Showing posts with label Perlite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Perlite. Show all posts

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Soil Mix for Indoor Garden

For future reference, and partially in response to a comment on the previous posting, the soil mix I've been using contains:
  • Sphagnum Peat Moss: good for absorbing and retaining moisture, also slightly acidic (which most veggies like);
  • Perlite: expanded volcanic rock, reduces compatibility, improves drainage and keeps soil mix light;
  • Vermiculite: mica, expanded by heat, absorbs moisture, provides air spaces, contains nutrients potassium and magnesium;
  • Zeolite: aids water retention, holds and releases nutrients, contains calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, and other minor trace elements, "helps split roots to create heavier healthy fine roots", and helps balance pH.

I paraphrased this from the bag, I don't actually know this from memory or what exactly it all means. I can definitely see a theme of "lite" ness, so perhaps a "heavy" soil is not so good for getting plants started.