Growing soil is wonderful: loose, germ-free and the plants grow fabulously. Unfortunately, potting soil is not exactly available commercially cheaply. Is this special soil really necessary or are there alternatives that have similar properties?
What alternative can be used for potting soil?
As an alternative to potting soil, you can usecoconut soil,bark humus, oldgarden soilor even oneuse your own mixture.
Which is the most popular alternative to potting soil?
The most popular alternative for expensive potting soil isCoconut soil. This is extremely low in nutrients and, like special potting soil, is very loose and permeable. It consists of the fibers of coconut palms.
Which alternatives to potting soil are less common?
Bark humus is a good growing soil alongside coconut soil. It mostly consists of the bark of pine and spruce trees.
You can also usewood fibers as growing soil. However, they have the disadvantage that they decompose relatively quickly.
In addition, old and alreadyleached vegetable soil from the garden can also be used.
Can you make your own potting soil?
If you like it creatively, you can alsomake your own potting soil. To make your own potting soil, you only need sand, normal garden soil and compost. Mix one third of these components together.
Are alternatives to potting soil really useful?
The alternatives to potting soil are useful under certain conditionsuseful Above all, they have one decisive advantage: they are more cost-effective. But they also have certain disadvantages. This includes, for example, that they are not germ-free. Diseases can therefore quickly appear in seedlings or young plants. It could also contain eggs from pests and seeds from other plants.
What should you consider when choosing alternatives to potting soil?
Due to the lack of sterility, it is advisable to sterilize the alternatives to commercially available potting soil. For example, if only one fungal spore is contained, it could attack the he althy growing plant and mean its end. You can sterilize in the oven.
Is potting soil a good alternative to potting soil?
Potting soil isnot a good alternative to potting soil. The reason is that potting soil is too rich in nutrients. It often even contains fertilizers. It is suitable for already grown plants such as flowers that need a lot of nutrients to bloom.
Tip
Growing soil right on your doorstep
If you're really clever, you'll use the soil from molehills. But be careful: Before you drive a wheelbarrow to the park or even into the forest to collect huge amounts of soil from molehills, you should remember: According to the law, you are only allowed to take small amounts of soil with you. So a bucket full should be enough.
