Home made potting mixture for gardens, that you can prepare very easily. Generally, the health and beauty of your plants depend on many factors. Among these, the most important one is the medium in which the plant grows.
Our plants will look really amazing, if we provide them with potting mixture that are prepared in the right proportion.
The potting mixture that suits fine for one plant, may not be that much beneficial for others. Usually the basic ingredients, that we use for the preparation of potting mixture, are the same. But the ratio for mixing the components depends mainly according to particular nature of the plants. For example, we can use a sandy medium with a lesser quantity of garden soil for succulents. Whereas plants from the orchid family, does not need a soil medium to grow.
Let us see the main ingredients, that are required for the preparation of home made potting mixture.
River sand for Home made potting mixture
River sand is the most important component of potting medium, that a plant needs throughout its growth. Especially, from the beginning stages such as germination of seeds, rooting of stem cuttings etc.
Adding more river sand helps better drainage, as well as air circulation for the potting mixture. Moreover it helps spreading out the roots in a faster way, but prevents rotting.
Loam or ordinary garden soil
For some plants, it is very essential for adding a certain quantity of loamy soil for the preparation of potting mixture. Truly it helps holding moisture in the pot, but drains out the extra water as well. Never forget to use the loam, that is free from the sticky type of clay. Because the potting mixture may become harder, if it happens to be dried out.
Crushed bricks
Generally we use crushed bricks for the preparation of potting mixture for bonsai trees, succulents, cactus, orchids etc. Surely we can make it easily at home, by crushing bricks using a hammer.
According to the nature of the plants, we can use pieces of bricks that are made in different sizes. For example, pieces of about one inch size, are ideal for making the potting mixture for orchids plants. But for making a bonsai mix, even smaller size of crushed bricks, preferably about one centimeter, is better.
Organic manure
To fortify the potting mixture with nutrients, it is essential to add some kind of organic manure. For this we can use vermi compost, leaf compost, well dried and powdered cow dung, bone meal or any other organic manure.
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Coco peat
For retaining moisture and aeration in the potting mixture, we can use coco peat, that we can buy from sellers. Before using, soak the compressed coco peat available in the form of cakes, for about three to four hours in water.
Perlite for Home made potting mixture
Water retention, preferably for seed germination, aeration in the medium etc. are the main uses of perlite.
Neem seed powder
Certainly it is one of the best natural pest repellent, that we can add while preparing the potting mixture.
Let us see examples for the preparation of potting mixture, especially for some common tropical plants.
Home made potting mixture for Succulents
Succulents, either flowering or non flowering, always need a well drained sandy medium. Flowering succulents, such as the Euphorbia milii, Adenium obesum etc. are very common in tropical regions. Certainly we can grow these low maintenance plants in our home gardens very easily.
Given below, is the ratio for preparing home made potting mixture for succulents.
| Crushed bricks | 35% |
| River sand | 25% |
| Compost or dried cow dung | 25% |
| Coco peat | 15% |
Flowering shrubs
Flowering shrubs such as Bougainville, Ixora etc. are ideal for growing in pots. Preferably in a medium with the ingredients mixed together in the following ratio.
| River sand | 25% |
| Garden soil | 25% |
| Coco peat | 25% |
| A mixture of bone meal and neem seed powder | 25% |
Indoor plants.
The Snake plant, Aglaonema, Spider plant, Syngonium etc. are some of the low light plants that we can grow easily indoors. Definitely they can do well in a potting mixture, with the ingredients combined in the following ratio.
| River sand | 20% |
| Coco peat | 20% |
| Crushed bricks | 20% |
| Neem seed powder | 10% |
| Garden soil | 10% |
| Bone meal | 10% |
| Vermi compost | 10% |
Home made potting mixture for bonsai trees
The most suitable trees for bonsai in tropical regions, are those from the Ficus family. For example Ficus microcarpa, Ficus benjamina, Ficus religiosa, Ficus alii etc. Surely we can use potting mixture with the following composition, for growing Ficus bonsai trees.
| River sand | 30% |
| Crushed bricks | 25% |
| Mixture of compost, neem seed powder and bone meal | 20% |
| Coco peat | 15% |
| Garden soil | 10% |
Besides, we can make slight changes in the above ratio, for bonsai trees that belong to other species.
Home made potting mixture for Herbs and Spices.
In addition, we can grow a lot of spices as well as herbs, that are frequently used in our kitchens. For example ginger, turmeric, black pepper etc. that are effective medicines too.
We can meet the daily needs of these herbs or spices, by growing a few potted plants in our garden. Especially in home made potting mixture, that are prepared with the right proportion of ingredients.
Mentioned above are some basic tips for the preparation of home made potting mixture, that are suitable for different types of plants.
Either you can try it as such, or make your own, with slight differences in combinations of the basic ingredients. Definitely from your own experience, you can find whichever is better for your plants.
Try to make your garden really awesome with lots of beautiful plants. Especially, that are grown in your own home made potting mixture.
