What material is best to spread on the surface of potted green plants?

Before starting to grow green plants, many people look up some information to make sure their plants grow well, such as what kind of soil to choose, how much water to give, whether they can withstand cold and drought, and so on. Understanding these things really does help the plants grow to some extent. But there is one thing you should not overlook. If it is chosen well, the plants will not get yellow leaves or root rot, and if you are growing flowers, the flowers will grow more and more vigorously. It is what you spread on the surface of the plant pot. Let us take a look together below!

1. Mosquito coil ash

Effects: pest prevention, disinfection, root strengthening, flower promotion

Many people throw away the mosquito coil ash after burning a mosquito coil, which is a huge waste for flower growers, because this mosquito coil ash is a treasure. Spread it on the surface of the potting soil, and it not only does not attract insects, but also supplements potassium fertilizer, sterilizes and disinfects, preserves flowers, strengthens roots, and makes flowers vivid.

How to spread mosquito coil ash on the surface?

1. Collect all the mosquito coil ash from the mosquito coils usually burned at home and put it on a piece of paper or in a container.

2. Gently shake the mosquito coil ash onto the surface of the potting soil in the flower pot, spreading it evenly. Note that the thickness of the mosquito coil ash must not exceed 0.5 cm, because if it is too thick, air permeability will be poor.

Gently shake the mosquito coil ash onto the surface of the potting soil in the flower pot, spreading it evenly. Note that the thickness of the mosquito coil ash must not exceed 0.5 cm, because if it is too thick, air permeability will be poor.

3. When watering the flowers normally, you can use a fine-spout watering can to water slowly. In this way, the potassium fertilizer in the mosquito coil ash will seep into the soil with the water for the flowers to absorb, and they will bloom more and more beautifully.

4. In addition, when mosquito coil ash penetrates into the soil, it can also sterilize and disinfect, strengthen the root system, and reduce root rot. Moreover, mosquito coils themselves have an insect-repelling effect. Sprinkle mosquito coil ash on the surface of the flower pot, and it will not attract mosquitoes!

2. Worm castings

Effects: sufficient fertility, does not harm roots

It has been raining a lot recently. You have surely seen quite a few lumps of worm castings in green belts. This is a great thing for growing flowers. It is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, humus, and beneficial bacteria, and has a magical fertilizing effect on flower growth. Spread a layer on the pot surface, and the flowers grow fast and bloom abundantly, with no need to fertilize for 2 years.

How to spread worm castings on the surface?

1. After 1-2 days following rain, when the worm castings have formed and clumped without being sticky, you can go to parks, green belts, and other places to collect them. Collect the kind of curved, lumpy yellow or black worm castings.

2. Directly spread a layer of the collected worm castings on the surface of the potting soil. In this way, every time you water, nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the worm castings will slowly seep into the soil with the water for the flowers to absorb.

3. Mixing worm castings with other soil to grow flowers will not cause soil compaction, and the moisture-retaining and fertilizer-retaining effects are better. In addition, if worm castings are spread on the pot surface and sprayed with water frequently, they can also absorb indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene.

3. Pine needles

Effects: supplements fertility, prevents root rot

Autumn has arrived, and the roads will again be covered with a layer of pine needles. At this time we can collect some to take home. They are great for growing flowers! They are not only rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium fertilizer, but also have super strong water absorption and air permeability, making flowers grow vigorously without root rot.

How to spread pine needle soil on the surface?

1. Collect pine needles from under pine trees. Note that you should choose the dry, grayish or blackened ones from the bottom layer that break with a pinch, not the ones that are too green and too new.

2. Soak the collected pine needles in boiling water for 20 minutes, or put them in a pot with water and boil for 10 minutes, or heat them in a microwave for 5 minutes. The purpose is to remove bacteria and insect eggs in the pine needles.

3. Dry the disinfected pine needles in the sun, then spread them on the surface of the potting soil. Note that you should not spread the pine needles too thickly or press them too firmly. A thickness of about 1 cm is enough.

4. Pine needle soil spread on the pot surface is not only permeable to water and air, but also can increase humidity and adjust the pH of the soil, making flowers grow vigorously without root rot. Of course, pine needles can not only be spread on the pot surface, but also placed at the bottom of the pot or mixed into the soil for growing flowers. The effects are all great.

