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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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Does sphagnum peat need to be sterilized for starting seeds?

I have been making my own seedling potting mix, but I have a few questions before I use it. (I posted a previous question about the amount of drainage needed) This question is about Sphagnum Peat. I do not think I need sterilize it before I use…
user27895
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How much drainage in seedling potting mix?

I made my own seedling potting mix. It has 35% drainage and 65% water hold matter. Now, that I see it, I feel like it has too much drainage. I used roughly the same percentage of as Sungro's Blackgold Seedling Potting Mix. I have used Blackgold…
user27895
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Is Natural Cinder a good soil amendment?

Found this online: Natural cinder of 4-8mm chunks a good stuff to add alongside perlite/pumice for succulents and other soil mix? EDIT: What about coal cinder?
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Root bits in old potting mix

I have root bits from the previously grown basil in a soil that is perlite vermiculite coco coir and compost. Is there a way to remove them? If not, then how much new potting soil should I mix in? Moreover, how do I ensure that these root bits don't…
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Growing tomatoes in pots

I had a tomato seedling 30cm high growing in potting soil in a large pot, but the pot had no drain hole so the water built up and went sour. I have replanted the tomato into another holed pot, but am left with the old smelly sour potting soil. How…
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Soil chemistry problem -- too high conductivity

I'm a tree farmer near Edmonton, Alberta. My entire operation is in pots ranging from 100 ml to 40 liters I just got a new load of compost from City of Edmonton. I performed the following test: Packed a pot solidly with compost to a level similar…
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Need short details about perlite, Vermicompost, bone meal and such

I am not looking for definitions or such, but a quick rundown of what is better for soil aeration and drainage? I will need to purchase a few stuff depending on what they do. I already got vermiculite and it's not good for water drainage and…
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Removing worms from potting soil?

This is the background for my question... I had a plant that I bought from a supermarket some time ago. I noticed it was dying, so when I inspected it I noticed the soil had worms (I recently posted a question about this). So I took the plant,…
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Can good soil turn bad?

I bought potting soil well over a year ago, and left it open (inside the plastic bag) in my rooftop. I live in the Caribbean so it would receive strong direct sun every day. The soil was relatively dry and had clumps. It’s been there so long that…
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Soil to buy for potted plants?

Before I ask my question, the only place I can buy from is Home Depot. With that said, what type of soil should I buy for my plants? It would be soil for planters and pots, and I live in the Caribbean (very sunny and with temperatures currently…
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Should roots of old herbs be removed?

When I recently replaced an herb (by a different kind of herb) in a pot that didn't grow sufficiently anymore, I found that quite a large portion of the soil was held tightly by the many small roots of the herb. Is it beneficial for the growth of…
UTF-8
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Which soil works for Dracaena sanderiana (lucky bamboo)?

I got this Dracaena sanderiana (lucky bamboo) recently, and would like to replant it in a different pot and change the soil: I've done some googling and got wildly different and often times opposing answers on which type of soil to use. I have some…
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Haworthias in polystyrene pellets potting-soil when pumice not available

I have read this article about using styrofoam (Polystyrene) instead of Perlite. Is it good to plant Haworthias in 100% styrofoam grains? The poly's water retention is inferior to that of Perlite, and is closer to that of pumice. The polystyrene…
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Is powdered cow dung cake a good rooting medium for bulbs

This is the first time I am growing bulbs but I am not sure if dried cow dung cakes, ground into fine powder would work as a good rooting medium for the bulbs to sprout. A friend of mine gave me a lot of different bulbs and she said that a few were…
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What is the optimal soil composition range for growing salad greens in pots at home?

This year I wanted to experiment with growing edible salads, Chinese cabbage, spinach, lettuce and herbs at home in pots under artificial lighting, so I got the seeds, but not the soil (or lights, or pots) yet. So far I've been using any random…
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