers like azaleas, gardenias and Aglaia odorata, which are typical acid-loving plants, yet the soil's pH cannot meet the plants' own needs, and in the end the plants end up with yellow leaves and decline.

Flower lovers certainly all know that soil pH is hugely important for the healthy growth of flowers. If the soil's own pH cannot meet the flowers' needs, it may cause slow growth, stunted shrinking, and can even lead to yellowing leaves and death. Take gardenias and Aglaia odorata, for example: they are suited to living in acidic soil, but the soil in northern regions is mostly on the alkaline side, which is bad for their growth.

Below, the editor introduces several simple methods for making your own acidic soil. Once you have learned them, you can use them to care for acid-loving flowers such as azaleas, gardenias, Aglaia odorata, begonias and camellias, and you will no longer have to worry about them getting yellow leaves and wilting.

Fermenting fruit peels

You can cleverly use peels of citrus, pomelo and the like to change the soil's pH; it is not only simple to do but also remarkably effective.

1. After washing peels of citrus, pomelo and the like, put them into a container, then add clean water, with the water level covering the peels;

2. Then put the container in the sun to be fully exposed, and wait about two weeks; when the color inside the bottle changes noticeably, that means fermentation is complete;

3. Dilute the fermented solution about five times, then slowly pour it into the soil; it can increase soil acidity and also improve its fertility.

Clever use of vinegar

1. Prepare a bottle of already fermented vinegar, then mix it with clean water at a ratio of 1:100;

2. Spray the solution on the soil surface, taking care to keep away from the plant's root area;

3. This method should be used at most twice a month; it can increase soil acidity and promote flower growth.

Ferrous sulfate

Compared with the previous two methods, this method works better and takes effect faster.

1. Mix ferrous sulfate powder and clean water evenly, at a ratio of 1:1000;

2. Then pour the solution on the soil surface, using it two to three times a month;

3. After about two months of use, the soil's acidity will increase noticeably; this method is especially beneficial for the growth of gardenias.

Fermented rice water

1. Put rice water into a plastic bottle and place it on a balcony to receive sunlight; be careful not to screw the bottle cap too tight, so gas can escape;

2. After about one month, when you see the color inside the bottle change noticeably, that means fermentation is complete;

3. Then mix the rice water and clean water evenly at a ratio of 1:4, and pour it on the soil surface; be sure to avoid the root area;

4. Apply rice water once every half month; it is very effective for increasing soil acidity.

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