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You have probably found out ordinary garden soil isn’t the best for your plants. That’s because garden soil doesn’t offer enough air, water and nutrients for a healthy growth.
Soil mixes are the best and usually consists of dirt from the garden and some other nutrients used to make them. But its even much better to use potting mix ingredients only. They are lighter, fluffier and more nutritious for your plants.
With your ingredients ready, it’s time for you to know how to dig into your pot, what the right measurements is and the type of nutrients your mix should contain which helps in elongating the life span of your plant. Find out below how to rightly mix your soil for proper fertilization of your plants.
Why Do You Mix Your Container Soil?
You mix your container soil because there are tons of benefits to doing this. Getting to mix the ingredients yourself ensures you get an organic mix that doesn’t contain chemicals as packaged ones does.
There’s also a chance for you to modify your container mix recipe as many times as you like. There’s this assurance that you are using the best mixes for your plants because you know what you mixed.
You can even mix more for keeps so you don’t run out of mixes or needing to manage like you would if it was purchased it.
What Do You Need To Mix Your Soil?
You will need container potting soil ingredients like Peat moss, Coco Coir, Compost or a fertilized well composted manure, fine sand, per tile and vermiculate.
Some equipments to prepare and mix your containers soil with:
- Measuring Containers
- Shovel
- Soil and scoop
- Large garden tub
- Wheel barrow
- gloves
- Face masks
- Water
What Is The meaning of “Part” While Measuring Your Ingredients?
A part can be any equal unit of measurement as described by you. For example. Measuring a part by using 1 gallon bucket as a choice.
What Do You Look Out For While Mixing Your Container Soil?
You should know general containers garden soil mixes are best used for containers that are on the ground or on sturdy base. This is because compost can make soil heavy. Thus, hanging your heavy containers good won’t be a good decision.
On the other hand, soilless container potting mixes are lighter and can be used in any type of hanging basket or planter buckets. Needless to say, you must know the rightful place for each type of soil mixture you have.
How Do You Customize Your Mix To Suit Your Plant Texture?
Whether you have a manufactured or a homemade mix, having extra minerals aggregate and organic material is important to suit your plants needs.
Add extra aggregate for plants that like dry soil and extra peat moss for plants that prefer moist soil. Grow top heavy plants in amended mixes with calcined clay. Add some more minerals if container fills lighter than normal.
What’s The Effect When You Properly Mix Your Soil?
Like humans, plants also benefit from a variety of diets. They need balanced diets to stay healthy. This is why a properly mixed soil can support plants for years without additional fertilization.
You can reuse your soil if soil do well in their growing seasons. But after 6 months, you should add more nutrients to mix to rejuvenate it. If spoilt , discard them immediately
What Are The Steps To Mixing Your Gardening Soil?
Gather all your ingredients in a wheel barrow.
Measure your ingredients using a measure cup, gallon, soil scoop as a part. The materials are to be measured in ratios.
Get your safety masks and gloves on.
Throw in all your ingredients into your mixing container.
Stir all together using a shovel or trowel.
Check ingredients to see if dry, moisten them up with water if that’s the case.
Done , you can now use your mixtures immediately in a container or store it for later.
In conclusion, container Soils for gardens must make provision for anchorage for roots and allow air and water to it. A proper mixture will ensure this. Plants will grow healthily when you are sure of what quality of nutrients your have in your container garden.
Further Reading
- Bagged Potting Mixes and Garden Soils for Home Gardeners
- How to prepare soil for gardening in container: step by step.
- Effects of soil preparation methods and plant types on the establishment of poplars on forest land
- Container Gardening Is for Everyone
