Acidity and alkalinity of soil

We generally think that the north is mainly alkaline soil and the south is acidic soil. So how to define whether the soil is acid or alkali

1. PH value test

More scientific is to judge by pH value. Put the test paper in the soil solution for 10 seconds, take out the color card and compare the color. If the color value is less than 6.5, it will be acidic, and if the value is greater than 7.5, it will be alkaline

2. General classification

According to our common sense, the darker and softer soil is acid soil

Alkaline soil is dry, white and hard. There are generally three kinds: calcareous soil, saline soil and alkaline soil

Acid and alkali loving flowers

I don't know whether the flowers at home like acid or alkali. It's dangerous to blindly use and change soil. At least it's stunted, and at worst it's dead immediately

Generally, flowers like weakly acidic soil. Only slightly acidic soil can grow healthily. There are also alkali resistant flowers, which can grow well even if they are alkaline

Acid loving: Rose, gardenia, jasmine, hydrangea, Milan, camellia, brandy, Rhododendron, Begonia, kumquat, pine, etc

Alkali resistance: pomegranate, Magnolia, hibiscus, wisteria, medlar, oleander, elm leaf plum, jasmine, clove, etc

If the soil around you is too acidic and alkaline, it is also accompanied by water acid and water alkali. Even if you buy professional flower soil, it will still become inappropriate soil. Don't worry at this time. We can manually adjust the acid and alkali of the soil

Neutralized acid soil

1. Sprinkle lime to neutralize the acid

The soil acidity in Guangzhou, Guangxi or other southern mountainous areas is too strong. In addition, the current environmental pollution is relatively serious. The soil in some areas is highly acidic and can't grow flowers at all

Flower friends can refer to the practice of the agriculture and forestry department and sprinkle some lime in the soil. A handful of soil is enough to mix well, that is, killing insects and sterilizing and neutralizing the acidity

2. Add water for filtration to reduce acidity

Add water to the acid soil, pour out the water after precipitation for half a day, and then add water to "wash" repeatedly for 2-3 times, which can reduce the acidity of the soil

3. Plant ash, neutralizing acid

Plant ash is also alkaline flower fertilizer, which can neutralize the acidity of soil, sterilize and supplement nutrition to flowers

Fleshy, green pineapple and rose, which like weak acid but are not resistant to strong acid, can be mixed with plant ash in the flower soil (note not too much, easy to burn roots), which is a very good alkaline fertilizer

Alkaline earth to acid

1. Mixed rotten leaf soil to improve acidity

There is alkaline soil near Huayou's house in the north, which can be mixed with some dead leaves, pine needles, etc. It's best to rot first and then use it. It's more delicate, and the flowers are easy to take root

Rotten leaf soil is a very nutritious acid fertilizer. The ancient poem said that "falling red is not a ruthless thing, but turns into spring mud to protect flowers"

2. Mixed manure and soil to improve acidity

Alkaline soil can also be mixed with manure, whether poultry or livestock manure, or even earthworm manure~

Be careful not to add too much. Generally, it's OK to mix 2-3 handfuls of manure in a 2-gallon flowerpot. Too much is easy to burn roots

3. Add chemical particles to quickly de alkalize

There are professional sulfuric acid powder, ferric sulfate and aluminum sulfate on the market. Flower friends can directly add them to alkaline soil according to the instructions, which can quickly change the alkalinity of soil

Especially Hydrangea and rose, which are sensitive to soil acid and alkali. These chemical particles can quickly change the color of flowers

Hydrangea turns blue in acid and pink in alkali. You can control its color according to your preference

See here

Is your soil acid or alkali

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