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Continuer vos achats6 Tips For Having Healthy Soil For Your Indoor Plants
Do you want your indoor plants to be happy and pest free? The most important key is to make sure you start with the right soil. Here are our top 6 tips to ensure your plants are growing in healthy soil
1. Don’t use garden soil to fill your indoor pots
The common garden soil consistency is normally very heavy for tropical plants. The roots of indoor plants are very delicate and if soil is not porous enough, it could damage the roots. In addition to that, you might risk bringing unwanted pests in your house. So, here’s our rule of thumb: outdoor soil and indoor plants do not mix!
2. Use fresh soil when repotting your plant
Pests, organic residue, and bacteria from previous plants can harm your new plant. Save yourself the headache and just start fresh! However, if you decide to recycle used soil, it would be a good idea to air it out in a large container outside in full sun and let it dry completely before you use it. Make sure the soil is pest-free before using.
3. Ensure that your soil provides proper drainage
If your soil is heavy (such as clay) and is not mixed with additional material for aeration, the water will not drain through it properly. The accumulation of excess water will cause the roots to rot. This will eventually kill the plant. Proper drainage will ensure your plant gets adequate air circulation.
Additives like perlite, vermiculite, or small quantities of sand will help create air pockets in the soil which will promote healthy oxygen flow.
4. If you’re buying a pre-made soil mixture, make sure it’s good quality
A trip to your local nursery will give you many more options than just the good old Miracle Grow soil. We recommend the brands Pro-Mix and Fafard. We like these brands because they are Canadian and we have used both their indoor and outdoor soils that have worked well for us.
5. Match your plant’s roots to the right consistency of soil
There are a couple of things to consider when choosing the soil consistency: Use fast draining soil for succulents so that the oxygen flow to the shallow roots is not restricted. For aroids, like Philodendrons, ensure that you have a nutrient rich medium with good drainage. Here’s the gist: understand your plants’ needs and then use the right soil for them to thrive!
6. Consider experimenting with different growing mediums
Soilless mediums such as Leca, perlite, and sphagnum moss are fun to experiment with. They reduce the risk of having those pesky pests like fungus gnats. They are also generally easy to manage because the risk of over/under watering your plants is also eliminated!
Having appropriate soil pays off in the long run. After all, healthy soil means healthy roots, which is essential for having healthy plants!