Garden Tips

By Larry Gildea
Most types of store-bought potting soils will work well in planters, but you can also use them to mix and blend soils in order to provide just the right mixture for any type of plant, herb, vegetable or flower and their moisture and drainage needs.

Container potting mixes offer a variety of benefits depending on the type of soils or plants you intend to grow. For example, following is a list of the most common types of planting soils and their uses.

• All-Purpose - This is a sterilized mixture of sand or perlite and peat moss soil that is generally used for trees and shrubs as well as vegetables and annuals.

This type of soil mix is also known as loam-based potting mix. As the name implies, its main ingredient is loam. It comes in many different mixtures and strengths and can be used long term for trees and shrubs.

The advantage of this type of potting soil is that many different blends and recipes can be created that are great for many different kinds of plants and shrubs. It is supplied with a good number of nutrients and holds water better than some other types of potting mix. Still, quality also depends on brand names. Overall, loam-based mixes contain small quantities of peat.

• Soil less or Peat-based- This type of potting soil is a mixture of sphagnum peat moss, sand or perlite. Perlite can be substituted for coarse sand. Perlite is a sterile, lightweight, white aggregate made from volcanic minerals. Perlite encourages ventilation of potting soil mixtures. This type of potting soil also contains compost or dried manure or vermiculite, a soil additive. This type of potting mix is typically used for temporary plants like vegetables and annuals.
It is important to keep this type of potting mix slightly damp, as when allowed to dry out completely, it can be difficult to resaturate.

The advantage to using a peat-based potting mix is that it is a quality mix, one that is lightweight, clean and easy to use. However, it is also prone to water logging, dries out more quickly than other mixes and contains low nutrient levels.

• Well-Drained - This type of potting soil is also a sterilized combination of peat moss, sand, leaf molds, grit and soil that is preferred by woodland and alpine type plants.

• Water- Retentive - A water retentive potting soil is a mixture of an all-purpose type combination of ingredients and water-retentive crystals that is suitable for use with any type of plant except succulents and cacti.

• Coir-Based - Coir is available as loose potting mix or in blocks. Made from shredded coconut husks, coir is mixed with other types of potting soil in a one-to-two ratio because it contains no nutrients by itself.
Coir is inexpensive, lightweight, and ideal for use in pots that hang or are anchored on walls or balconies. It has a few disadvantages, such as it is not to be used for permanent plants, it dries quickly and needs to be frequently watered.

• Peat-Free - This type of potting soil has become more popular as consumers become more conscious of green waste composts. Because it is made from recycled household waste, it retains a dark, rich color.
Using this type of potting mix has many advantages. It is fine for most potted plants, contains adequate nutrient levels and retains moisture well. In addition, it has been heat treated, which kills pests, weeds and diseases. Still, keep in mind that some plants do well with this type of mix and others do not.

• Cacti - This type of potting soil is specifically made for use planting cacti and succulents and is
created from of a combination of sterilized soil, gravel, ground limestone, sand and vermiculite.

• Acidic - This type of potting soil is also created by blending an all-purpose type potting mix with additional peat moss as well as ground pine or fir bark. It is best used on ericaceous plants like heather, rhododendron, and azaleas.

Potting Soil Recipes

Basic Potting Soil Recipe

2 parts packaged potting soil,
1 part coarse sand,
1 part peat moss or leaf mold

If desired, you can also add a slow release fertilizer or bone meal

Acid-Loving Plants Recipe (Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Camellias)

2 parts packaged potting soil,
2 parts coarse sand,
2 parts peat moss,
1 part leaf mold,
1/3 part

well composted manure

Bulbs Recipe

2 parts packaged potting soil,
1 part coarse sand,
1 part leaf mold or peat moss,

Bone meal as per package directions

Cacti and Succulents Recipe

2 parts packaged potting soil,
2 parts sand,
1/2 part leaf mold or peat moss,
Add bone meal or limestone according to package directions

A good potting mix doesn't contain any native soils and is designed for better absorption and drainage. You can create your own blends using different types of packaged potting soils mentioned above or make your own using the recipes provided below. For the following recipes, it is best to find a potting soil that contains vermiculite or perlite as its base for best results.
Copyright © Larry Gildea, All Rights Reserved.

Dr.Larry Gildea has authored several articles on gardening. Dr. Gildea has created these gardening websites, http://www.gardeningbonanza.com, Gardening Bonanza.com covers many types of gardening, including, bonsai design and cultivation, container gardening, flower gardening, rose gardening, hydroponics gardening and several others. http://www.organicgardensystems.com Organic Garden Systems .com is dedicated exclusively to organic gardening. And in his blog, http://larryseasygardening.com
Dr. Gildea discusses all types of gardening.
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