Remember: a trustworthy brand will be open about what is in their product by including a detailed label. Potting Soil Density This moisture-rich plant thrives outdoors year-round only in the very warmest regions (zones 9 to 10). In other areas, aloe grows best indoors as a houseplant, with some gardeners moving it outdoors for summer. Mulch around plants with 2 to 3 inches of Scotts® Nature Scapes® bagged mulch, straw, shredded leaves, pine straw, or untreated grass clippings. Mulch helps reduce weeds and keeps soil moist. Clean, airtight storage bins are the best friend to any potting mix you plan to keep in reserve. A sparkling interior is key—you don’t want to put sterilized soil in a potentially contaminated container. If your storage solution isn’t new, grab a scrub brush and follow these steps to wash it. While you’re at it, do the pot your plant was in and any tools you used, too. Potted plants are more susceptible to root rot and other diseases because of the water not being able to drain away as effectively as it normally would in a garden bed. Unlike normal garden dirt, potting soil contains materials like peat moss, aged or composted bark, coconut coir, perlite, pumice, and sand, which allow air and moisture to permeate properly through the soil and stop the soil from becoming heavy and dry.

Looking for an office plant or a bit of greenery for a dark corner of the living room? A snake plant is a terrific choice, as it doesn’t need much light to thrive. It will also grow in bright, indirect light. Just don’t leave it where sunbeams coming through the windows can burn its leaves. If yours is a variegated snake plant (one with green and white or yellow leaves), you’ll actually want to place it in an area that gets bright but indirect light to preserve the colors. Variegated plants in very low light conditions will sometimes revert to green. While plants grow beautifully indoors, they will also grow outdoors in the shade in zones 10 through 12. Too much acidity or alkalinity will also kill the roots and cause the plant to wilt. pH between 6 and 7 is ideal, but it is not necessary to have a specific pH for your particular soil. You can use a soil test kit to determine your soil’s pH, or you can experiment with different soil pH levels to find the one that works best for you and your plants. Is it OK to mix potting soil with garden soil? While you can mix potting soil with garden soil, it is not recommended for potted plants, but it is best used for a raised garden bed, as the potting soil may be too heavy and become compacted. Choose from all purpose, organic, tomato, Bloom Booster, rose, and orchid water soluble plant food, depending on your type of plants.Kantha when they need them the most. “It’s a great fertilizer for the soil,” said Dr. Michael J. Smith, a professor of soil science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “It has a lot of nitrogen in it, but it’s also very high in potassium, which is very important for plant growth. It’s not a fertilizer that you can put in the ground and expect to have a good crop. What is the difference between Miracle Grow potting soil and garden soil? Water monstera when the top 1-2 inches of soil feels dry. You’ll likely water about once a week, although this may vary depending on your home’s humidity level. Because it’s a rainforest plant, monstera will also love a spritz with a spray bottle about once a week to remind it of its jungle origins. How To Feed Monstera

If you have a lot of plants, you may want to consider a different type of soil, such as peat moss or composted cow manure. These soil types will help keep your plants healthy and healthy looking. Is Miracle Grow cancerous? CANADIAN TIRE® and the CANADIAN TIRE Triangle Design are registered trade-marks of Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited. While potting soil is ideal for a wide range of potted plants, it may not be the best medium for seed starting and seedlings. Potting soil manufacturers differ in their soil blend and it may not contain the fertilizer that younger plants need to thrive. Some manufacturers like the Miracle-Gro Potting Mix uses potash which refers to a potassium-bearing mineral. For example, a NPK mix may include 21% nitrogen, 11% phosphate, and 16% potash, or 7% nitrogen, 2% phosphate, and 2% potash. The more balanced the NPK mix is, the better the potting soil is for your plants.

