However, googling info about hydrangeas, it seems to be suggested that you need acid soil to keep blue hydrangeas blue - so do I need to use ericaceous compost? If you are a fan of composting and already have your own pile or bin, you can cultivate your own ericaceous mix. Ericaceous Compost is ideal. We blend this compost ourselves using a mix of peat and composted bark to create an acidic nutrient rich compost. I have 'overbought' ericaceous compost and now have 2 bags left. If you enter just a plant name, you will see results from the old RHS Plant Finder and Selector databases; If you select any attributes with or without a plant name, you will see a much narrower selection of results taken only from the old RHS Plant Selector database. If your soil is sandy you’ll need to add plenty of well-rotted manure or peat. The ericaceous plants that I have are one azalea and one hydrangea that I have been given. There are some plants that prefer acidic compost and hydrangeas are one of them. Prune mophead and lacecap varieties in spring and other varieties … 5 years ago. In hard water areas regular watering tends to make the growing medium more alkaline, even if it starts off lime free. There are a few plants that lean toward acidic fertilizer and hydrangeas are one of them. House-plant compost is … I've bought a hydrangea plant (macrophylla blue) and plan to keep it in a container. It isn’t something fitting for all plants, as certain plants essentially can’t endure the acidic breakdown. June 2019 edited June 2019. Ericaceous compost for hydrangea. Did you know? You have two options. Yes, you can use ericaceous compost for normal plants. I think snowdrops can be fickle plants anyway and certainly in containers of acid compost. Browse inspiration articles; Buy plants online; RHS Flower Shows » For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more. Grow hydrangeas in a partially shaded, sheltered spot, in moist but well-drained soil. Ilex . If you plant any acid-loving flowers or trees mentioned above in limey or alkaline soil, they will produce yellow leaves due to lime-induced chlorosis. Adding pine needles, bark chips (from a good garden shredder ), leaf mould, sawdust, citrus peels and coffee grounds will boost acidity , although these components take longer to break down than regular compost materials. Ericaceous compost is lime free for acid-loving (ie lime-hating) plants, such as camellias and rhododendrons, and pot plants, such as gardenias and azaleas. I have noticed that the organic potting mix that I used in some plants has turned really hard. If your soil pH test comes back at 7.0 or lower, you already have acidic soil, but acidifying further, to between pH 5.0-6.0, may be necessary if you intend to grow ericaceous (lime-hating) plants. In garden centres you can buy ericaceous compost if you have blue flowering plants, as it has a pH of less than 7.0. Thanks for the reply. Maybe the compost has been proven unsuitable for them after two years. If you are looking to grow the following plants, you will need an ericaceous compost to supplement growth; Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias, Hydrangeas, Holly, Fern, Gardenia, Aster, Magnolia, Pachysandra, Lupine, Pieris, Viburnum, Bleeding Heart, Japanese Maple, Juniper, Blueberries, Raspberries and Cranberries… there are plenty more so make sure you do your research on what … Plants for acidic compost (ericaceous plants) include: Rhododendron; Camellia; Cranberry; Blueberry; Azalea; Gardenia; Pieris; Hydrangea; Viburnum; Magnolia; Bleeding heart; Holly; Lupine; Juniper; Pachysandra; Fern; Aster; Japanese maple; How to Make Compost Acidic. It is recommended for more natural composition that you opt for a combination of sulfur, peat moss, and compost to fertilize your hydrangeas. Hazyb Posts: 305. An ericaceous plant feed will contain all the specific nutrients which these plants need to flourish. You can still grow them in containers of lime-free ericaceous compost. My first time too Thompson & Morgan where I got if from says this - 'Hydrangeas prefers a position in shade or semi-shade, with shelter from cold, drying winds. As always when choosing a spot, make sure you have prepared your soil well in advance, adding plenty of compost and making sure that it’s well-drained and moisture-retaining. 0. Hope this helps . The blue flower colouration is a response to the level of aluminium available to the plant, and occurs naturally under acidic soil conditions. Feeding is an important part of growing these unique plants, and you can go with either granular or liquid feed. The following is a list of ericaceous plants that require acid soil or ericaceous compost. No good buying wrong compost. I have a spent-compost heap close to my own shed and greenhouse that I use to pot up divided perennials. As a result, these plants can’t grow well and eventually die. We also sell an Ericaceous topsoil Both will help to retain moisture in the ground. Hydrangea seemannii and H. serratifolia are less hardy and need shelter to thrive. Hot links . Avoid peat-based composts Gardeners care about the environment and extracting peat is known to be damaging to plant species and habitat. Remember if you go with ericaceous for any plant, it is best to water them with rain water only as the ph of tap water can change ericaceous soil. Growing ericaceous plants in containers also allows you to grow them in the right place in the garden. Plant hydrangeas in the spring. Transplant in spring or autumn if needed, lifting the plant carefully so that the rootball stays intact. 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