How to acidify the soil for hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are gaining popularity both as a garden and as a houseplant. During the flowering period, they amaze with their magnificence and variety of inflorescences and colors. The greatest interest among flower growers is caused by large-leaved hydrangeas, which have one amazing property: depending on the level of acidity of the soil on which the shrub grows, the color of its inflorescences can change. Considering that the acidity of the soil can be adjusted independently by introducing certain additives, you can observe both pink and blue flowers on one shrub. How can this be achieved? In this article, we will look at how to acidify the soil for hydrangeas.

What soil does hydrangea prefer

When preparing for planting any garden or horticultural crop, we try to determine the level of acidity of the soil, since most crops prefer neutral or alkaline soil. With hydrangea, the opposite is true, these plants grow best in slightly or moderately acidic soil. It is in these conditions that you get bright, deep blue flowers. As the level of acidity decreases, the flowers will become lighter, and in neutral soil they will turn pink. Hydrangeas do not like alkaline soil and sandy soils, and they love the neighborhood with conifers, therefore, during the planting process, experts recommend adding coniferous litter or pine sawdust to the soil - they effectively acidify the soil.

In addition to the acidity level of the soil, the place in which you plant the hydrangea plays a very important role. The site must be protected from the wind. In the first half of the day, hydrangeas need direct sunlight, and starting from noon, light partial shade. Constant sun or constant shade does not contribute to the comfortable existence of hydrangeas.

Influence of soil acidity level on flowering

Hydrangea will be the queen of your garden if you choose the right place for it and provide the necessary conditions. Some consider her capricious, but she is not. Subject to the light regime and the right soil with hydrangea, there will be no hassle, and you can enjoy its flowering all summer long.
The soil for the hydrangea should be loose enough to provide free air access to the root system and free penetration of moisture. Hydrangea loves water very much, it must be watered often and abundantly, therefore, when planting a plant, measures must be taken to exclude stagnant water. And of course, the level of acidity of the soil is important, since the comfort and color of the hydrangea depends on it.

The ideal pH value is from 5 to 6, you can determine this using a special device at home or order an analysis in the laboratory.

If the acidity level suits the hydrangea perfectly, then its inflorescences will be colored blue-blue, and the foliage will have a dark green color .. If the soil is neutral or alkaline, then the inflorescences will acquire lilac-pink shades, and the foliage will become paler than before.

If the acidity of the soil is too high, then it is recommended to add alkaline additives (for example, lime or dolomite flour) to it, but in the case of hydrangea, this must be done carefully so as not to overdo it. If the soil is not acidic enough, then completely different additives will be required that will increase the acidity level and help create the most comfortable environment for the hydrangea.

How to acidify the soil for hydrangea

If you are not able to conduct a test with an accurate measurement of the pH level, then it will be enough to simply find out whether the soil is acidic or alkaline. To do this, use litmus paper and basic knowledge of chemistry, or use table vinegar. Pour a small amount of vinegar on the soil, if no reaction follows, then the soil is sour. If the vinegar foams a little on contact with the soil, it means that the soil is alkaline and requires acidification.

To acidify the soil for hydrangeas, you can use coniferous sawdust and bark, peat, rotted leaves - all these substances contribute not only to improving the quality of the soil, but also make the soil looser.

In addition, you can water the soil under the hydrangea solutions of citric or oxalic acid, as well as a solution of vinegar. A teaspoon of citric acid is diluted in 10 liters of water, and if we talk about vinegar or oxalic acid, then they will need 100 ml per ten-liter bucket of water.

It is rather difficult to acidify heavy and clayey soil, it is first necessary to add additives that make the soil looser, and only then carry out acidification work. In this case, you can use sulfur, but after adding sulfur, the soil must settle for at least a year, you can not plant the hydrangea earlier. If it is necessary to carry out work on acidifying the soil immediately before planting, then it is better to use ferrous sulfate, the result from the introduction of this additive will appear in two to three weeks.

With the addition of sawdust, coniferous litter, rotted leaves (especially oak) or peat, the acidity level increases gradually, so do not expect the result as soon as possible.

You can also use the following to increase the acidity of the soil. mineral supplements: ammonium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, aluminum sulfate... Ammonia-based additives are widely used to increase the acidity level, their choice is very wide, but it must be borne in mind that it is undesirable to use calcium and potassium nitrates for hydrangeas, since they have the opposite effect - they make the soil more alkaline.

You can acidify not only the soil itself, but also the water used for irrigation. Most often, water is alkaline, and if it is not first defended, it can gradually change the composition of the soil. Therefore, experienced flower growers recommend not only pre-defending, but also slightly acidifying the water for watering hydrangeas, so you can achieve the best result. Conventional and readily available products can be used to acidify the water.

Hydrangea needs a lot of moisture; in hot dry summers, it may need daily watering. In this case, an electrolyte can be used to acidify the water by dissolving 1 ml in a ten-liter bucket of water. You can prepare such a solution for several days at once, for this you need a barrel, which should be filled with water, add electrolyte in the recommended dosage and ammonium nitrate (in the same volume as electrolyte). It is very easy to prepare the solution, you can use it every day, while the hydrangea will feel great.

If your hydrangea is sick, or it is difficult to adapt after transplanting to a new place, then it is recommended to use a solution of succinic acid, which can be purchased not only in the agricultural store, but also in the pharmacy. The current additive will acidify the soil and heal the hydrangea.

As we said above, you can water the hydrangea with a citric acid solution, but such an additive can be used no more than once a month. You can replace citric acid with lemon juice (not packaged, but squeezed from lemon).

The soil in our summer cottages most often has neutral, alkaline or slightly acidic indicators. But, as you can see, it is not at all difficult to pointwise increase the acidity for a particular plant that needs it.

How to acidify the soil for hydrangea

The acidity level of the soil is very important when growing hydrangeas, but it is important not to overdo it, acidifying the soil or, conversely, introducing alkaline additives. It is also necessary to remember that in addition to the additives regulating the acidity, nutrients must also be added under the hydrangea: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Any additives must be added to the pre-moistened soil to prevent root burns.

When choosing a location for a hydrangea, do not place it in the shade or under the scorching sun. Direct light should come to the plant in the first half of the day, and a light partial shade should be created in the daytime.

Water the hydrangea in time, do not allow the soil under the bush to dry out. In the spring, before sap flow begins, prune, removing broken and frozen branches.
With regular proper care, hydrangea feels great and blooms for a long time.