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Broom plants, also known as Scotch broom or common broom, are popular garden shrubs with yellow flowers that add a splash of color to any landscape. However, like most plants, broom plants have specific soil requirements to thrive. Do broom plants need ericaceous compost for an ideal growing environment?
Ericaceous compost is not necessary for growing broom plants, but it can be beneficial for growing Cytisus broom plants that prefer a soil pH of between 5.5 and 6.5. Genista broom plants can tolerate alkaline soils up to a pH of 7.5 and generally do not need ericaceous compost to grow well.
Ericaceous compost is designed as a means to amend soil pH to cater to the needs of acid-loving plants. To understand whether this compost will be beneficial for growing broom plants, we need to investigate the growing requirements of broom plants and establish if ericaceous compost can accommodate some of these needs.
Is Ericaceous Compost Good For Broom Plants?
Broom plants are deciduous shrubs that belong to the Fabaceae family. They are native to western and central Europe but have been introduced to many other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand. There are several species of broom plants, but the most common one is Cytisus scoparius.
Broom plants typically grow up to 5 to 10 feet tall and have slender, green stems with small, narrow leaves. Their height means they are often used as a backdrop to smaller plants in the foreground or as a visual barrier into your garden.
They produce bright yellow flowers in the spring and summer, which are usually fragrant and attract bees and butterflies.
In addition to their ornamental value, broom plants have been traditionally used for a variety of purposes. For example, the dried-out stems have been used to make brooms, hence the name “broom plants.”
They have also been used for medicinal purposes, such as treating heart conditions and asthma. However, it’s important to note that broom plants contain alkaloids that can be toxic in large quantities, so they should not be ingested without proper medical supervision.
We will explore the soil requirements of broom plants, the characteristics of ericaceous compost, and the effects of using ericaceous compost on broom plants. We will also provide alternative soil amendments for broom plants and tips for successfully growing these popular garden shrubs.
Do Broom Plants Like Acidic Soil?
There are two main types of broom plants, and you need to know which broom plant you have because they have different pH level tolerances.
The most common broom plant is the Cytisus, an acid-loving plant that does not tolerate alkaline soils. The best soil pH levels for growing The Cytisus broom plant are between pH 5.5 and 6.5.
This is fairly acidic compared to most plants that thrive in the pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. The second most common broom plant is the Genista, which is more tolerant of alkaline soils.
The Genista broom plant can tolerate pH levels in the range of 6.5 to 7.5, which is from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
The great advantage of this is that if you have alkaline, or only slightly acidic soil, you can opt for the Genista variety, which will thrive in these conditions. There will be no need to take steps to amend the soil acidity with ericaceous compost in this case.
However, if the broom plant you are planting is the Cytisus variety, you will most likely need to amend the soil with ericaceous compost to provide the right growing environment for the plant unless your soil is naturally acidic.
Do Broom Plants Need Ericaceous Compost?
Whether or not broom plants need ericaceous compost depends on their soil requirements. As we have already discovered, Cytisus broom plants prefer acidic soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5.
Soil that is too alkaline can cause nutrient deficiencies and affect the Cytisus broom plant’s ability to take up essential minerals.
The Genista broom plant will not grow well in soil with a pH lower than 6.5, which brings to light some important aspects of growing these plants.
- Test your soil PH. You need to know the natural pH of your garden soil. This information will give you the insight to select the right plant or let you know that you need to amend the soil to create the right growing environment.
- Choose the right broom plant. If your garden soil is slightly acidic or slightly alkaline, you can select the Genista variety for your garden. The Cytisus variety will be the better choice if your soil is naturally acidic.
If your soil is in the general pH range of 6.0 to 7.0, you may not need ericaceous compost at all to grow broom plants or either variety.
That being said, if the soil in which the broom plants are growing is naturally alkaline or if the pH of the soil is too high, adding ericaceous compost can help to create the acidic conditions that Cytisis broom plants prefer.
Ericaceous compost can also benefit if the Cytisus broom plant shows signs of nutrient deficiencies, such as yellowing leaves.
Using ericaceous compost excessively or inappropriately can be harmful to the plant. Adding too much ericaceous compost can cause the pH of the soil to become too acidic, which can harm the plant’s roots and limit its ability to absorb nutrients.
Also, using ericaceous compost in soil that is already acidic can further lower the pH, causing the soil to become too acidic for the broom plants to grow.
While broom plants do not necessarily need ericaceous compost, adding it can be beneficial under certain circumstances. It’s important to test the pH of the soil before adding ericaceous compost and to follow the recommended guidelines for use to avoid harming the plant.
Alternatives To Ericaceous Compost
While ericaceous compost is a good option for amending soil for acid-loving plants, ericaceous compost can be expensive and unavailable in some regions.
- Pine needles. Pine needles are naturally acidic and can be used as mulch around the base of broom plants. As the needles decompose, they will slightly acidify the soil around the plant. This is a useful alternative if you only need a small adjustment to the acidity of your soil to create the acidic conditions that broom plants prefer.
- Sulfur. Sulfur is a soil amendment that can be used to acidify or lower the pH of the soil. It is best used in small amounts and mixed thoroughly into the soil to avoid burning the plant’s roots. Not any type of sulfur will do, so you obtain it from a garden center to ensure it is formulated for use on plants. Sulfur may be more readily available in some locations than ericaceous compost.
It’s important to note that adding too much of any soil amendment can harm the plant. It’s always best to test the pH of the soil before adding any amendments and to follow the recommended guidelines for use.
Broom plants are adaptable and can tolerate a range of soil types, so choosing the soil amendment best suited for your garden’s specific conditions is important.
Conclusion
Broom plants are hardy and adaptable shrubs, with two main types with different soil acidity needs. While they do not necessarily require ericaceous compost, adding it can be beneficial under certain circumstances, such as when the soil is too alkaline or when the plant is showing signs of nutrient deficiencies.
Broom plants are a great addition to any garden, providing beautiful yellow flowers, and are generally easy to grow. Choose the right type of broom plant for your soil pH, or amend the pH with ericaceous compost, and you will have a thriving broom plant that brings beauty to your garden landscape!
References
- https://www.thespruce.com/growing-broom-plants-5089367
- https://gardenchronicle.com/how-to-grow-genista-broom/
- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/genista-lydia/
- https://www.dearplants.com/lydian-broom-genista-lydia/
- https://practicalplants.org/wiki/cytisus_scoparius/