Is your soil acid or alkaline? (and does it really matter)
Does whether your soil is acid or alkaline really matter??, well the answer is yes, to the plant.... it does matter. Whether your soil is more acid, alkaline or somewhere in the middle is very important to how well your plant will prosper. Soil which is alkaline (sometimes called sweet) or acid ( sour ). Although some plants like azaleas and blueberries prefer acid soil, most vegetables and flowers prefer soils that are neutral or slightly acid. When you are planning and purchasing your garden items, think in advance what your best course of action will be. If the soil under my feet is acid, I will grow acid lovers in the ground and put my alkaline lovers in pots. If my soil is alkaline I will put my acid lovers into pots so I can keep everyone separated and happy and I get the best my plants can offer with the least amount of fuss and bother.
Does whether your soil is acid or alkaline really matter??, well the answer is yes, to the plant.... it does matter. Whether your soil is more acid, alkaline or somewhere in the middle is very important to how well your plant will prosper. Soil which is alkaline (sometimes called sweet) or acid ( sour ). Although some plants like azaleas and blueberries prefer acid soil, most vegetables and flowers prefer soils that are neutral or slightly acid. When you are planning and purchasing your garden items, think in advance what your best course of action will be. If the soil under my feet is acid, I will grow acid lovers in the ground and put my alkaline lovers in pots. If my soil is alkaline I will put my acid lovers into pots so I can keep everyone separated and happy and I get the best my plants can offer with the least amount of fuss and bother.
If you demand to place that acid lover into alkaline soil you can do some adjusting to the soil to accomodate it. You will need to keep checking the soil periodically to be sure that you are keeping it at the level your plant requires.You can have your soil professionally analyzed. Conducted professionally, a soil analysis can point to the reasons you may be experiencing troubles. Your county agricultural agent's office can suggest a laboratory in your area that will test your soil and make recommendations for improvements. You can purchase a soil analysis meter. These are relatively cheap and if you look hard enough you can find a quality made meter with a water meter, acidity/alkalinity tester and light meter all built in together. If you would like to see an example of what I am speaking of ... check out my site, http://www.mybonsaibuddy.com/ I normally carry them and at an affordable price. Enter the word meter into the search bar on the front page and if they are in stock the search will pull up what is available.
You can always purchase soil specifically designed for the type of plants you wish to grow and grow above the ground or in containers. Containers give you the option of moving the plants around. This comes in handy for catching just the right type and amount of sun during the day, or it could come in handy for moving the plants inside for the winter or during extreme weather conditions. Be sure and read my upcoming blog on how to grow plants in soil-less soils which will be coming soon!
My parting words are words of advice, research the plant or tree you are interested in first and determine which type of soil it requires, determine the type of soil you have available and make sure they match. There should be a tag included with the plant you purchase which will give you information regarding the plants care, if there is no tag.... put the plant down. That $4.99 plant could end up costing you for a container, a bag of soil and some special fertilizer .... total $$$$$.... more than you wanted to spend. So always do your research first, before you purchase, don't rely on the cashier to give you correct information.
Please check back for more hints and helpful gardening information. Happy Gardening!
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