Love flowers, know flowers: understanding how flowers and plants adapt to soil pH is also very important. Through long-term cultivation and exploration, especially based on the native soil conditions of a given flower and the types of companion plants, one can judge its adaptability to acidity and alkalinity, so that flowers and plants grow better. Based on cultivation experience, the vast majority of ornamental flowers prefer acidic to slightly acidic soil conditions, while some flowers are suited to neutral or slightly alkaline conditions.

Why is it said that one should explore how flowers and plants adapt to soil salinity and alkalinity? Because soil pH directly affects the absorption of nutrients and the growth and development of flowers and plants, and it can also affect the availability of various nutrients in the soil. How suitable the pH of the substrate for growing herbaceous flowers is has a direct impact on flower growth. If the pH is unsuitable, it will severely hinder the growth and development of flowers and plants; it affects the absorption of nutrients by flowers and plants. For example, if acid-loving flowers are planted in alkaline soil, or watered long-term with slightly alkaline water, it will cause iron deficiency, making leaves yellow and pale, or even dry up.

How can soil pH be adjusted reasonably?

1. To lower soil acidity, quicklime can be applied. The application rate depends on soil acidity, at 20-50 kg per mu.

Growing flowers: use aged mature vinegar to adjust the pH of the soil substrate

2. Lowering soil alkalinity

(1) Apply sulfur powder: the application rate depends on soil alkalinity, at 1-3 kg per 100 sq m.

(2) Apply aluminum sulfate (white alum): if the pH value needs to be lowered from 7 to 6, 0.5 kg of aluminum sulfate can be applied per 100 sq m.

(3) Apply decomposed fertilizer: decomposed fertilizer contains more humic acid, which can adjust soil pH and shift it toward neutral.

Flower soil pH

Methods for preventing and treating acid and alkali damage in flowers:

1. Prevention and treatment of acid damage: for flowers that prefer neutral or slightly alkaline conditions, alkaline fertilizers such as lime, limestone powder, and plant ash can be applied to lower soil acidity. Generally, 1-2 applications can produce obvious results.

2. Prevention and treatment of alkali damage: for open-field flowers, generally apply 0.25 kg of sulfur powder or 1.5 kg of ferrous sulfate per 10 sq m; for potted flowers, a culture soil mixed from 1 part river mud, 1 part leaf mold, and 1 part coarse sand can be used, with 0.5-1.0 g of sulfur powder or 1.5-2.0 g of ferrous sulfate applied per kg of soil, mixed evenly and left to sit for 2 weeks before use.

Flower soil pH

Growing flowers: use aged mature vinegar to adjust the pH of the soil substrate

The most commonly used method to distinguish the acidity and alkalinity of soil is the pH test solution determination method. Mix the soil with cool boiled water at a ratio of 1:2, let it settle, then pour the soil solution into a glass container. Tear off a strip of commonly used pH test paper, immerse it in the soil extract to be measured, take it out after half a second, and compare it with the standard chart to read the pH test value. Simply put, a pH value of 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acidic, and greater than 7 is alkaline. According to soil pH conditions in China, it is divided into five levels: pH 6.5-7.5 is acidic soil; if its value is 7.5-8.5, it is alkaline soil; if the pH value is 5.0-6.5, it is acidic soil; pH less than 5.0 is strongly acidic soil, and pH greater than 8.5 is strongly alkaline soil.

Acidity and alkalinity preferences of bonsai and green plants

Classification list of acid-loving and alkali-loving flowers:

Flowers that prefer acidity:

Rhododendron, camellia, sasanqua, red maple, Michelia alba, Aglaia odorata, gardenia, Chloranthus, crabapple types, begonia types, dove tree, golden camellia, potted orange, cherry blossom, five-needle pine, Chinese juniper, bromeliads, ferns, lilies, cyclamen, primrose, palms, podocarpus, and the vast majority of foliage plants.

Flowers that mainly prefer alkalinity:

Pomegranate, elm-leaved spirea, oleander, forsythia, banksia rose, goji, hibiscus, beach hibiscus, wisteria, winter jasmine, lilac, birchleaf pear, silk tree, paulownia, fig, tamarisk, black pine, apricot, pear, Chinese rose, dragon juniper, Chinese juniper, oriental arborvitae, staghorn sumac, cactus, ball cactus, etc.

A fleeting show

Below is a more detailed classification:

Table of various flowers and trees' adaptation to soil acidity and alkalinity!

Soil pH is a term for measuring how much acid and alkali content is in the soil.

PH value is a symbol indicating the degree of acidity and alkalinity. Its corresponding values to acidity and alkalinity are as follows:

Soil with a pH value less than 7 is acidic soil, and soil with a pH value greater than 7 is alkaline soil.

Table of various flowers and trees' adaptation to soil acidity and alkalinity:

Acid-tolerant flowers and trees (pH 4-5): rhododendron, cyclamen, gardenia, coleus, purple spiderwort, ferns, orchid family plants, etc.

Flowers and trees suited to weakly acidic soil (pH 5-6): cyclamen, begonia, amaryllis, primrose, camellia, jasmine, Aglaia odorata, five-needle pine, lily, gladiolus, palm family, Michelia alba, gloxinia, etc.

Flowers and trees adapted to neutral to slightly acidic soil (pH 6-7): chrysanthemum, asparagus fern, Chinese rose, narcissus, hyacinth, osmanthus, Chinese primrose, asparagus, poinsettia, fuchsia, taro, clivia, purple magnolia, Chaenomeles speciosa, etc.

Flowers and trees suited to neutral to slightly alkaline soil (pH 7-8): rose, dianthus, geranium, cactus types, winter jasmine, boxwood, nandina, sweet pea, elm-leaved spirea, sabina juniper, etc.