How to Prepare Houseplant Potting Mix
Different houseplants thrive in different types of growing mediums or substrate. Some houseplants will grow well in regular soil, but since most houseplants are brought indoors, garden soil is hardly considered the best substrate because of its weight and tendency to harbor insects and disease-carrying organisms. The ideal houseplant is a soilless or non-soil potting mix. How to prepare the best houseplant potting mix? Here are some tips. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Know that the best growing medium for indoor houseplants is lightweight, but nutrient retentive, and moisture absorbent, yet provides aeration and good drainage.
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Know the different types of non-soil substrates:
a. Peat moss or sphagnum moss
b. Shredded or ground pine or hardwood bark
c. Lime-free river sand
d. Heated and pulverized clay
e. Ground or powdered lava, basalt or limestone
f. Horticulture grade charcoal
g. Leaf mold or decayed leaves
h. Vermiculite (expanded mica)
i. Perlite (puffed volcanic rock)
j. Cork, coconut husk -
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Prepare this potting mix for acid-loving plants such as anthuriums, azaleas, ferns, gardenias and citrus trees: peat moss, perlite and decayed leaves.
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Prepare this potting mix for alkaline-loving plants such as most tropical plants and palm trees: clay or loam, supplemented with limestone or powdered rock and lava.
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Prepare this potting mix for plants that prefer slightly acidic conditions that drain well, such as orchids and bromeliads: bark, perlite, charcoal, cork and coconut husk.
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Prepare this potting mix for plants that require substrates that are airy and permeable, such as cacti and succulents: river sand, peat moss, perlite and ground lava or basalt.
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Research the growing requirements of your favorite houseplants, and always provide the best potting mix for the best results.
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Tips & Warnings
Most soilless substrates do not have inherent nutrients to feed the plants, therefore, regular fertilizing should be an integral part of the plant care regimen.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos by Ruby Bayan
