Young plants are like children: They need a lot of care and attention so that a seed or a small cutting grows into a large and he althy plant. Special potting soil supports the plants on their way there.
Why is potting soil important for young plants?
Growing soil offers optimal conditions for young plants because it is loose, fine, germ-free and low in nutrients. It supports he althy root formation and can be mixed yourself or purchased. Potting soil and sowing soil are synonyms for germ-free substrate with an ideal combination of nutrients.
Why should you use potting soil at all?
Experienced gardeners swear by potting soil – and for good reason. This soil, specially mixed for sowing and growing young plants, contains more humus than normal garden soil, which ensures a fine and crumbly structure. In addition, the clay content in such special soils is very low, which is beneficial for the development of the tender roots. Instead, potting soil often contains sand or other mineral additives so that it is looser and airier.
In addition, at least ready-made growing soils are germ-free and therefore do not contain any pathogens such as fungal spores or bacteria, but also no pests or weed seeds. This freedom from germs is important so that the young plants, which are still tender and susceptible to disease, remain he althy. Typically, growing soil is also quite low in nutrients, which has a positive effect on root development and thus on the plant's later resistance. Only when the plant is larger and has already developed a few leaves should you transplant it into more nutrient-rich soil.
What is the difference between potting soil and potting soil?
Growing soil and potting soil do not differ much in their specific composition, but commercial potting soil is often pre-fertilized and therefore quite rich in nutrients and s alts. However, nutrient-rich soil is not suitable for growing plants because the still-growing roots cannot utilize this excess, and the mineral s alts are damaging. In addition, seedlings and cuttings grown in nutrient-poor soil develop stronger roots because they have to search more for nutrients.
Sowing soil or growing soil? Which is better?
Sowing soil and growing soil are the same thing
There are no differences between sowing soil and growing soil. Instead, both terms describe a special soil that can be used both for sowing and for plant propagation via cuttings. By the way, herbal soil is also suitable for this purpose, as it is often low in nutrients and has a loose structure. For this reason, many dealers also sell these special substrates under the name “sowing and herb soil” or “growing and herb soil”.
Mix your own growing soil – this is how it works
If you look for ways to mix potting soil yourself, the information you receive can almost overwhelm you - especially since every gardener insists on his or her own mix and production and some other recipes do not apply or even warn against it. Some have had good experiences with compost-based potting soil, while others advise against it. In principle, any mixture is suitable as long as it meets the following basic requirements:
- loose, fine-crumb composition
- good water retention, but permeable and not clumping
- nutrient poor
- germ-free and free from weed seeds
What's in potting soil?
“Peat is largely carbon, which oxidizes when broken down and releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.”
Commercial potting soil - like many other substrates - mainly contains peat. However, we advise against this component for environmental reasons, as peat mining irreversibly destroys moorland landscapes. These not only provide a home for numerous rare animal and plant species, but also serve as important stores for the greenhouse gas CO2. Fortunately, there are many other raw materials that can be used to make homemade potting soil.
- Compost: Compost, preferably from your own garden, is a very good substitute for peat for many mixtures - after all, potting soil should not be completely nutrient-free, but just low in nutrients. Leaf or green waste compost is particularly suitable.
- Bark humus: Bark humus is created by composting spruce or pine bark, is wonderfully permeable to water and yet stable.
- Coconut fibers: These are often offered in blocks or as swelling tablets, so you don't have to carry around heavy shopping. Coconut fibers are a good substitute for peat, but they are questionable for ecological reasons: after all, they first have to be brought here from distant regions.
- Wood fibers: Wood fibers, on the other hand, are ecologically better and provide similar advantages to exotic coconut fibers. Be sure to get some made from untreated wood.
- Sand or gravel: Sand or gravel should not be missing from any sowing soil, because the mineral material ensures a loose and well-drained substrate. It also contains no nutrients. But be careful: under no circumstances should you use play sand, because it is too fine and would make the sowing soil hard as concrete after watering.
- Perlite: Instead of sand, you can also use volcanic perlite, which is usually mixed with lime.
