Potting soil In gardening, providing good soil to your plants is the best thing you can do for them, and they will thank you with healthy fruits and blossoms in return. However, transferring the same soil to containers may cause issues for your plants. Because a plant grown in a container doesn’t get enough air, water, or nutrients from garden soil This crucial aspect of soil is often overlooked by gardeners. When it comes to container gardening, they have a lot of issues with plant development and health. So, first, let’s define what potting soil or potting mixture is.
However, the terms potting soil and potting mix are often used interchangeably. There is a distinction.
Potting Soil : Potting soil is a type of soil that may or may not contain actual soil or sand. The composition of potting soil is made up of soil and other potting mixture elements. Moss peats, compost, and a variety of other materials are combined to make a potting mix for your container plant. Because potting soil contains actual soil, it may provide you with a healthy dose of beneficial microorganisms, as well as aid with pot water retention. However, it may also introduce some hazardous infections and fungi to your container or plant, which could be harmful to some level.
About Potting Mix : A potting mix is a soilless mix of container gardening components. It is usually a sterile mixture that is free of diseases and fungi, making it safer for plants. Sphagnum moss, wood bark, and coconut husk perlite may be present, but no soil. It is capable of providing adequate aeration to plants. However, water can simply drain out of the pot when it comes to drainage. You must amend it on a regular basis for water retention; it may also contain delayed release fertiliser or starter fertiliser. It’s also usually low in weight.
So, what should you do with your plants? Always use soilless potting mixture for container planting, whether it’s outdoor or indoor container plants, or for seed starting. Because it contains some beneficial components for your plant, it aids in proper air retention for the fragile roots and protects your plant from hazardous pathogens and fungus that could cause disease. As a result, the plants can grow in a regulated environment. It is recommended that you use potting soil for outdoor gardening and landscaping. Potting soil is rich in nutrients for your plant, as well as beneficial microbes. It has a high-water retention rate. A minor downside of potting soil is that it can get compacted if water drainage is inadequate, necessitating hand loosening on a regular basis.
Types of Potting Mixes: – Standard all-purpose potting mix can be used for container grown plants, however some plants demand adequate drainage or a higher or lower PH.
1. Orchid Potting Mix : It’s an all-purpose potting mix that holds too much water and not enough air for orchids. It has bark for proper drainage and air flow, which orchids require.
2. Succulent and Cactus Potting Mix : Sand in this sort of potting mix enables for good drainage, which cactus and other succulents require.
3. Moisture Control Potting Mix : This type of potting mix has moisture-controlling ingredients, allowing it to hold more water than ordinary potting mixes. Sphagnum, moss coir, and other wetting agents have been added.
4. Seed Starting Mix :This is a type of seed starter that is used to grow plants from seeds. It ensures and promotes strong and healthy root development. The fine substance used in it ensures that the seeds germinate.
5. All-Purpose Potting Mix : It’s made for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications, including houseplants, hanging baskets, window boxes, ornamentals, herbs, and edibles.
How to make an excellent potting soil mix
People, on the other hand, are perplexed as to what to use for their containergrown plants. You can make your own potting soil, which is commonly used for both indoor and outdoor plants, which will clear your mind. Let’s have a look at how to make general-purpose potting soil. Garden soil is the first ingredient in potting soil. You can pick it up from the top layer of the earth or purchase it from one of the many available locations or a reputable nursery.
The second item is coco peat, which is widely available in stores. Sand is the third component, and you can also add nutrients to the soil by using compost, cow dung manure, or vermicompost. When it comes to potting soil preparation, you can employ the procedures below.
Take 30% of the garden soil as a ratio. 20% sand should be added to the mix.
Then add 30% cocopeat and 10% neem cake, as well as 10% organic fungicides to prevent fungal infections. You can reduce the percentage of soil, sand, or cocopeat by adding vermicompost or cow dung manure