Is it possible to cultivate gardenias in yellow soil?
Main content introduction: The knowledge of whether gardenias can be cultivated in yellow soil and the recommended soil for the growth of gardenias, which is very useful experience and knowledge, is worth collecting!
Yellow soil is a fine-particle soil with a color ranging from light yellow to brownish yellow. Yellow soil has poor fertility and permeability and is not suitable for planting acid-loving plants, so it is not advisable to cultivate gardenias in yellow soil. Most of the gardenias bought from the market are planted in yellow soil, because yellow soil is cheap and has good water retention. After purchasing, the pot and soil should be changed appropriately. Yellow soil can be mixed with other soils for use or for propagation by cutting. Let me tell you about the reasons why gardenias should not be cultivated in yellow soil.
1. Yellow soil has an unsuitable pH level
Gardenias are acid-loving plants, and the suitable soil pH should be between 4 and 6.5. Yellow soil is usually neutral or slightly alkaline, which can easily cause the loss of iron elements, leading to iron deficiency in gardenias and causing the leaves to turn yellow.
2. The soil structure of yellow soil is not suitable
Gardenias prefer loose and well-drained soil. The soil of yellow soil is very sticky and heavy, and it is prone to waterlogging after watering, which is not conducive to the roots' respiration and nutrient absorption and can easily lead to root rot and yellowing and falling of leaves.
3. Yellow soil has insufficient nutrients
Gardenias prefer deep and fertile soil. Yellow soil has poor fertility, and cultivating gardenias in yellow soil can easily lead to nutrient deficiencies, resulting in poor plant growth.
4. Can be mixed with other soils for use
Cultivating gardenias is not suitable for using yellow soil. If you want to use yellow soil, it can be mixed with other substrates to improve the soil's fertility, permeability, and acidity. You can mix yellow soil with decomposed leaf soil and add pine sawdust.
5. Precautions
Although yellow soil has a low humus content, it only contains soil and sand, has few bacteria, and retains water, making it suitable for propagating gardenias by cutting.
Gardenias planted in yellow soil should be repotted and the soil changed as soon as possible. You can use the pot soaking method to completely wet the yellow soil, then pull the gardenia out of the soil, and then transplant it to new potting soil. Usually, bare-root repotting is prone to failure, so it is best to transplant with some soil. Remove some of the soil from the gardenia roots, then place it in a slightly larger pot, fill it with a mixture of decomposed leaf soil and organic fertilizer, and then use the pot soaking method to moisten the soil.
The above introduction about whether gardenias can be cultivated in yellow soil and the recommended soil for their growth is for reference and suggestion.