In order for seeds to grow into strong seedlings, you need good growing soil. With the following recipe you can mix your sowingsoil yourself. If you prefer things to be simple, you can order the growing soil with vermicompost from us in the shop. https://ow.ly/smc650lYOCB Plants have different requirements for the soil in which they grow, depending on their growth stage. Sowing soil must fulfill two tasks: ? the seeds should germinate reliably? Above all, the seedling should develop strong roots. With the following composition you get a growing soil that fulfills both functions:? 2 parts garden compost? 2 parts coconut soil? 1 part vermicompost? 1 part sand or perlite? A little cattle or chicken manure garden compost provides nutrients and supports the plant. The coconut soil serves as a water reservoir so that your seedlings don't dry out too quickly. The worm compost adds important microorganisms to the growing soil. These lead to particularly strong seedlings. The sand or perlite ensures enough air circulation in the potting soil. Otherwise it could happen that the roots of the young seedlings rot if there is too much moisture. The cattle or chicken manure also adds some nutrients to the soil. When I used this mixture for the first time, what I particularly noticed was the above-average growth of the roots. Not only are the roots longer, they are also significantly more branched. Even as larger plants, these were less susceptible to disease than my other vegetable plants. Just try it once. I'm sure you'll be amazed too. Send us a picture of your seedlings to @wurmkompost. seedlings seedlings seed cultivation nutriwurm_anzucht
A post shared by Composting | Own vegetables (@wurmkompost) on Feb 26, 2019 at 3:30am PST
Different compositions for different plants
There are numerous recipes for self-mixed potting soil, all of which can and must have different ingredients: after all, not all ingredients are suitable for all plants. For example, while vegetable plants grow best in a humus-rich substrate, cacti and other succulents need a more mineral-rich substrate. So don't start mixing straight away, but choose the starting materials according to the needs of the plants you want to grow. Here we have put together a few examples for you:
| Suitable species | Ingredients and composition | |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy eaters | many vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants and carrots, but also strawberries and geraniums | Garden soil, bark humus and sand 10% each, compost soil 30%, wood or coconut fibers 40% |
| Middle eaters | Vegetables such as cucumbers, kohlrabi, pumpkin and melons, salads and herbs as well as flowers such as roses, dahlias and gloxinias | Bark humus 15%, compost 20%, sand 15%, wood or coconut fibers 50% |
| Weak eater | some herbs such as parsley and garden cress as well as many flowers such as petunias, cosmea, primroses, begonias and azaleas | cf. Medium feeder, only with garden soil instead of compost |
| Cacti and succulents | many types of cacti (not all!) and succulents, e.g. B. Sempervivum | Normal, fine-crumbed garden soil 40%, expanded clay (crushed) 30%, perlite 20%, fine gravel 10% |
| Orchids | all species of orchids except terrestrial orchids | Pine bark 80%, sphagnum moss 20% |
Add some charcoal ash, rock dust or algae lime to the respective mixtures (the latter only for lime-tolerant species!) to strengthen the plants' resistance to fungal diseases.
This article clearly explains how to mix suitable potting soil for peppers and chili:
Anzuchterde selber machen ? Torffrei ?️ Aussaattipps Paprika und Chili
Mix and disinfect potting soil
Once the required material has been selected and obtained, you can now start mixing. Be sure to use the correct mixing ratio as shown in the table. Now proceed as follows:
- Clean all vessels and tools thoroughly.
- Sift through the various components.
- Collect solid components such as stones and root residues.
- Weigh the individual components.
- Now mix them carefully.
- Wet the substrate.
- Disinfect the mixture in a preheated oven at 150 °C for 45 minutes.
Do not leave the house while the soil is still in the oven: if it is too dry, it can start to burn.
Excursus
Determine suitability as growing soil using the “cress test”
If you are not yet sure whether your home-mixed potting soil is actually any good, you can test it with normal cress before using it for the first time. Here's how it works: Sow cress seeds on a small sample of soil and wait: the seeds should germinate within three days and develop he althy, white roots after a week. As long as the cress grows as described, everything is fine and you can also use your sowing soil for other plants. If not, the mixture would have to be optimized again.
Buy potting soil – These varieties are recommended
Depending on the plant, different types of soil are suitable
Purchased ready-made soil also has its place, of course, and has a number of advantages over home-mixed soil: This growing soil, as long as it is of high quality, is always ready for use and can be used straight from the bag. So you don't have to first get the various components, mix them in the optimal ratio and then disinfect, but you can get started straight away. The market for various planting and special soils - which also includes potting soil - is gigantic. It's no wonder that as a consumer you quickly lose track.
