Getting the Most Out of Your Plants

If you’re like me, then you’ve probably tried keeping plants in your home before; ‘tried’ being the key word. You may be unaware, as I was, that a specific type of soil for potted plants is needed in order for them to flourish.

Why Use Potting Soil?

1. First and foremost it’s actually highly convenient. All you have to do is grab a bag, and you’ve got all you need for your plants to stay healthier for longer. If you are feeling a little more DIY; however, you can can make your own, though it will take a little bit more work.
2. Potting soil is lighter than other alternatives, and weight can be something to take into account if you are potting hanging plants. The soil typically include either perlite (a type of volcanic glass), or peat moss, which helps keep the weight low, while providing what growing plants need.
3. Good quality potting soil should be a mixture of 45% minerals, 25% water, 25% air, and 5% organic material; this mixture ensures plants grow healthy, and live longer.
4. Soil for potted plants also includes, most importantly, all the nutrients your plants need. Most of the common brands you can find contain fertilizer already mixed into the soil, which is a good benefit for growing plants.
5. For potted plants to flourish, it is important that they have soil that allows for sufficient draining. The organic material added to soil for potted plants, such as perlite and peat, allow are water to easily drain through and out.
6. In addition to draining, the material in potting soils usually contain elements that help control moisture. This can reduce how often you need to water your plants, while retaining moisture that plants can utilize over a short period of time.

There are many types of soil that can be bought specifically for potted plants, and a variety of mixtures that, depending on the type of plants you are keeping, can produce the most benefit. Remember to double check what conditions and specific needs each of your indoor plants have, so that you can make the best choice to keep each of them healthy.

Uses for Potting Soil

Now that we’ve covered a couple of the benefits soil for potted plants can yield, what can you do with the leftover soil you have? A few creative idea could be:

• Soil for potted plants typically stays good for around 6 months, before the quality begins to degrade. If you are planning on expanding your collection of indoor plants, you can always store the leftover soil, for future use.
• Another idea would be to use it in a gift, and no I’m not suggesting giving a friend a box of dirt. But, if you have a special occasion coming up, you might consider using the extra soil to make up a special indoor plant to give as a unique gift. There are numerous pot designs and materials that, when paired with a gorgeous plant, can really make a one of a kind gift.
• If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can turn your old or leftover potting soil into a potato bin. That might sound like an odd thing to suggest, but it can be a really fun activity for the whole family. If you’d like a guide, you can go here for a step by step. Additionally, this could work with any garden type projects, so if you’re more of a tomato person you could plant those!

The Take Away

Potted plants can go a long way to livening up any living space. Not only to they look pretty, but taking care of them can leave you think a sense of accomplishment, and opening up the doors to even larger gardening projects. Now that we’ve covered the basics of why specific soil for potted plants is an important part to keeping all of your indoor flora looking and healthy and beautiful, you can really let your green thumb shine.