As you know, some plants need special soil. Whether it is an acid, sandy or universal substrate… This time we want to focus on the acid substrate and we will do this to give you the keys so that you can buy the best on the market.
After all, they are food for your plants and they will thank you. But, What to look for when talking about land? How to buy it? Can we do it at home? All of this, and more, is what we’re going to talk about next.
Contents
Top 1. Best Acid Substrate
Benefits
- 20 liter capacity (and availability of 50).
- It has composition in the description.
the inconvenients
- Low or no soil acidity.
- Face.
Selection of brands of acidic substrates
Here we leave you some more acidic substrates so that you have the choice in case this first option does not convince you.
Flowering substrate for acid plants
It’s a five-liter bag with guano (although we don’t know the rest of the components). It is rapid growth and prolonged flowering.
PINDSTRUP SUBSTRATE Plants ACIDOFILAS 20 L.
This acid substrate is a 20 liter bag for acid-loving plants. He has a high peat content and 30% wood fibre. You also have nutrients for about 4 weeks once you use it.
HNOS NATURAL FERTILIZERS. AGUADO SL Plant Acid Substrate 20L
This is called acid soil for acid-loving plants. The composition of the substrate does not appear, but they tell us that the pH it has is lowalthough ideal for plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, camellias… Even so, it could still be grown.
Plant Acid Substrate 50l.
This acid substrate is a 50 liter bag (actually 40 + 10 liters free) although they also have a 20 liter bag. It’s appropriate for hydrangeas, gardenias, azaleas, camellias… It also contains fertilizer.
BOIX Plant Acid Substrate 50 L (Pack 3 Sachets)
Do not be scared by its price because you have to take into account that it is a pack of 3 sachets. Each of them is 50 liters so you will find 150 liters. This, yes, You should know that to deliver it you have to pay shipping costs of nearly 20 euros.
The substrate does not have the composition, but they tell us that it contains mineral fertilizer with a controlled release of incorporated nutrients.
Acid Substrate Buying Guide
When purchasing an acidic substrate, the worst thing you can do is get carried away with the price of the bag alone. You should pay attention to other factors that can be even more decisive. What are these? We discuss this below.
number of liters
One of the first things you need to see is how many liters the food bag has. It is true that, the more liters the higher the pricebut here other aspects such as composition, fertility, drainage… also influence the final result.
In other words, even if you go for the ones that wear the most, in reality it will depend on the composition whether it is good or not.
Composition
Another aspect to consider is the composition of the acid substrate. Whenever you can, check the ingredients or its composition to make sure it contains peat, leaf compost and soil. If it doesn’t have it or clear it up, you really won’t know if it’s the right one for your plant.
Actually, it’s not a bad idea. do a pH test if you buy it to see if it is really good (must be between 4.5 and 6.5).
Fertility
Fertility refers to the fact that the acidic substrate have the essential nutrients your plants will need for them to grow and prosper properly. If it already has it built in, you won’t need to purchase anything else, but if it doesn’t, you may need to purchase a subscription to complete it.
Brand
The brand is another of the most important aspects. There are some well-known ones that are related to quality, while others, more unknown, may or may not be good. The best in this case is to try, but always with care and taking precautions because plants are living beings and can suffer.
Opinions of other buyers
Related to the above, You might pay attention to the opinions of other buyers. You can find them in the item itself that you want to buy or, if there is none, by using the search engine to put the brand followed by the reviews. So, you can find websites where it is discussed and get an idea whether it is a good option or not.
Price
We come to the price, and here you will already know that depending on the number of liters you buy, the brand and the composition or supplement that the acid substrate has, it will vary. In general, you can end up in the market with prices that go from 4 to 25 euros.
Which plants need acidic soil?
Not all plants need acidic soil, in fact there are several that do much better with this type of soil. Which is it? we can quote you maples, rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, ericas, camellias, kalmia, magnolias…
These are plants that develop much better in this land than if you use another one.
How to make acidic soil for plants?
You don’t want to buy an acid soil and prefer to make it yourself? Well, no problem, because here we give you the steps to achieve it.
- Make a common potting soil with peat and leaf compost. You need to add 3, 1 and 1 respectively.
- Then add humic acid or aluminum sulfate; both are chemicals you’ll find at garden stores. As for the proportion, follow the instructions provided on the packaging to do so.
- Now you need to stir so that the ingredients are well mixed. Of course, we recommend that you do this with a shovel or similar, not directly by hand in case the chemicals hurt you.
- The next thing is to check the pH of the soil. This can be done using a pH test kit. For it to be acidic, you must try to make it between 4.5 and 6.5.
Note that, Even if you get the correct value at this time, the soil pH may change over time, so it’s best to check it over time to see if it’s right for your plant.
Or buy?
The last thing we have left is to help you choose where to buy Acid Substrate. The truth is, you won’t find it everywhere. If you have nativity scenes nearby, you can ask, as there will be a greater likelihood that they have it, but if not, the most searched options on the internet are:
Amazon
Amazon is where you find the most variety, but they don’t have as many products as with other items. Besides, You have to pay attention to the price, because sometimes it is much more expensive only if you buy it externally (usually sold by third-party sellers).
Leroy Merlin
In the case of Leroy Merlin, the truth is that, in search of an acidic substrate, it doesn’t give us any result (actually there is one of substrate for hydrangeas and azaleas, but nothing else).
Now, looking at the description of this dirt bag, we have searched for acidophiles and that’s where we got more articles, most of them from fertilizer, but also (eventually) from three options (two of them identical except for land area) available.
Do you already know which acid substrate you are going to buy next?