How to prevent potting soil from becoming alkaline for potted flowers in the north

In some respects, there are great differences between the north and the south of our country, and growing flowers also differs between north and south. Soil in the north tends to be alkaline, while soil in the south tends to be acidic. So when growing flowers in the north, it is often necessary to consider how to avoid the problem of potting soil becoming alkaline. The editor will introduce a few small methods for you, so that you in the north who grow flowers can prevent potting soil from becoming alkaline.

Gardenia

1. Do not take soil near buildings or construction sites, and avoid taking soil from desolate places where no plants grow, because the soil in these places is mostly highly alkaline. For acidic soil for flowers, it is best to buy it at a flower shop.

2. Generally, salts and alkalis tend to accumulate in the surface layer of potting soil. If the surface soil is removed regularly and new soil is added, the alkalinity will be reduced. Or you can directly repot and change the soil for the potting soil, replacing the old soil that has become alkaline and adding fresh growing medium, which can also prevent the potting soil from becoming alkaline.

3. Water with rainwater or slightly acidic water, such as alum fertilizer water. Tap water in the north has relatively high hardness, that is, it contains a lot of calcium, but after being boiled, its calcium content will decrease, so cooled boiled water can be used for watering. During the growing season, you can water as much as possible, but make sure drainage is smooth, so that a large amount of water seeps out through the holes at the bottom of the pot, which can have a flushing effect.

4. Water flowers with fermented rice washing water, or add one or two drops of rice vinegar to the water used for watering flowers. Use acidic or alkaline fertilizers such as potassium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and avoid alkaline chemical fertilizers such as ammonia water, ammonium bicarbonate, and plant ash. Regularly applying a small amount of a 500-fold diluted solution of ferrous sulfate can also improve the alkalinity of the potting soil and make it more acidic.

5. Put rotten apples, hawthorn, wild jujube, apricot, and tomatoes, etc., in a container and ferment them for a period of time to make acidified water. When using it, water directly or dilute it with an equal amount of water, and both can effectively prevent the potting soil from becoming alkaline. In summer, I used leftover watermelon rinds to make acidified water and achieved very good results. It is truly both cheap and practical.