Hydrangea (Hydrangea) is a flowering plant that belongs to the Hortensian family. Depending on the variety, hydrangeas can take the form of shrubs, creepers or trees. You can grow them both in the garden and at home. By adjusting the acidity of the soil, you can influence the color of the flowers. Simple tips will help to acidify the soil and achieve abundant flowering.
Is it possible to water hydrangea with citric acid and vinegar
For growing plants, slightly acidic and medium-acid soil is best suited.. Soil acidity affects hydrangea blooms. So, subject to a pH within 5.5 units, the bush will bloom profusely and as saturated as possible. If the indicators are below this norm, the natural pink color will turn blue. At pH 5.5–6.5, the petals will turn purple. If the acidity level exceeds 6.5 units, the inflorescences will acquire a rich red hue.
Important! On alkaline soils, hydrangea does not grow well and begins to suffer from chlorosis, so it is highly undesirable to exceed an acid level of 7 units.
Before starting to change the acid balance of the soil, it is necessary to check the pH level. This can be done by adding a small amount of vinegar to the soil 9%. If the ground is too acidic, a characteristic foam forms on the surface. In this case, it can be slightly acidified with slaked lime. To do this, in autumn you need to loosen the area around the plant and evenly sprinkle 300 g of lime per 1 m².
You can also check the soil balance using litmus paper. If the acidity of the earth is acceptable (pH 5.5), it can be maintained by watering the plant with a solution of citric acid or vinegar. The following describes in detail soil acidification methods.
How and how to acidify the soil
A suitable level of soil acidity is recommended at the planting stage. In this case, in the future it will be required only from time to time to slightly acidify the soil.
Did you know? In 1920, hydrangeas were brought to Europe from Japan.
The scheme of preparation of the soil mixture for planting hydrangea:
- Prepare an acidifier by adding 10 ml of electrolyte in 10 l of water.
- Loosen the seat.
- Pour with a solution.
You can also use humus. It is added to the ground for additional oxidation. In addition, to create the necessary acidic background, peat and bark can be added to the soil. To do this, they must first be treated with acidified water.
Over time, the level of acidity decreases, as the plant absorbs all the nutrients. To maintain the required balance, the soil must be acidified periodically.
The soil can be acidified by the addition of such acids:
- vinegar;
- lemon;
- amber;
- oxalic.
Vinegar
It is necessary to acidify not only the soil, but also the water that moistens the plant. For watering, you can use a solution of apple cider vinegar.
Prepare it as follows:
- Dilute vinegar (50 ml) in a bucket of water (12 L). Up to 10 such buckets are used per 1 m².
- In early spring (March), when sap flow begins, treat the bush with a solution.
- Processing should be every two weeks until the end of the growing season.
Citric acid
Watering the plant in order to oxidize the soil can be a solution of citric acid. To do this, dilute 1 tsp. products in water (12 l). In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the crystals are completely dissolved.
Important! Pouring a solution of citric acid into the soil is possible only after normal watering with clean water.
The bush is poured with a solution of 12 liters (1 bucket) per 1 m². The frequency of irrigation is 1 time in two weeks. Processing should be carried out during the growing season (spring).
Succinic acid
Watering with the addition of succinic acid is used as a disease prevention. In addition, it is suitable for slight acidification of the soil.
The method of preparation of the solution:
- Dilute pure crystallized acid (2 g) in a small amount of warm water.
- Mix the resulting concentrate with 2 l of water.
- Water the plant at intervals of once every two weeks.
The shelf life of the prepared solution is three days
Oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is well suited for light acidification of the soil. Watering with the addition of this oxidizing agent allows you to maintain an optimal level of acid-base balance.
Cooking:
- Dilute 100 ml of acid in 10 l of water.
- Water the flower bed at the rate of 10 liters per 1 plant.
- Watering should be every two weeks during the growing season.
Did you know? January 5 is considered Hydrangea Day.
How often to acidify hydrangea soil
It is necessary to feed hydrangea with acidic components at the beginning of the growing season. To do this, every two weeks you need to water the plant with solutions containing acids: citric; amber; oxalic; vinegar. It is also important to properly prepare the soil mixture before planting. It should contain Acid level suitable for hydrangea cultivation (pH 5.5 units). Compliance with these requirements will ensure the development and lush flowering of shrubs.
Hydrangeas grow well and bloom profusely in acidic soils. To ensure the necessary conditions, the preferred acid-base balance must be observed when planting the plant. Further soil care involves regular acidification. Also, by changing the level of acidity, you can affect the color of the petals and create new colors.
