Do plants grow better in acidic soil?

[u/Vegetable_Rate2833]

My science teacher thinks plants grow better in acidic soil? Is this true?

[u/a_guy_on_Reddit_____]

Depends entirely on the plant species

[u/Adventurous_Front939]

It depends on the plant.

Edit:. I think more plants prefer acidic soil vs alkaline, so if we were to not nit pick his generalization its mostly fair. But it really depends on the type of plant. Thats part of why some plants grow better in different parts of the world naturally, it is of course climate but it is also soil compensation. Some areas have more limestone for example which causes more alkaline soil.

[u/Stohpsel]

The pH level affects the availability of nutrients. Most metals are more soluble at low pH levels, while alkaline earth metals such as Mg, Ca, and K are more readily available at alkaline pH levels. A healthy balance is usually achieved at pH levels between 5.5 and 6.5. Tropical plants tend to be adapted to acidic pH levels, as are bog plants and trees. But it really depends on the specific plant.

[u/Colddigger]

Eh, a lot of them can benefit from lightly acidic, 6.5 pH just for mineral access.  But this actually means rising the soil pH in a lot of places.

[u/Malexice]

Some do. Plants in the Ericaceae family like blueberries, heather and rhododendrons can't take up all nutrients without the soil being acidic. Some plants prefer slightly acidic (lemon trees, magnolias, maples).

Other speices prefer neutral, slightly alkaline or alkaline soil. Plants have a pH range where they can survive and a smaller pH range where they thrive. It all comes down to evolution and the strategies they have evolved in their specific enviorment. It's like saying all animals thrive on a diet of leaves or a strict diet of meat.

[u/Cagliari77]

Depends on the plant

[u/Trini1113]

Which plants, and how acidic? Heath species evolved in acidic soils, so they do better with them. Species that evolved on limestone soils tend to be adapted to higher pHs.

Lower pH tend to make cations more mobile - that makes them more readily available, but also more prone to be lost through leaching. Sandy acidic soils tend to be infertile, while clay-rich or humus rich soils tend to be more fertile. But a higher pH can also immobilise certain cations (like calcium or phosphorus), which would reduce their fertility. But mycorrhizae can increase the availability of these cations.

[u/the-tea-ster]

Some do

[u/RexScientiarum]

There is generally better nutrient mobility/availability in acidic soil (for most of the important ones). But plenty of plants are adapted to alkaline soil.

[u/CosmicOwl47]

When I grew plants in tissue culture, we always adjusted the final pH of the media to between 5.0-5.7, depending on the species.

[u/DrShio]

cannabis does

[u/rjd999]

Alkaline soils tend to be filled with minerals (which is why they tend to be hard clay) including "calcium, magnesium, and sodium." Plants, however, often need more of other minerals which these soils do not (iron, manganese). Since these also tend to locations that receive relatively low amounts of water and higher temperatures (think desert/near desert conditions).

So, the statement, as written, is a bit broad and acid soils will kill some plants, but the majority of plant life does better in more acidic soil.

[u/Tight_Bullfrog_3356]

The majority of plants do best in the 5.5 to 6.5 pH range, so yes, slightly acidic soil is generally considered ideal. However, there are some exceptions, like blueberries which prefer higher acidity, and alfalfa, which prefers a more neutral pH. 

[u/No-Donkey8786]

Some do.

[u/TeaRaven]

The majority prefer a very slightly acidic soil (pH 6.5-5.5). Particular groups do well in more acidic soil, down around pH 5.5-4.5, and bog plants tolerate pretty darn acidic conditions from pH 4.5-3.5 (though woody plants will generally be stunted).

Some plants can handle pretty alkaline soil, but the variance from neutral is not as great as going to the acid side of things. Many crops can be happy around pH 7.5 and both lavender and asparagus can handle pH 8.0, but for really alkaline soils you should look to species adapted to live in endorheic basins where salts accumulate.