A citrus plant grows in a pot in this country. But which soil do we have to fill it with so that the plant remains he althy and beautiful throughout? The experts think it has to be a special mixture. Is that correct? And if so, does it have to be the expensive citrus soil from the garden center?
Which soil is suitable for citrus plants?
For an ideal citrus soil you need 1/3 garden soil, 1/3 compost, 1/6 loam or clay minerals and 1/6 quartz sand. Add some lime if necessary. A drainage layer made of coarse material such as gravel, gravel or clay is also important.
When new soil is needed
Younger citrus plants need to be repotted about every two years. In older specimens, only the top layer is replaced with fresh soil. Even if you want to propagate new citrus plants yourself, you will need citrus soil. When purchasing new specimens, also make sure that they are rooted in ideal soil. If necessary, they too need to get better soil as soon as possible.
These requirements must be met
For all types of citrus, high-quality soil is the crucial basis for he althy growth. In order for a soil mixture to be considered suitable, it must fulfill the following functions:
- ensure consistent water supply
- Supply roots with oxygen
- Provide nutrients and promote their absorption
- have the optimal pH value of 5.5 to 6.5
- provide stable support
It follows from this list that citrus soil must be structurally stable and permeable, as well as have the ability to store water.
Buy citrus soil in stores
The most convenient way to get suitable soil is certainly to buy it from specialist retailers. Special citrus soil is offered there that meets all requirements and is already enriched with the required combination of nutrients.
Tip
If you use purchased soil for your citrus plants, you should stop fertilizing them for about six weeks after repotting, until the nutrients in the new soil have largely been used up.
Ingredients for your own mixture
The citrus soil sold in stores is quite expensive compared to normal plant soil. Anyone who has to supply a lot of large citrus plants will lose a lot of money. So why not mix the soil for citrus plants yourself at home? The basic ingredients are cheaper to buy individually, you just have to put in a little work. This belongs in a good citrus soil:
- 1/3 garden soil
- 1/3 compost
- 1/6 Clay or clay minerals
- 1/6 quartz sand
- some lime if necessary
In addition, you will also need coarse material for the drainage layer, for example gravel, gravel or clay.
How to get good citrus soil
Mix garden soil with compost. Add more sand and clay, although the amount may need to be fine-tuned. If the garden soil is loamy, more sand needs to be added. If, on the other hand, it is sandy, reduce the amount of sand and increase the clay content instead. If necessary, the pH value can be increased by adding lime.
Tip
To get a loose, more permeable soil, you can add coconut fiber (€16.00 on Amazon). They are a good natural replacement for the peat that was often used in the past, which is now considered ecologically questionable.
