Potting Mixes (5613)

The potting soil or medium in which a plant grows should be porous for root aeration and drainage, but also be able to retain water and nutrients.  Most commercially prepared mixes contain no soil.  Avoid purchase of products described as potting soil and those which are fine black powder.  Buy artificial mixes instead.  Soil-less mixes are a combination of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite.  Sometimes the medium also contains materials such as composted bark or coconut fiber called coir (core).  High-quality artificial mixes contain slow-release fertilizers, which will meet a plant’s nutritional requirements for several months.  They may also contain a wetting agent that helps the mix retain water and makes it easier to wet the medium, which is dry.  Foliage plants require a rich, loamy potting medium.  Flowering houseplants, such as African violets, need a medium that should contain about 50% humus-rich materials.  Cacti and succulents do not need as much humus or organic material as other houseplants and should be potted in a medium that contains a high proportion of sand.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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