There’s nothing better than the feeling of growing your own plants. Many homeowners enjoy spending time watching plants of all types successfully grow. That being said, it can be understandably frustrating to begin this hobby. There are many types of soil available to use. Many who begin gardening enjoy doing this with potted plants. In this post, you’ll learn more about potting soil and how it differs from other similar materials.
When to Use Potting Soil
It’s important to understand the best time to use potting soil. Knowing when to use potting soil helps to ensure that your plants receive the proper nutrition they need. Potting soil is made specifically for use with potted plants. While it might seem odd, potting soil is actually a combination of a wide range of materials.
Statistics show that healthy soil is actually a mixture of 45% minerals, 25% air, 25% water, and 5% organic matter. Likewise, the best potting soils are a mixture of several types of materials. The materials frequently used in potting soils include peat, bark, and perlite. These materials form together to create a certain environment that is beneficial for potted plants. Potting soil’s mixture is often why this soil feels slightly fluffier compared to others.
Differences Between Potting Soil and Other Landscaping Materials
Many who begin to renovate their yards feel understandably confused when it comes to choosing the right type of soil. It’s easy to get potting soil confused with topsoil. While topsoil and potting soil are both beneficial for plants, the latter works best for those stored in containers. On the other hand, topsoil is best used for plants growing outdoors.
If you’re a homeowner, it’s important to focus on outdoor landscaping. One study found that spending as little as 5% of your home’s value on landscaping can have an ROI of up to 150%. Another study found that landscaping can increase the resale value of a home by up to 14%. It’s also easy to confuse fill dirt with topsoil. One main difference in regards to fill dirt vs topsoil is what these materials are used for. Topsoil is used as the top layer of many gardens while fill dirt is typically used to fill in large outdoor holes.
To summarize, it’s important to understand when to use potting soil. This material is often used with container plants. You might find that there are potting soils that also include additives. These additives can include a wide range of materials most commonly including fertilizer. While these additives aren’t an essential part of potting soils, certain gardeners prefer using these mixtures.
