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 ello
fellow Earthlings, and welcome to a much requested discussion
on acid-loving plants and their care. For some of you these plants
present a real dilemma. They are beautiful and plentiful in some
parts of the country and a real challenge for gardeners in other
parts of the country. This discussion is intended to give some
basic outlines for growing this wonderful and diverse group of
plants. If any of you have specific needs or challenges regarding
acid lovers, I urge you to contact me for some free advice.
 Acid loving
plants are just that. This group of plants thrive in soil conditions
that are acidic in varying degrees. Some acid lovers really appreciate
slightly acidic soils and other prefer to live in conditions
where the soils are so acidic that few other plants are capable
of growing. We will be discussing the more subdued acid lovers
this time. But any discussion needs to start with soil.
In areas where
rainfall is common during the warm season, soils are often acidic.
In these regions, rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, camellias,
magnolias and a host of other popular acid-loving plants grow
very well. In areas where rainfall is not plentiful, soils have
a tendency to be somewhat alkaline. In these regions, acid-loving
plants are more of a challenge.
The pH of
a soil is critical to success with acid loving plants. In some
acidic soils, little mineral and nutrient management is required
other than providing adequate levels of nitrogen (N), phosphate
(phosphorus - P), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca). Other acidic
soils may require the addition of magnesium and some additional
trace minerals that can be easily identified by having the soil
tested. A number of agricultural agencies or garden centers offer
soil testing services that will provide you with a wealth of
information about the quality of your soil.
Where soil
pH is higher than neutral (above 7.0), acid-loving plants may
suffer from a lack of nutrients and minerals that are bound or
missing, as previously mentioned. These alkaline soils are often
clays, where essential minerals like iron and sulfur are in short
supply or are bound by other minerals under the conditions of
a high pH.
Salinity can
also be a problem due to a lack of rainfall to percolate salts
through the topsoil. Acid-loving plants are notoriously salt-intolerant.
To exacerbate the problem, commercial chemical fertilizers are
often a combination of salts that can accumulate in soils that
don't drain well. This condition of poor drainage can often be
remedied by the addition of calcium sulfate (Gypsum) or fossilized
kelp (Kelzyme) calcium. One thing to remember is that the most
common source of calcium - lime - will adjust pH values even
higher in alkaline soils and should be avoided. The best way
to lower soil pH values is to add soil sulfur in small amounts
over time. Iron sulfate is also a fairly good pH adjuster, as
well as a source of essential iron. There are many iron products
on store shelves but few are natural/ organic, so be wary of
them. Organic chelated iron and mineral supplements for soil
are the best ones and are immediately available to the plant
to correct imbalances.
My favorite
way to ensure that soil pH is balanced so that acid-loving plants
can inhabit the garden with other plants is to apply lots of
organic matter to the soil in the form of compost and mulch.
These organic materials will keep the wide diversity of microorganisms
healthy and vigorous. In turn, these microscopic animals and
plants will work to convert nutrients and minerals so they are
continuously available to plants. This will make mineral and
nutrient deficiencies in plants less of a problem so that your
plants grow and flower with more vigor and with fewer problems
from pests and disease.
Acid-loving
plants - and all other plants, for that matter - are more pest
and disease resistant when balanced nutrition is provided, just
like you and I. When you provide this balanced environment for
them to grow, you will quickly see haw easy it is to cultivate
acid-loving plants in almost any garden, almost anywhere. The
key to success is to remember that acid-lovers are just those,
acid-lovers. That way you can form a strategy for growing them
successfully and they can supply you with years of beauty, fragrance
and pleasure in return.
Next time
we will be discussing fall in the garden. It will be a two part
discussion on putting all of your precious plants to bed for
the winter and enjoying that "last blast" of warm season
joy in your edens. See you in the Garden! 
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mill.net. Don Trotter's columns appear nationally in environmentally sensitive publications. Look for Don's new book Natural
Gardening A to Z at bookstores near you, from Hay House Publishing
(800) 654-5126, www.hayhouse.com.