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What type of soil?

9 years ago

I have several different kinds of plants I am planning on repotting in the Spring. Is there any plant that wouldn't do well in a gritty mix?

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Comments (5)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
9 years ago
Plant care is a rather holistic adventure. There are more things to affect the plant than soil choice, but it makes absolutely no sense to put a plant in a medium we know is going to limit the plant and then expect optimal results. Why fight the soil for control of the plants vitality for as long as the plant is in that soil?

Soils that hold little or no water between soil particles are almost always (99%+) going to offer you and the plant more opportunity to realize the potential the plant is genetically encoded with. If you do your part, anything you might want to grow will do very well in the gritty mix. I've only found one plant that likes the 5:1:1 mix better than the gritty mix, but I don't have a clue as to why that is. It's known by a number of names - Ledebouria socialis, Scilla violacea, South African squill, leopard lily, leopard squill, or silver squill.

Al
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
9 years ago
Elizabeth, why don't you try a couple of plants first, for a year or so? Not everyone ends up liking the gritty mix.
elizabeth_101 thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Actually, Elizabeth, it's a good idea to start with a few plants, rather than the whole family. It often takes a little time to get adjusted to how the gritty mix performs. Once you've made the initial transition and are able to see how it all goes, you'll be more relaxed about making a major transition. Do ask for helpful tips just before you make the transition, please.

Al
elizabeth_101 thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
elizabeth_101
Original Author
9 years ago
I have two Ponytail palms sitting in a pure peat mix. I know that won't end well. I'm almost afraid to water them. I also have a couple of Crotons in such poor quality soil that when I water them the water sits on the surface for several minutes. Consequently those plants have developed a network of fine surface roots. Again, not the best conditions. I'll pick 4-5 plants to repot and see how it goes. Just waiting for a time that works best for the plant.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
9 years ago
The ponytails are a slam dunk, they'll love the gritty mix; and because they are soo drought tolerant, there is hardly anything YOU can do to hurt them, unless you get really enthusiastic about watering - like watering every other day.

I think one of the keys to transplanting (into the gritty mix) success centers on keeping in mind the mix has excellent gas exchange, and because of that, the upper level of the soil dries quite a bit faster than the soil deeper in the pot; so, when you repot/ transplant after bare rooting, you need to be mindful of keeping the soil damp where the roots are - even if it means watering every day for a week or so until the plant's get established and colonize the deeper parts of the pot.

Best luck.

Al
elizabeth_101 thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

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