How to prevent potting soil from compacting? These methods are very practical
Potting soil compaction is an annoying thing, but any friend who likes growing flowers and plants in pots knows that potting soil compaction is not an easy thing to avoid. It is just that a poor soil mix formula is more prone to compaction than a good soil mix formula, and the former will show compaction earlier in time than the latter. Although we cannot avoid potting soil compaction, we can improve the soil structure and delay its occurrence.
In the previous article, the editor briefly introduced the causes of potting soil compaction. Based on these causes, we can take necessary measures to delay the occurrence of this phenomenon. So what about in the short term? We mainly proceed from the following aspects:
1. Reasonable soil mixing
To prevent potting soil compaction, the first thing we need to consider is that the soil mix must be scientific and reasonable. This requires us to consider the structure of the potting soil, and whether the potting soil structure is good or bad will directly affect the success or failure of growing potted flowering plants, so a scientific and reasonable soil mix formula is very key.
When mixing soil for potted flowering plants, we generally need to focus on several aspects: fertile and loose, loose and permeable, and water- and fertilizer-retentive. But as for how to mix the soil, this also needs to be flexibly adjusted according to the growth habits of the plants being grown. Because different varieties of plants have different living habits, the soil mix cannot remain unchanged when mixing soil.
2. Correct watering
Although watering is a routine care measure, the knowledge of watering runs deep. Among these, water quality is an issue that must be considered. Usually, clean river water or rainwater can be used directly to water potted flowering plants. But some friends, for convenience, use tap water for irrigation. Although this is also possible, after all, it can only be done under certain conditions.
Because fresh tap water often contains a large amount of bleaching powder and chlorine, if it is used directly to water plants, it will not only affect the growth of the plants, but also promote the potting soil to become compacted, and even cause the soil to become saline-alkaline. Therefore, under normal circumstances, we should not use tap water for direct irrigation. Even if it is to be used, it needs to be left standing and exposed to the sun for a few days in advance.
3. Use less chemical fertilizer
Although during the growth of potted flowering plants, supplementing some nutrients by applying chemical fertilizer as a top dressing can also promote plant growth to a certain extent, long-term use of chemical fertilizer can easily cause the potting soil to become compacted. If we do not use chemical fertilizer, then how do we supplement nutrients for the plants?
In fact, not using chemical fertilizer does not mean that we do not supplement nutrients for potted flowering plants. Besides chemical fertilizer, we can also supplement nutrients for plants with organic fertilizer! For example, human and livestock manure, except that before use it needs to be fully decomposed and disinfected, and only then will it be safe to use. This is because organic fertilizer, during the process of gradual transformation and decomposition, will loosen the potting soil, thereby creating countless tiny gaps, increasing the permeability of the potting soil, and making the potting soil less prone to compaction.
4. Loosen the soil in time
Sometimes, the potting soil will become compacted due to various reasons, such as not repotting or turning the soil for a long time, especially after being washed by heavy rain. But considering that the soil-changing process is rather troublesome, can we then consider keeping the potting soil soft without changing the soil? There are methods; it just depends on what we do. In fact, loosening the soil is a very good treatment measure.
Experienced friends naturally know that loosening the soil at the right time for potted flowering plants is an important means of keeping the plants growing well. After loosening the soil, the originally compacted soil also becomes loose. Not only is the permeability improved, but the water absorption and retention effect is also better, so it is more conducive to plant growth. But using this method also has certain drawbacks, namely that the operation must be careful and cautious to avoid injuring the plant roots when loosening the soil. And some plants are rather delicate; once the roots are damaged, they are prone to wilting, yellow leaves, leaf drop, drying up, and other phenomena, and in severe cases may even die. Therefore, we should operate cautiously when loosening the soil.