We Should Improve Potting Soil!
To produce amazing plants in pots, the most vital is to improve potting soil. However, as the plants take nutrients during the growing season, a large number of nutrients may be depleted. So that you may use the potting soil again, you must improve it. By adding fresh potting soil to a container’s soil, you can improve it. You may make it better by adding compost to boost the organic matter content. You can also add vermiculite to help it retain moisture. A slow-release organic fertilizer can be added to improve potting soil.
Mix With A Half Of Fresh Potting Soil
Remove half of the old potting soil and replace it with new potting soil in the container. This will save you money because you will need to buy less potting soil. If you desire, you can re-use the old potting soil you removed in other containers. With the help of a trowel, combine the old and new potting soil. If the container is large and there is a lot of potting soil, you may need a shovel. You may even put the old potting soil in a wheelbarrow and mix it with the new. It would be a little easier to do without spilling the soil out of the container if you did it this way.
Pro Tip
It’s best to start with a small amount of fresh potting soil, then spritz it with water and thoroughly mix it in. Repeat the process until all of the old and fresh potting soil has been well mixed.
Add 25% Of Compost To The Potting Soil
Adding compost to your old potting soil is the most effective approach to improve potting soil and organic matter, nutrients, and beneficial organisms. The old potting soil’s texture will also be improved by the compost. Because of the organic matter, it will aid in the restoration of some of the soil’s moisture retention and aeration capabilities. To the previous potting soil, I recommend adding 10 to 25% compost. You may mix it right in the container. Alternatively, you can put the old potting soil in a wheelbarrow, add the compost, and thoroughly mix it up. If you’re making a little amount of potting soil, you can use a trowel, but if you’re making a large batch, you’ll need a shovel.
Increase The Nutrients
Improve potting soil will benefit from the addition of nutrients from the compost. For plants that are heavy eaters, I also recommend adding some slow-release organic fertilizer. The amount you apply will be determined by the amount of potting soil you have and the manufacturer’s instructions. Before adding to the soil, double-check the manufacturer’s instructions. Once the seeds have germinated, the slow-release fertilizer can provide the necessary nutrients. When you water the soil, the slow-release fertilizer is released.
Improve The Potting Soil Texture
If you notice that to improve potting soil still need the extra ingredients after mixing fresh potting soil and compost, you can go ahead and do this optional step. If you notice that your potting soil isn’t holding enough water and is quickly draining, it’s possible that the soil has become hydrophobic. Soaking it in water for an hour is the best technique to make it hydrophilic and restore moisture retention. Allow the soil to slowly absorb the moisture and regain its texture. To assist the potting soil to retain more moisture, add moisture-absorbing ingredients like vermiculite, peat moss, or coco coir. I recommend mixing 10-20% of this material into the potting soil.
Little Tips
You can add ingredients that will assist the potting soil drain water faster if it is keeping more moisture than it needs to. Coarse sand and perlite, which have texture to drain the water, are two materials that can help you with this. I recommend mixing 10-20% of this material into the potting soil.
Last Words
Hope this article helps you to improve potting soil in an easy way. Share your experiences about it!