Need help?Special interestProduct guideGardening calendar
Azaleas in flower

Acid-loving plants

Back


Soil 'chemistry' and plants

Soil pH is a measure of how acid or how alkaline (limey) soil is.

A soil pH from 6.5 - 7.5 is about right for most plants.

However some plants have evolved to grow in soils that are more acid (acid lovers) or more alkaline (lime lovers).

Subscribe to In & Around Your Garden

Easy gardening
tips & news
every month

Subscribe to In & Around Your Garden.

OsmocoteŽ for acid-loving plants Miracle-GroŽ for acid-loving plants

Feed your acid-loving plants 

Our OsmocoteŽ and Miracle-GroŽ Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron fertilsers are designed for your acid-loving plants.

Which plants are acid-loving?

Popular acid-loving plants include

  • Azalea
  • Camellia
  • Rhododendron
  • Gardenia
  • Erica
  • Gordonia
  • Daphne
  • Pieris
  • and most Australian native plants

What to do for acid-loving plants

Acid-loving plants generally need a soil with a pH of 4-6.

  1. Use a soil testing kit to determine the pH of your soil.
  2. Use fertilisers that are especially formulated to feed acid-loving plants.

How fertilisers for acid-loving plants work

In addition to the normal NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium), fertilisers for acid-loving plants usually contain

  • sulphur to increase the acidity of the soil
  • iron to reduce the leaf yellowing that can occur if the soil is too alkaline

Which fertilisers suit acid-loving plants?

Products that are suitable for acid-lovers include