Author Topic: Potting Soil (Read 13895 times)

Sunny Gardens® · « **on:** November 28, 2005, 02:06:33 am »

Mix a small amount of sand in with dirt when potting plants to keep the dirt from sticking together too much in a big clog.

Sunny Gardens® · « **Reply #1 on:** November 28, 2005, 02:15:06 am »

Cover the drain holes in flowerpots with old dryer sheets to prevent the dirt from coming out of the holes.

Sunny Gardens® · « **Reply #2 on:** November 28, 2005, 02:16:06 am »

Use plastic peanuts as drainage material in the bottom of flowerpots.

joy99 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2007, 07:31:05 pm »

Hey, I like the idea of making your own. It seems I can never find the right stuff at the store. I would like to make my dirt be fluffy. Whats those white things in the prepackaged stuff you can buy? And what makes the potting soil fluffy rather than compacted?

Sunny Gardens® · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2007, 07:57:26 am »

The white stuff in professional soil mixes is perlite and/or vermiculite. Perlite and vermiculite are used in the horticultural industry because they both provide aeration and drainage, they can retain and hold substantial amounts of water and later release it as needed, they are sterile and free from diseases, they have a fairly neutral pH (especially perlite which is neutral), and they are readily available, non-toxic, safe to use, and relatively inexpensive. As a rule of thumb, perlite tends to last longer, has a more neutral pH, and functions much better in hydroponics, outdoor applications, lawns and gardens (in part because it is stronger). Nevertheless, for decades they both have been used by professionals, dedicated amateurs and gardeners.

Potting soil is fluffy because it is usually made up mostly of peat moss.

joy99 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2007, 03:24:17 pm »

Okay. so I'll just go to the garden section and ask for some perlite. Oh, won't they be impressed with me. I do want to use some of this. It seems all the fancy potted plants I have received in the past are loaded with these pretty little white chunks.

msmulcherette · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2007, 06:02:33 am »

Thanks for the sheets and peanuts tips I am going to try right away. I use sponge rock to lighten up the soil so it doesn't get so muddy as it tends do to where I live.

Sunny Gardens®