Soilless Potting Mix
Fertilizing Is Up To You!
A soilless potting mix comes with two major advantages for your garden. First, unlike garden soil, where you may have disease spores, insect eggs, weed seeds, etc., you know exactly what comes with it. Second, you do not have to worry about drainage problems. However, fertilizing is completely up to you.
Qualities of a Good Soilless Potting Mix
- Water drains freely from the drainage holes
- Air fills the spaces in the large pores after excess water has drained
- Sufficient moisture is retained in the smaller pores
Bad Soilless Potting Mix
- Medium is waterlogged and heavy
- Some algae or salt accumulation may form on top
Ingredients in a Soiless Potting Mix
- Sphagnum – usually called peat moss. It has cells that retain both water and air. When conditions are drier, the cells retain water. When conditions are wetter, the spaces have air. Sphagnum peat is lightweight and inexpensive.
- Bark – an additive that improves air space and drainage as well as prevents compaction. Bark is better used for established plants than for starting seeds. Composted pine bark is one that is commonly utilized in commercial media.
- Coir –coconut hulls derivative. May be used as a replacement when peat is not available. It also reduces the peat moss quantity required in the mix.
- Perlite - a volcanic mineral that supplements air and water retention capacity. For ground gardens, it does not do anything to alter the pH quality of a mix, but it can put a check on sandy soil from leaching nutrients.
- Vermiculite – needs heating up and expanding to increase its moisture holding capacity. It compacts easily. It is a good choice to cover seeds to help maintain consistent moisture for germination. Do not use vermiculite designed for plaster or insulation. They do not absorb moisture well.
How to Make Soilless Potting Mix
- Basic Soilless Potting Mix - for every six parts of Sphagnum peat moss, add one part perlite and one part vermiculite. You can also substitute sharp sand for perlite, but include half a tablespoon of dolomitic lime for each quart of mix.
- Basic Soilless with Compost – for every four parts of Sphagnum peat moss, mix two parts compost, one part perlite, and one part vermiculite
- Basic Mix with Additives – for every four gallons of soilless potting mix, add:
- one-fourth cup of nitrogen. E.g., bone meal, dried kelp powder, etc.,
- one-fourth cop of calcium and magnesium to raise soil pH. E.g., limestone, dolomite
- one-fourth cup phosphorus – bone meal.
Media Requirement for Effective Container Gardening Requirements
- Constant reserve of nutrients and moisture
- Reasonably loose, as opposed to compacted, garden soil, to enhance root development and trading of gases in the root zone
- Appropriate measure of acidity and alkalinity to meet pH requirement
- Free of toxins, weed seeds, soil-borne diseases, insect eggs, etc.
- Adequate support for plant root as well as for its overall weight to prevent the plant from tipping over
Points to Remember:
- Moisten the mix lightly before filling your containers
- Do not overpack the container with the mix
- Irrigate thoroughly the containers after planting
If you did not use a slow-release fertilizer at planting time, feed your pots two weeks after planting.
Remember: with a soilless potting mix, fertilizing is up to you.
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