For a long time, I believed I was awful at taking care of indoor plants. While my outdoor garden thrived effortlessly, my indoor plants always seemed to be on the brink of death. Despite my lack of success, I was determined to maintain vibrant plant walls, so I set out to uncover the secrets to keeping my indoor greenery alive. Surprisingly, the solution was simpler than I imagined!
After a trip to the library, chats with a master gardener, and a deep dive into online research, I discovered that my indoor plant troubles boiled down to the soil I was using. While outdoor plants thrived thanks to robust homemade compost, my indoor plants had only the pot soil, which varied greatly in quality and needed regular nutrient replenishment.
This understanding led me to explore the differences between dirt, soil, and potting mixes. With my newfound knowledge, my plants began to thrive. If you’ve had similar struggles, you’re not alone, and there’s hope!
My gardening friend enlightened me about the distinction between potting soil and potting mix—terms I had mistakenly used interchangeably. To help plants flourish, you need more than just soil; a well-mixed potting combination with specific qualities is essential. This revelation made me realize I needed to create my own potting mix, a task I found quite aligned with my DIY adventures, from homemade toothpaste to impromptu coffee bars.
Mixing potting ingredients comes with necessary precautions, though. Legionnaires’ disease, while rare, can be caught from bacteria found in soil and compost. To be safe, always wear a particulate mask and gloves when preparing your mix, and wash up afterward.
Now, about that potting mix recipe. The basic mix I use is versatile enough for many plants, requiring only slight modifications for specific needs:
– Safety gear on, grab a big container for mixing. The recipe uses “parts” to make it easy to scale. A “part” could be a cup for small batches or a bucket for larger amounts.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Rehydrate coco coir by mixing it with a ratio of water: 8 parts water to 1 part coir by weight. Warm water helps speed things up.
2. Once the coir is a light, fluffy texture, combine it with an equal part of vermiculite. This makes up half of your mix.
3. Add compost in the same volume as the coir-vermiculite blend and mix thoroughly.
4. Finally, for every gallon of mix, incorporate 1 cup of sand and 2 tablespoons of worm castings, and mix well.
Check the pH: Ensuring the right pH for indoor plants is critical. Use a 3-in-1 meter to test your mix, aiming for a pH between 6-7. If needed, adjust with lime to raise pH or a soil acidifier to lower it. Monitoring over a few days will help you get it just right.
Even with a great mix, remember that over time, plants use up soil nutrients. So, I add an organic fertilizer every few weeks when watering them, which keeps my plants healthy and happy.
Replacing your plant’s soil annually is also wise. By then, they often need a bigger pot anyway, ensuring they have room to grow. If you’re as into decorating with plants as I am (yes, I’ve diagnosed myself with “plant wall creation disorder”), making your own mix is cost-effective.
However, if you’re only potting a couple of houseplants, buying a quality mix is perfectly fine. Just look for a mix specifically (not just soil), check the pH, and add fertilizers as needed to keep your plants thriving.
And there you have it—a comprehensive guide to crafting your own potting mix, which has made all the difference for me in keeping my plants alive and flourishing. What about you? Do you have any tips for nurturing houseplants?
