Going to the garden center to get potting mix are often a touch overwhelming. With many sorts of products to settle on from, it are often difficult to understand which one are going to be best for the plants you plan to grow. Some are meant to be added to the garden or wont to fill raised beds, while others are suitable for growing in containers or pots. Garden soils are typically intended to be used within the ground and contain minerals and organic matter. they’re not an honest choice for containers because the soil can quickly become compacted and waterlogged, reducing air space round the roots. this will cause poor or stunted growth. Garden soils also can contain weed seeds, insects and diseases if they haven’t been pasteurized.
Potting mixes (also called soilless mixes), on the opposite hand, are specifically made for growing potted plants. they’re lightweight, retain moisture, and that they supply many air space round the roots. Air space is really one among the foremost critical aspects of potting mix. If the roots don’t have enough air, a plant usually doesn’t survive. Although the ingredients tend to vary, good mixes always contain an organic component (peat moss, compost, bark), vermiculite or perlite (to help retain moisture), sand, nutrients and limestone. Some contain fertilizer or moisture-retaining treatments, usually indicated on the label. Knowing what’s within the potting mix is vital to determining whether it’ll be an honest match for the plants you’re trying to grow. General potting mixes will work fine for many annuals and vegetables grown in containers, but they’ll hold an excessive amount of moisture for orchids, succulents or cacti. Specialty mixes are sold for these plants and, while conditionally necessary, can provide benefits.
Potting Mix Ingredients
Peat may be a special sort of organic material that comes from decomposed plants in bogs. Most peat comes from sphagnum , hence it’s other common name, “peat moss.” Peat may be a major component of just about all potting mixes because it retains moisture without becoming waterlogged, is lightweight, and doesn’t become easily compressed.
Compost is occasionally included in potting mix for added nutrients. It can reduce air space within the soil and will be used sparingly for potted plants. Compost should structure no quite 1/3 of a potting mix.
Bark that has been ground and partially composted is usually incorporated into less costly potting mixes in situ of peat. Bark provides good aeration but dries out more quickly than peat, requiring more frequent watering.
Coir may be a fibrous material from coconut husks that’s sometimes utilized in place of peat. it’s almost like peat therein it retains water without becoming soggy.
Vermiculite is that the product of heating mica chips. it’s a gray, spongy material that increases water retention in mixes. It also holds on to nutrients and thus keeps fertilizer available for the plant roots for a extended period of your time .
Perlite may be a white igneous rock that’s like Styrofoam. it’s light weight and porous and is employed to enhance the drainage and aeration of potting mix.
Sand is another common component of potting mixes. It can improve drainage and is usually added in large quantities to mixes intended for cacti and succulents.
Fertilizer is usually added to potting mixes, usually during a slow-release form that breaks down gradually over time when it comes in touch with water. Thus, small amounts of nutrients are released over the course of weeks. Eventually this first source of nutrients are going to be exhausted, and potted plants would require additional fertilizer.
Moisture retaining treatments accompany some potting mixes and are meant to scale back how often you would like to water. These “hydrogels” or “water storing crystals” are polymers that have the power to soak up large amounts of moisture and slowly release it because the soil dries. Their effectiveness diminishes over time, and eventually, the potting mix dries out as the other. Potting mixes with moisture-retaining treatments are suitable for potted annuals but are a poor choice for succulents or other drought-tolerant plants.
The best potting mix for potted plants may vary slightly counting on what you’re trying to grow. However, all quality mixes are going to be lightweight, fluffy and dry, and contain peat, coir, bark, perlite, or vermiculite. Avoid products that are compost-based or seem overly heavy – these won’t provide enough air space for roots. When unsure , choose a peat-based general purpose mix, or make your own potting mix by combining the ingredients above. Many potting mix recipes exist online, and you’ll adjust the ratios of the added materials consistent with the requirements of the plants you’re growing.