how to make potting soil more acidic?

My Foot Smells · March 20, 2016

bought some blueberry twigs that i am going to grow in a pot for the first year, but know they like acidic soil. must say, haven't grown blueberry before and truthfully don't usually alter potting soil. i could not find soil for roses, azaleas, etc.... i do have some fert for roses, azaeleas etc.....

Worth1 · March 20, 2016

They have some soil acidifiers on the market for hydrangeas to make them turn blue.
They also have one that will make them turn pink.
The hydrangea in bloom is a good indicator of soil pH.
Blue=acid.
Pink=alkaline.
Most of the time.
http://www.espoma.com/product/soil-acidifier/

Worth

Barb_FL · March 20, 2016

Peat Moss works. Also the Espoma Soil Acidifier works well and will act as your fertilizer too. It can be found at Lowes and recently our local Walmart are carrying most of the Espoma line of plant food.

Here is what it looks like:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_207722-1321-...l=1&Ntt=espoma

Ricky Shaw · March 20, 2016

Google, pine bark blueberries, lots of articles. Amend with it, and a good SFGate article on using it straight.

Worth1 · March 20, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

Google, pine bark blueberries, lots of articles. Amend with it, and a good SFGate article on using it straight.

I hate pine bark not that it isn't okay I just hate the stuff or anything to do with pine.
Growing up working in a saw mill and going to bed smelling like pine and being sticky and cant get it off will do this to you.

Worth

heirloomtomaguy · March 20, 2016

I use the E.B. Stone Azalea fertilizer for my blueberries and jt works great. I do check the P.H. periodically to make sure im not going to acidic

My Foot Smells · March 20, 2016

Thanks for the outstanding replies. Currently, I have on hand "Expert Gardener" 10-6-8, specifically formulated to feed plants which thrive in acid soils. Which I will also use on my hydrangas. However, this store bought fertilzer is expensive if you have vast area to cover. I also have 50# of plant tone on the ready.

Two weeks ago I tossed down some cotton seed meal under azealeas before mulching and they are about to burst.

loulac · March 20, 2016

one spoonful of acetic acid in half gallon of water is a possiblity.

BajaMitch · March 20, 2016

Not sure about Espoma Acidifier as it may raise the sulfur content too high. I use 1 tsp 5% vinegar to 1/2 a gallon of water. It works immediately, but you have to measure your potting mix in the container several times a day to observe how much it lowers your pH in your specific case. Also, you will have to monitor your pH weekly to see if you need more applications as this weak acid treatment tends to dissipate.

twillis2252 · March 20, 2016

I utilize used coffee grounds with my blueberry bushes. Works well for me...

My Foot Smells · March 20, 2016

Like coffee ground idea, went to k-cup few years back, but no biggie opening. Never thought about vinegar water, also have that don canning. Would have thought harmful, interesting. The for replies.

PureHarvest · March 21, 2016

Unbrewed coffee grounds are acidic.

Used grounds are not so much.

The acid is in your coffee cup.

Worth1 · March 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

Unbrewed coffee grounds are acidic.

Used grounds are not so much.

The acid is in your coffee cup.

I was thinking the same thing.

Worth

RayR · March 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

Unbrewed coffee grounds are acidic.

Used grounds are not so much.

The acid is in your coffee cup.

I concur, coffee grounds will not make your soil more acidic.

PureHarvest · March 21, 2016

There is some stuff I read that says blueberries, azaleas, and rhodos do not need acid soil. They tolerate it, but don't NEED it.
Rather, if you balance your cations correctly, those plants will thrive, irrespective of where the pH is after you accomplish that balance.
I sense there is some truth to that. You can say that you find blueberries natively in acid soils but that doesn't tell the whole story. What if it is the levels of other stuff in that soil that make them thrive. So you take an unbalanced soil, add sulfur or citric acid to push the pH down, and don't balance everything else. That low pH isn't a miracle worker.

March 20, 2016	#1
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	how to make potting soil more acidic? bought some blueberry twigs that i am going to grow in a pot for the first year, but know they like acidic soil. must say, haven't grown blueberry before and truthfully don't usually alter potting soil. i could not find soil for roses, azaleas, etc.... i do have some fert for roses, azaeleas etc.....

March 20, 2016	#6
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	I use the E.B. Stone Azalea fertilizer for my blueberries and jt works great. I do check the P.H. periodically to make sure im not going to acidic __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

March 21, 2016	#15
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	There is some stuff I read that says blueberries, azaleas, and rhodos do not need acid soil. They tolerate it, but don't NEED it. Rather, if you balance your cations correctly, those plants will thrive, irrespective of where the pH is after you accomplish that balance. I sense there is some truth to that. You can say that you find blueberries natively in acid soils but that doesn't tell the whole story. What if it is the levels of other stuff in that soil that make them thrive. So you take an unbalanced soil, add sulfur or citric acid to push the pH down, and don't balance everything else. That low pH isn't a miracle worker. Last edited by PureHarvest; March 23, 2016 at 06:55 AM. Reason: Spelling

March 20, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	They have some soil acidifiers on the market for hydrangeas to make them turn blue. They also have one that will make them turn pink. The hydrangea in bloom is a good indicator of soil pH. Blue=acid. Pink=alkaline. Most of the time. http://www.espoma.com/product/soil-acidifier/ Worth

March 20, 2016	#3
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	Peat Moss works. Also the Espoma Soil Acidifier works well and will act as your fertilizer too. It can be found at Lowes and recently our local Walmart are carrying most of the Espoma line of plant food. Here is what it looks like: http://www.lowes.com/pd_207722-1321-...l=1&Ntt=espoma

March 20, 2016	#4
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	Google, pine bark blueberries, lots of articles. Amend with it, and a good SFGate article on using it straight.

March 20, 2016	#8
loulac Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: France Posts: 554	one spoonful of acetic acid in half gallon of water is a possiblity.

March 20, 2016	#9
BajaMitch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: California Posts: 84	Not sure about Espoma Acidifier as it may raise the sulfur content too high. I use 1 tsp 5% vinegar to 1/2 a gallon of water. It works immediately, but you have to measure your potting mix in the container several times a day to observe how much it lowers your pH in your specific case. Also, you will have to monitor your pH weekly to see if you need more applications as this weak acid treatment tends to dissipate.

March 20, 2016	#10
twillis2252 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: SC & NC Posts: 258	I utilize used coffee grounds with my blueberry bushes. Works well for me...