Find out the pH of your soil. All you need is baking soda and vinegar

Soil properties are very important and when it comes to soil pH many plants are picky. Certain soil may suit a number of plants, but there are still many plants that require different soil to thrive. For example, blueberries are sensitive to soil pH and they usually do not do well in an alkaline soil. They need acidic soil. Yes, there are plants that can tolerate any pH for example, hydrangea which produces different colour of flowers depending on the soil pH.

What is pH?

Every gardener has heard about alkaline, neutral or acidic soil. The pH scale runs from 1 to 14. If the soil is acidic, the pH ranges from 0 to 7 and alkaline soil ranges from 7 to 14. For the most part, garden plants are fine with pH ranging from 6.5 to 7, but certain plants require either a higher or lower pH – that is, more acidic or alkaline soil. If you want to successfully grow these special plants you need to know what the pH of your soil is.

Photo: Pixabay

Soil pH test kits

You can buy many test kits in many garden stores and use them to determine the pH quite accurately. But they may be expensive and sometimes the application may be confusing. We shall tell you about a home method that is faster and easier and you should be able to determine the general pH of your soil. No need for special equipment or raw materials because all you need is in your kitchen.

Vinegar and baking soda

These two raw materials are very useful for household cleaning, but you may also use them to determine the pH of your soil. Take two small containers and put a soil sample in each. Pour a half cup of vinegar and a half cup of baking soda in. If the soil starts “hissing” and gurgle in the container with vinegar, it shows an alkaline reaction and therefore the soil has pH higher than 7. But if bubbles appear the container with baking soda, your soil is acidic and the pH value is below 7.

Indicative result

Yes, that is all you can find out with this home trick. You cannot measure the exact pH value this way. If you want to be precise you need to buy a special pH measurement kit. But keep in mind that knowing whether your soil is acidic or alkaline is a big help already and you can use it to advantage.

Source: https://porady.interia.pl/ogrody/news-jak-sprawdzic-odczyn-gleby-przy-pomocy-octu-i-sody-oczyszczo,nId,4911656

Preview photo: Pixabay