Use

One of the easiest ways to sterilize potting mix that’s still in good shape is through solarization, a simple method that lets the sun do most of the work. Your part includes gathering all of your used potting mix into heavy-duty plastic bags, tying them shut, and then finding the sunniest part of your yard to stash them. The three key minerals that plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Potting soil and potting mix will be labeled with the percentage concentration of these macronutrients. These ingredients are referred to as NPK which stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium. Happy snake plants will eventually fill their entire container home with roots, and when that happens, it’s time to re-plant. Remove the clump from the pot and pull it apart (don’t be shy!). Replant sections in pots that are only ⅓ larger than the root clump, using the planting directions above. Give some to your pals, or spread them out through the darker corners of your home. The clear gel inside an aloe leaf is used for its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. To harvest aloe, break or cut a piece off the tip of the lowermost leaf. The cut leaf may ooze for a short time, but a natural latex within the aloe should seal things within a few hours. When you need more, take another piece off the same leaf until it’s all used up.

Dimitri Gatanas, the general manager at Urban Garden Center, is a fan of this potting soil, which is sold in the shop. Gatanas raves about the ingredients list — which includes the peat moss and forest compost you’ll find in other standard soils but also features earthworm castings along with crab meal. “This is the perfect combination that any plant can grow happily in,” he says. As a bonus, Gatanas says it has elements that naturally aerate the soil and keep it alive. While he recommends it in general for most plants, it’s also ideal for Monsteras and fiddle-leaf figs, according to Gatanas: “The soil is rich in nitrogen and the bat guano really helps support a good root system.” Kristin Monji, founder of landscaping firm Birch and Basil Design, agrees that this soil is well-suited for Monstera and fiddle-leafs, saying that the two “do well with well-draining soil mixes as neither likes wet feet — that is, being in soil that stays too wet for too long.” In addition to the species of plant, many potting soil mixes are designed for either indoor or outdoor use. Outdoor soil is heavier and coarser than indoor soil, so it can retain more moisture in the sun and resist harsh weather conditions. Ingredients Good potting soil will also have a variety of nutrients for feeding plants, as opposed to just one or two. Look on the bag for a list of included ingredients; a potting soil that just says ‘fertilizer’ on the bag probably doesn’t include many different nutrients. The horticulturists we spoke with were insistent that you don’t need to get too precious when choosing a general potting mix that will cater to a variety of plants. No one suggested anything prohibitively expensive, and they noted that you can find most things at your local Lowe’s, Home Depot, or gardening center. “When I’m taking care of somebody else’s plants, the Miracle Grow potting mix is great,” says Medlin. She uses it for both indoor and outdoor plants and “across the board for almost every plant that I take care of for my work” — including traditional house plants, seedlings, and even the occasional succulent. You can go higher end if you want, but she says that most potting mixes are about the same. “I’ve never had one that has caused my plants to die,” she adds. Growing aloe vera is a low-maintenance experience, as this tough succulent plant needs little TLC to thrive. At the same time, planting aloe brings big rewards, both as a skin aid and an attractive addition to your indoor décor.

How To Water Monstera

The best potting mix should be light and fluffy and it should not be too dense when it is wet. Otherwise, the roots of the plant may get smothered. They could also develop rot or mold. Potting soil comprises various nutrients that keep plants healthy and help them grow. Depending on what plants you have and what environment they’re growing in, variable amounts and combinations of certain nutrients will prove most effective at helping them thrive. In addition, some of these elements may also be present in other types of soil. For example, the presence of potassium and magnesium in organic soil may be a result of the addition of fertilizer or the use of a fungicide or herbicide to control weeds. Why you shouldn’t use Miracle-Gro soil? Most potting soil mixes contain peat moss, perlite, or both. Peat moss is absorbent and resistant to decay, while perlite has an open structure that allows water and air to circulate freely for drainage. Snake plants are actually in the succulent family and count agaves among the members of their family tree. (Just don’t try to harvest them to make tequila!) They have many of the same easy-care attributes as their agave cousins: They’re very forgiving if you forget to water them, don’t require much sunlight to grow, and do a great job purifying the air—perfect for a stuffy office. If you’re cultivating an indoor garden of houseplants, a snake plant’s upright, spiky habit will add a bit of interesting texture amid the ferns, palms, and spider plants.