Skilfully Using Vinegar Water to Increase Soil Acidity
Plant Knowledge Series: Sharing topics on common knowledge of flower cultivation, such as using vinegar water to increase soil acidity. Let's take a look together.
Many flowers prefer acidic soil, with gardenias being particularly prominent. Many flower enthusiasts can't find acidic soil, especially in the north. Let's see how to skillfully use vinegar water to improve soil pH levels.
Vinegar water is the water used for pickling cabbage in northern households during the winter. During the pickling process, due to the activity of lactic acid bacteria and other acid-producing bacteria, a large amount of organic acids are produced, mainly lactic acid, followed by acetic acid, butyric acid, and some other organic acids, making the solution acidic. The author tried using vinegar water to water flowers that prefer acidic soil and achieved good results. When using it, dilute the vinegar water with 1 to 3 parts of clear water, depending on the soil acidity and the acidity needed by the flowers, and water every 2 to 4 times with clear water.
The author once conducted a comparative experiment using azaleas. In both cases, using ordinary potting soil (prepared with manure and garden soil, low in acidity), the plants grown with the vinegar water were either the same or slightly better than those treated with alum fertilizer water. This solution also worked well for camellias, laughing orchids, calla lilies, and bamboo plants (when watering calla lilies and other flowers, be careful not to let the water flow into the leaf sheath or the center of the leaves).
In the north, especially in the northeast, pickling cabbage in winter is very common. Using vinegar water to water flowers is a way to make good use of waste and is easily obtainable. The organic acids in the vinegar water are gradually decomposed by soil microorganisms after being applied to the soil. After decomposition, they do not leave any harmful acid radical ions or other oxides, but instead, can improve the soil. Therefore, in terms of the impact on the physical and chemical properties of the potting soil, it is superior to chemical substances like aluminum sulfate, sulfur powder, and ferrous sulfate. Moreover, vinegar water contains a certain amount of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium leached from the cabbage, providing a certain level of fertility. While increasing soil acidity, it also serves as a fertilizer.
The above-mentioned content on using vinegar water to increase soil acidity is for reference by green plant enthusiasts. It is hoped that it can solve your problems in managing green plants and flowers.