Caring for houseplants and potted flowers is an activity that requires a lot of care and work, but the benefits are definitely worth it. Who doesn’t want to see their flowers grow and develop beautifully? But it’s also important to look after the soil. To find out what you need to put in the potting soil to ensure rapid growth, keep reading.
Practical tips for making potting soil more productive
Plants are always a good idea to make your home more beautiful, especially because they improve the air quality in the house. Obviously, they need a little help to grow harmoniously.
The development and survival of plants also depends on how you water them and how you treat them against pests, but the most important thing is the soil you plant them in. To achieve this, potted plants need fertile soil!
What should you add to the potting soil to help your plants grow better?
Experts recommend that the potting soil is changed every year to ensure that the plants receive enough nutrients. To help your plants grow properly, here’s what you need to add to their soil.
The potting soil needs proper care to make it more aerated and porous. There are simple and organic ways to improve the quality of the soil. Here’s what you need for this purpose.
Horticultural perlite
Perlite has no nutritive properties, but its granular and porous structure provides better water absorption and aerates the soil.
Perlite is a rock-derived material of volcanic origin. The porous rock is heated in special furnaces to around 1000 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is high, the mass will increase and the stone will behave exactly like popcorn.
Before you start transplanting, you can add a layer of crushed pistachio shells in the pot.
This way the drainage holes in the pot will not be blocked. Only then mix the perlite with the soil mixture, in a ratio of 30% perlite to the rest of the potting soil. Perlite is a very light material that can be used quickly and easily.
For planting roses, shrubs or fruit trees, it is advisable to mix 50% perlite with 50% soil.
Perlite is also used for seedlings, but it is advisable to mix it with coconut shells. The resulting material promotes soil germination and significantly reduces mold growth caused by soil moisture.
When planting, pistachio or hazelnut shells can be used in the soil in addition to perlite.
At the same time, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of Epsom salt to the soil. This ingredient helps the roots of the plant to better absorb nutrients from the soil.
Baking soda – how to use?
Another aid to potting soil is baking soda. This ingredient is not only used in the kitchen – it has many additional uses.
Before potting plants, it is a good idea to know the pH of the soil, which indicates the alkalinity or acidity level of the soil. This is most easily tested with baking soda. Most plants grow very well in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
For quick results, baking soda must be applied correctly.
One teaspoon of baking soda is enough for one flower pot. An effective trick is to sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the pot before planting the flower to prevent white mold.