There are many things you would need to consider while maintaining a plant. They are just like little kids that need your care to make them grow healthier and happy. And while plants would not cry and scream in any way, they do require many things to be able to grow properly.
Sometimes, you would find plants that thrive when there is no sunlight or lots of it. Some would do not care about taking water so frequently and others would die instantly if you forgot to water them. Some can survive being frozen to extreme temps in the winter and grow very green in spring, while others can just sense when temps are changing.
Today we will see more about the plants that, unlike many others, prefer having soil with very acidic soil. Let’s learn about some plants that like acidic soil instead of a very basic one.
Can azalea survive in acidic soil?
Before starting, you should know that acidic soil is that one with a pH under 6.5. That condition can make or break the growth of a plant, its development of fruits and so many other things, and it can change based on many features in the environment, including human intervention.
So, can azalea survive in acidic soil? The answer is yes. Azaleas prefer these kinds of soils over basic ones. And the main reason why is because the presence of nutrients like iron in these soils can help azaleas to grow and develop nice flowers, without so much attention. Azalea is one of those plants that like acidic soil, in a big way.
What you need to keep in mind is that, apart from growing them in a soil rich in iron and not an alkaline soil, you would need to water them and keep the soil well-drained. And also, keep the pH of the soil around 4.5 and 6.0 for these plants thrive.
Very acidic soil is situated about 5.5 or less in the scale, making this plant very capable to support these conditions, even when the soil is unbearable for most plants, which is quite amazing for a plant that is not difficult to grow at all.
Do blueberries need acidic soil?
Speaking of plants that like acidic soil, let’s talk about one of the plants that thrive in very acidic ones. Do blueberries need acidic soil? Yes, absolutely!
And, how much acid of soil would blueberries need to be able to grow and thrive in a good way? Well, most plants would die just by mention this pH level.
Blueberries need a pH around 4.0 and 5.0, making them plants that require very acidic soils to be able to develop in the best way imaginable. You may need to buy an acidic fertilizer to match these plants’ requirements, adding to the difficulty of growing these at home.
You could also use a combination of peat moss and pine bark to bring those pH levels lower. Any higher than 5.0 and your plant would not grow the way you expect to grow. The packaging of the soil you buy can tell you how acidic or alkaline the soil is, making it a big way to start planting certain plants over others, depending on the accessibility of said soil.
Can rhododendrons thrive in acidic soil?
Now, on to plants that like acidic soil, we can’t forget about these pinky ones. Bees do enjoy being around them and many other animals that are pollinators. We are talking of course about rhododendrons. So, can rhododendrons thrive in acidic soil?
The rhododendrons are evergreen plants meaning that they are plants that are mostly green all the year. They are also woody and make some pretty pink flowers that attract bees and other animals. But to make them grow that nicely and appropriately, you need to comply with their requirements.
One of the most important requisites for a rhododendron to grow and thrive is the acidity of the soil. Similar to that of the azaleas, rhododendrons require a pH level of around 4.5 to 6.0, very strong for most plants, but very important for these.
The acidity of the soil can go even lower to even 3.0 and the rhododendrons can also grow, just at a slower pace. It is incredible to see these plants preferring these kinds of soils that for most plants would be an unbearable environment to develop in.
Rhododendrons are better known for their ability to grow as a hedge or even as a bush. In any way, they look very nice when the conditions are right, especially in the soil acidity. That can dictate how fast they would grow and if they can develop those flowers at all.
The flowers would start to appear around summer while maintaining their leaves green all year-round. If you want a nice-looking view, consider adding rhododendrons to your garden. You would not regret having visitors like hummingbirds and other pollinators, playing with those flowers.
Conclusion
We talked about plants that like acidic soil, meaning that you should know that those are the ones that survive in a soil with a pH level well below the neutral value, which is 7, the same as the water we drink.
Some of the examples of these kinds of plants are mentioned above like rhododendrons and azaleas, which are very similar in the way their pH levels are so close together, and blueberries that require similar levels to gift us some nice fruits.
There are many ways to “acidify” a soil to make it proper for these kinds of plants. You may just buy soil that has the required soil or add some fertilizer that would increase or lower the pH level of the soil, depending on the requirements of the plant you are growing. As always, make some proper research before growing a plant you like. It can be easier or more difficult than you may think.
