9 Natural Ways to Make Soil More Acidic for Plants

If you’re interested in making your soil more acidic, you can try a few natural methods. Adding vinegar to your soil can help.

Also, elemental sulfur and Canadian sphagnum peat moss help lower the soil pH. However, be careful with these methods, as overly acidic soil can harm your plants.

Begin by adding small amounts of your chosen remedy and test the soil regularly to see how it responds. With a little patience, you can achieve the right soil acidity for your plants.

Why Increase Soil Acidity?

Depending on what you’re growing, some plants will only do well if planted in acidic soil. Therefore, by increasing soil acidity, these plants will readily absorb the nutrients they need from the soil.

How to Make Soil More Acidic Naturally

One question often asked by our readers is how to raise the soil’s acidity naturally.

There are several ways to do this, and we will discuss some of the most popular methods below.

1. Elemental Sulfur

When elemental sulfur is added to the soil, it reacts with bacteria to create sulfuric acid [1]. This acid can then help lower the soil’s pH.

TIGER 90CR and Espoma Soil Acidifier are excellent organic products containing sulfur that can help lower soil pH.

2. Vinegar

If your soil is overly alkaline for the crops you wish to grow, you can easily correct it by applying vinegar. This product is an acidic liquid, so you know what it can do to your garden soil.

To acidify the soil with vinegar, combine one cup of vinegar with one gallon of water. Next, apply the solution to the soil around your plants.

This home remedy is relatively inexpensive.

3. Compost Tea

Compost is rich in organic matter and can help make the soil more acidic organically.

Over time, watering your plants with compost tea made from well-decomposed compost can help to decrease the pH of your garden soil.

Soak one part compost in ten parts water for about a week, stirring it every day. When ready to use, strain the compost and use the strained liquid to water your plants.

This “tea” is also an excellent remedy for improving the overall health of your soil.

4. Cottonseed Meal

Cottonseed meal is often used as a fertilizer to lower soil pH.

It can also be used as mulch or compost. Plus, it is very high in nitrogen.

5. Lemon Juice

You can also use lemon juice as a helpful aid in the vegetable garden to acidify the soil organically.

Add the juice of a lemon (about two tablespoons) to a gallon of water. Next, pour it around the roots of your plants.

This lemon water solution will help create a more hospitable environment for plants that love acidic soil.

6. Citrus Peelings

Citrus fruits are naturally acidic, so their peels are a great way to add extra acidity to your soil.

You can crush the peelings into tiny pieces and add them to your compost heap. Alternatively, you can blend them and place them in your planting hole when transplanting.

Another way to use them is to make citrus peel tea.

Steep the peels in boiling water for a few minutes. Next, let the water cool before using it to water your plants.

7. Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss

This type of peat moss is acidic, so it can help make the soil more acidic.

To use Canadian sphagnum peat moss to lower the pH of your soil, add some to the top layer and water it well. You can also use it to make an acidic compost tea.

In addition, peat moss retains nutrients and moisture well, making it highly valuable for vegetable gardens and flower beds.

8. Acidifying Plant Fertilizers

These fertilizers lower the pH of the soil and make it more hospitable for plants that thrive in acidic conditions. You can find acidifying fertilizers at your local garden center or online.

If you’re unsure which fertilizer to use, ask a professional at your local gardening store for advice. Down To Earth Acid Mix, Dr. Earth Acid Lovers, and SaferGro pH Down are great organic options.

9. Use Rainwater for Watering

Tap water is often alkaline, especially in hard water areas. Rainwater, on the other hand, is naturally slightly acidic [2].

Therefore, collect and store rainwater in barrels and use it to water your acid-loving plants.

How to Test Soil pH

Testing at home by yourself is relatively easy.

The first step is to purchase a quality soil pH testing kit. Next, follow the instructions in your kit to know the exact pH of your soil.

Most kits include all the necessities for soil testing, including a pH meter, soil sampling probes, and pH testing strips.

Acid-Loving Plants

Many plants thrive in acidic soil conditions. They grow well in areas with acidic soil.

Tomatoes, hydrangeas, gardenias, azaleas, holly, rhododendrons, and blueberries are a few plants that grow well in acidic soil.

Takeaway

Acidic soil is ideal for growing many types of plants, but achieving the right level of acidity can be tricky.

Luckily, as outlined above, you can try a few natural methods to increase soil acidity. However, you must exercise patience; some may take a while, even months, to see results.