Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange
Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [potting-soil]

Soil used for pot plants

Potting soil mixes are intended for use in pots. As such they are typically mixed for particular application - unlike an outside bed which is typically topsoil or modified topsoil.

Use this tag for questions about potting soil mixtures, which to use, etc.

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Key lime tree: white mush/mold (?) on the roots, and curling whitening leaves

This is a followup to this question, from a couple months ago. I tried yesterday to edit that question to include the followup, but it was not very well-received -- I assume it was not the right thing to do, so I'm starting a new one. While my…
Clement C.
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Why is my Dracaena fragrans wrinkling?

I have a Dracaena fragrans (corn plant) which is dying. I originally purchased it just over a year ago, when a similar plant I had (Yucca elephantisis) died in a similar manner. Basically, what happens is that the new growth on the cane starts to…
jwir3
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How to sterilise soil?

I am planning to do some indoor gardening. I've build some containers large enough to host 1200kg of soil. I am gonna use the soil form the garden and forest, but I would like to sterilise it first. I am not interested in commercially available…
sanjihan
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Should I add soil with living things, like worms, to a potting mix?

I normally just buy in seedlings from big box stores since I am too disorganised to start my own seedlings in time. However, this year I did manage to get some seeds into the seed raising mix, and they have come up. I've then pricked out the…
Graham Chiu
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What exactly is garden soil, and why shouldn't it be used for potted plants?

Okay, I searched internet but didn't help much, so here is my question, I hope for a detailed answer. What is garden soil? I mean, why it is not recommended for potted plants? Is it because it's heavy and doesn't drain well and less to no aeration?…
4-K
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What precautions should I take when reusing soil in pots?

I live in a rented house, with minimal space for planting in beds, and am not allowed to modify the garden enough to change this. I grow a variety of fruit and vegetables in large pots, mainly tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, chillis and aubergines.…
Arronical
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May have planted my tree wrong... is it too late to dig it up and replant it?

I live in climate zone 7a in New Mexico, and I planted a pear tree in my backyard three days ago. Following the directions on the tag, I dug a hole twice the diameter and depth of the root ball and filled it with potting soil, topping it off with…
iLikeDirt
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What is causing the yellowing on my English Ivy's leaves?

Same unfortunate newbie from this thread I have some ivy plants that two weeks after transplant are yellowing of the leaves and starting to look rather sad. These were purchased as full size plants that were being grown indoors in the nursery, so…
DeaconDesperado
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How to maximize nutrient retention in a coir hanging basket?

I had put potting mix directly into a coir hanging basket: Whenever I water the basket (or when it rains), the water that drains out the bottom is usually dark, which suggests that nutrients and organic matter are leaching out. What are some good…
JKSH
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Can I use cat litter in potting mix? Has anyone tried it?

I've read in some bonsai forums that it's possible to use cat litter in alternative to the traditional bonsai soil, which is really expensive. I want to try it in the potting mix I'm making for my interior plants. Does it really work? Has anyone…
cbdeveloper
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What would be the non-organic part in this vegetal compost mixture?

See the composition of this substrate mixture I've bought: It only mentions organic stuff, like vegetal compost and composted pine bark. At the same time, it says that the organic matter content is 40-50%. So my question is: what would be the…
cbdeveloper
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Is spruce bark equivalent to pine bark in potting mixes?

Composted pine bark is a standard ingredient in potting mixes. Most of the local forestry is spruce. Is there any reason to not use spruce bark? I know that generally barks need to be composted at least 90 days, and preferably a year to get rid of…
Sherwood Botsford
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perlite on its own for succulents

What is your experience with using perlite on its own for planting succulents? I add slow-release pellets for start-up, but will feed with liquid fertilizer when plants establish themselves. The perlite grains are size 4 (coarse). Plants: Plants…
Christmas Snow
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What kind of soil does aloe vera prefers?

(I'm new to planting) Can I use native soil from a nearby grass field? Should I also add some plotting mix?
Stack_Protégé
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What type of soil for transplanting bamboo?

Do you need special soil to transplant bamboo? Also, do you have to keep it in water or can you use potting soil? I have tried regular potting soil, but the bamboo died.
Jackie
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