It is known to be very poor in nutrients. But is that really necessary? Does it perhaps make sense to enrich the potting soil with fertilizer so that the plants grow faster? Find out more below.
Should you fertilize potting soil?
Basically it isnot recommended to fertilize potting soil. Its composition is perfect for seedlings, sprouts, cuttings etc.
Why does potting soil contain no fertilizer?
The commercially available potting soil, which is also known as sowing soil, does not contain any fertilizer, as only a smallnumber of nutrients is required during cultivation or sowing. Too many nutrients cause the plants to develop an inferior root system.
When growing plants, it is crucial in the early stages that the plants focus on their root development. Only when their roots are deep enough and richly branched do they have enough strength to grow vitally on the surface.
What happens if potting soil is fertilized too early?
In the worst case, the fertilizer doses are so high that the flood of nutrients harms therootsof the small seedlings cannot handle so many nutrients and die. The first signs are often yellow leaves and stunted growth.
What can you use to fertilize potting soil?
You can fertilize the potting soil withcompost, coffee grounds, bokashi, liquid fertilizer or another product. Make sure that the respective plant tolerates the fertilizer or that the nutrient composition is suitable for its growth. The pH value of the fertilizer should also be taken into account, as it can change the pH value of the potting soil.
When does it make sense to fertilize potting soil?
The time at which the potting soil is fertilized for the first time isvaries from plant to plant In principle, however, it is not recommended to fertilize plants that only have cotyledons. When the plants have reached a size of around 10 cm, initial and subtle fertilization can be carried out.
As a rule, however, it is not necessary to fertilize the potting soil. Normally, the growing soil is sufficient for the plants until they are repotted or planted out. The soil chosen after the potting soil should be richer in nutrients.
Which potting soil should be fertilized at the beginning?
Growing soil such as purecoconut soil(consisting of coconut fibers) orbark humus contains a negligible proportion of nutrients. You can therefore enrich such substrates with a little fertilizer such as compost right from the start.
Tip
Too much fertilizer harms plants
Even if you mean well: too much fertilizer harms the young plants. This weakens them and makes them quickly more susceptible to pests and diseases. Therefore, use fertilizer sparingly.