That's why we have clearly presented the most popular brand soils for you in this table.
| Compo Sana | Floragard | Neudorff | Dehner | Plantop | Euflor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Growing and herb soil | Organic herb and seed soil | NeudoHum seed and herb soil | Organic seed and herb soil | Sowing soil | Organic seed and herb soil |
| Usage | Sowing, propagation, herbs | Sowing, propagation, repotting, for herbs | Sowing, propagation, herbs | Sowing, propagation of cuttings | Sowing, propagation of cuttings, pricking out | Sowing, propagation of cuttings, pricking out |
| Ingredients | contains peat and perlite | 2 varieties: peat-reduced and peat-free, with compost and perlite | peat-free | peat-free | contains peat, also clay and perlite | contains peat and perlite |
| Additives | Starting fertilization for six weeks | Coconut pulp | Seaweed flour | – | – | organic natural fertilizer |
| Packaging | 5L, 10L, 15L | 5L, 10L, 20L, 40L | 3 L, 10 L | 10 L, 20 L | 20 L | 15 L, 40 L |
| Price | between 6 and 10 EUR | between 5 and 12 EUR | between 4 and 9 EUR | between 4 and 6 EUR | between 5 to 6 EUR | between 8 and 22 EUR |
However, it doesn't always have to be expensive branded soil; some hardware stores now stock peat-free growing soil of good quality, sometimes organic. For example, these varieties are recommended:
| Market | Ingredients | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardol seed and herb soil | Bauhaus | peat-free | 20 L / approx. 5 EUR |
| Organic seed and herb soil | Dehner | peat-free | 15 L / approx. 6 EUR |
| FloraSelf Nature potting soil without peat | Hornbach | peat-free, with natural fertilizer and quartz sand | 15 L / approx. 5 EUR |
Tip
Very inexpensive sowing and growing soil from various discounters, on the other hand, almost always contains peat. The only exceptions are soils based on coconut fibers, so-called coconut soil or spring soil. By the way, soil is only considered “peat-free” if this is explicitly printed on the package.
Frequently asked questions
What pH value should potting soil have?
Commercial sowing or growing soil has a pH value between 5.5 and 7. When mixing it yourself, make sure that your soil has a neutral pH value, as most garden plants need this for he althy growth. Test the value using a test stick, which you can get from the pharmacy or garden center. If the substrate is too acidic, neutralize it with a little garden lime.
What is expanded clay?
Expanded clay is a mineral substrate made from – as the name suggests – clay. Here, loamy clay is first expanded at high temperatures and finally fired, usually producing small balls. The material has a high water absorption capacity without causing waterlogging. For this reason, expanded clay – just like other clay granules – is a popular addition to many plant substrates.
Can you also disinfect potting soil in the microwave?
Yes, it actually works very well and is quicker than in the oven. However, you can only disinfect small amounts of soil at a time. Here's how it works: Spread some of the substrate thinly on a flat plate. Moisten it slightly, because the germs and bacteria are not killed by the heat alone, but by the heated water. Then let the microwave run at the highest level for at least four minutes: bacterial pathogens will only be neutralized after this time.
Can you also use cat litter for your own mixed potting soil?
As long as you use a purely mineral and non-clumping variety, cat litter is very suitable for plant species with low nutrient requirements. Cacti, for example, grow very well in it.
What is pricking and when should you do it?
When pricking out, seedlings that are too close together are planted at a greater distance apart so that they can develop properly. For most plant species, the best time for this is when the seedling has developed the first pair of proper leaves after the cotyledons.
The seeds do not germinate despite growing soil. What went wrong?
There are various reasons for this: Seeds often do not germinate if the germination conditions are not right and it is too cold or too warm. Many plants also need stratification, i.e. H. they need to be stored in a cool place for a few weeks. It is not uncommon for the seeds to be simply too old and therefore no longer capable of germinating, for example when using leftover seeds from last year or because the dealer sold bad seeds. Also make sure that there are light and dark germinators: Some types of plants need light to germinate and therefore must not be covered with soil, others not. Moisture is also very important: The growing soil must not dry out, otherwise the seeds will also lose their ability to germinate,
The potting soil is moldy. Why?
If the growing soil consists of organic raw materials, they can become moldy. Mold often appears when the substrate is too moist and, for example, the cultivation container has not been ventilated regularly.
Tip
If the young plants are to be pricked out, i.e. separated, you can add some horn meal to the growing soil and thus increase the nutrient content.
