Which Houseplants Like Acidic Soil?
House plants are a great addition to any home because they add aesthetic value and have certain health benefits. Many indoor house plants perform well in poor conditions and are happier in slightly acidic (pH less than 7) soil than in neutral or alkaline soil.
Plants that are acid-loving do well in acidic soil, which generally means that the soil is not as nutrient-rich. An essential part of growing a healthy indoor plant is choosing species that can tolerate acidic soil. Many additions can help create an acidic soil that is perfect for specific kinds of plants. For ideal effects, these products should be added carefully and followed as nearly as possible by the instructions given by the manufacturer.
Granular sulfur may be found in most home improvement or gardening stores and is the least expensive and safest material to reduce soil acidity. Organic mulch, sphagnum peat, nitrogen, iron sulfate, aluminium sulfate, and Sulphur dioxide are all great additions to lower the pH of soil. The size, kind, and necessary pH lowering of the soil sample will all have major effects on the amount needed for use.
Acid-Loving Plants List
Acidic soil is common in the USA, particularly in the East, Southeast, and Pacific Northwest. While acidity can be harmful to many plants, it can also benefit others. Here is a list of acid-loving plants and vegetables.
Azaleas
Azaleas are flowering shrubs that survive in shaded areas and acidic soil. Rhododendron x Gable Stewartstonian is one of the most well-known and attractive azaleas, although there are also other types with an extensive range of colours. If you’re looking for flowers that range from yellow to orange, the ‘Golden Oriole’ is a good option. Its flower buds are orange, but they unfold into golden blossoms.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
Light: Partial Shade
Soil Needs: Well-drained amended Soil
The Highbush Blueberries
The tiny, urn-shaped blossoms of the highbush blueberry usually range in colour from white to pink. In July, the popular blue fruit replaces the blossoms. The summertime blue-green leaves turn into a dazzling display of purple, reddish, and yellow in the fall. Along with adding sustainability to your garden, highbush blueberries draw in over 30 different types of birds and bumblebees.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 10
Light: Full to Partial Sun
Soil Needs: Well-drained Soil
Magnolia
The evergreen magnolia’s most well-known features are its large, fragrant white blooms and glossy, dark green leaves. The tree is covered in these lovely blossoms, which have a light, lemony fragrance. The evergreen magnolia draws songbirds and bees and makes an excellent decorative or shade tree. Florists frequently use dried leaves as decorations.
USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Needs: Rich, moderately moist sand, silt, or clay soil
The White Dogwood
The white dogwood is a rapidly spreading suckering deciduous shrub, also known as Tatarian dogwood. Its creamy white flowers bloom in May and June. In midsummer, when the fruit first appears, it attracts birds and insects. Its dark green leaves become reddish-purple or yellow in the fall. Rain gardens and hedges are common uses for it.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Needs: Well-drained, kept evenly moist
Gardenia
Originally from Japan, Taiwan, and Southern China, the gardenia, sometimes known as Cape Jasmine, is a favourite with pollinators and birds. The aromatic white blossoms of this plant, which often grow beneath windows, give a house a bright, spicy scent. The white petals of blossoms eventually turn to gold. When jazz singer Billie Holiday performed, she would always wear gardenias as her signature flower.
USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 11
Light: Full to partial sun
Preferred PH: 5.0 – 6.5
Begonia
One of the most often used annuals for massing beds, window boxes, borders, and edges is the wax begonia, or simply begonia. Begonias are ideal for hanging baskets on the porch because of their delicate peach-like scent. Usually having two colours, the wax begonia petals might be pink, reddish-burgundy, gold-yellow, or white.
USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11
Light: Deep to partial shade
Preferred PH: 5.5 – 6.5
Japanese Pieris
The Japanese Pieris, commonly known as Lily-of-the-Valley, is an evergreen shrub with a modest growth rate that adds year-round beauty to your garden. Its pink and white, somewhat fragrant urn-shaped flowers bloom in large, drooping clusters in the spring. The Japanese Pieris fruit is decorative and available all winter long.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Preferred PH: 5.0 – 6.0
Nasturtium
Native to Central and South America, nasturtiums are known for their fragrant, beautiful blossoms with a seductive, peppery scent. Their yellow to red blooms start to show in late spring and last all summer and fall. Edible nasturtiums are often planted to enhance the flavour and growth of nearby fruit trees, radishes, and cabbages.
USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 11
Light: Full Sun
Preferred PH: 6.1 – 7.8
Sweet corn, Cucumbers, Beans, Broccoli, Turnips, Squash, and Onions are acid-loving vegetables. Cucumbers and sweet corn grow in soil that is acidic and has a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Beans, broccoli, turnips, tomatoes, squash, and onions all need soil that is rich and slightly acidic, pH 5.5 to 7.0.
Houseplants that like Alkaline Soil
The pH of alkaline soil, or sweet soil, is higher than that of acidic soil. A pH of 7 is neutral, and the scale goes from 0 to 14. An alkaline soil has a pH of seven or higher; an acidic soil has a pH of less than 7.
You can grow several plants on alkaline soil; see the list below. Before planting, make sure you use a test kit to determine the pH of the soil in your garden.
- Chrysanthemum
- Dianthus
- Aloe Vera
- Oxalis
- Shasta daisy
- Geranium
- Daisy
- Lilac
General Care for Acid-Loving Plants
A low pH will help these plants get off to the greatest start, but it is not their only requirement. In general, acidic soil should be well-drained and nutrient-rich in order to provide the plants with the energy they require to flower. All of these plants survive in colder regions, in sun to partial shade, as long as they are protected from frost and wind, particularly when growing.
Once developed, these plants are extremely drought-tolerant, but they do appreciate the occasional deep drink of water. They’re also demanding feeders; keep them happy with a regular dose of specially formulated fertilizer like Neutrog Kahoona, and you’ll have plenty of blossoms during the cooler months!
Though there are online and in-store home and garden companies that provide home soil pH testing kits with quick results, seasoned homesteaders understand that the accuracy of their results depends on how well they sampled and tested their soil. The results are more accurate when the test is more intense.
FAQs
Do Snake Plants like Acidic Soil?
Yes, Snake plants prefer slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil and can be maintained in the same way as cactus or succulents. Snake plants grow in fast-draining, slightly acidic potting soil with a pH range of 5.5-7.5. An optimal soil mixture consists of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite.
Do Pothos like Acidic Soil?
Yes, Soils with a pH of 6.1-6.8, which is very slightly acidic, are ideal for Pothos plants. Fortunately, this range includes the majority of potting soils. This might be listed on the label, and you can use a pH meter to test the soil you currently have.
Do Monsteras like Acidic Soil?
Plants that grow Monstera deliciosa may tolerate soil with a pH of 5.0 to 7.5. However, despite their ability to grow in acidic soil, Monsteras do not fit the description of a true acid-loving plant.
What are the Tropical Plants that like Acidic Soil?
Tropical Plants that like acidic soil include Japanese Andromeda, Camellia, Beech Trees, and Blueberries.
Summary
Plants that prefer acidic soil, such as dogwoods and azaleas, do well in soil with a pH between 3 and 8. Acidic soil gives these plants the nutrition they need to develop and grow, bringing out bright colours and healthy development. Furthermore, Gardenia and blueberries also like acidic soil.
However, plants that grow in an alkaline environment, such as lilacs and dianthus, like soil with a pH of seven or higher. Knowing which types of soil your plants prefer is essential for designing the ideal garden habitat. By choosing the proper kind of soil, you can guarantee that your plants get the nutrients they require for growth, resulting in a more attractive and productive garden.