4. Sheep manure pellets

There is another good thing for covering the pot surface, namely sheep manure pellets. This is rarely seen in cities and more common in rural areas. Especially those sheep manure pellets that have been weathered outdoors for a long time have no peculiar smell. Placed on the pot surface, they are air permeable and slowly release fertilizer effect without harming roots. They are superb for growing flowers!

How to spread sheep manure pellets on the surface?

1. Collect sheep manure pellets. If you are unable to collect them, you can also buy already fermented ones online, which is very convenient.

2. If they are unfermented sheep manure pellets, you can put them into a plastic bag and moisten them with a spray bottle,

then seal the bag and put it in the sun to bake. Now about 2 weeks or so is enough. After they are fully decomposed, put them in the sun to dry.

3. Sprinkle the fermented and dried sheep manure pellets on the surface of the flower pot. Note that you should not use too many. Although sheep manure pellets will not burn roots, it is still best to use an appropriate amount. For large pots, at most 30 pellets, and for medium and small pots, at most 20 pellets.

4. With each watering, sheep manure pellets deliver nutrients to the flower roots. Sprinkle a few sheep manure pellets on the pot surface, and basically you will not need to fertilize for a year. Of course, if you are still worried about smell, you can place the sheep manure pellets at the bottom of the pot, or bury them 2-3 cm below the surface of the potting soil, or mix them with soil to grow flowers.

5. Sand

Effects: prevents mosquitoes and insects, prevents root rot

Everyone knows that sand can be used for cuttings, soil mixing, and lining the bottom of pots, but did you know it can also be spread on the pot surface? Using sand as a top dressing is not only permeable to water and air and prevents root rot, but also prevents mosquitoes and insects. Most importantly, it is super beautiful when used to grow succulents!

How to spread sand on the surface?

1. For the sand used as top dressing, do not use the especially fine kind. Instead, choose coarse sand about the size of soybean grains.

2. Pick out coarse sand of suitable size and rinse it with clean water 2-3 times until the water from rinsing is no longer cloudy.

3. Dry the rinsed coarse sand in the sun, then spread it on the pot surface. It is permeable to water and air. Note that it should not be too thick. 0.5-0.3 cm is enough. If it is too thick, water permeability will be poor.

4. Spreading a layer of coarse sand on the surface of the potting soil can block damp soil, prevent mosquitoes and insects from laying eggs in the soil, and thoroughly avoid mosquito and insect disturbance.

6. Expanded clay pebbles or coal cinders

Effects: prevents root rot, increases humidity

Using expanded clay pebbles for growing flowers is already very well known. Many people know to use them at the bottom of pots to prevent root rot, but they do not know that spreading them on the pot surface also has many benefits. They can not only prevent root rot and insects, but also increase humidity and air permeability, making flower roots thick and white! They are especially suitable for large potted plants and succulents.

How to spread expanded clay pebbles on the surface?

1. Rinse the purchased expanded clay pebbles several times and dry them. Buy the kind with large particles and light texture.

2. Spread the expanded clay pebbles on the surface of the potting soil. Basically a thin layer is enough. Do not make it too thick or use too many.

3. Expanded clay pebbles are loose in texture and have many gaps. They can absorb excess standing water in the pot, prevent root rot, and increase humidity.

In addition, expanded clay pebbles cover the surface soil and isolate mosquitoes and insects, preventing them from laying eggs in the soil, so they also achieve an insect-prevention effect.

7. Moss

Effects: moisturizing, heat preservation, pH adjustment

Using moss as a top dressing is very familiar to everyone. It has a good moisturizing effect, is beautiful, can also cool and keep warm, and adjust the pH of the potting soil. It can be said that one moss has many uses. It is excellent for growing orchids, Phalaenopsis, ferns, carnivorous plants, bonsai, and other flowers. So how exactly should moss be spread on the surface? Let Qinnong Web explain slowly!

How to spread moss on the surface?

1. Dig up some fresh moss and rinse the soil substrate from the moss roots clean, because outside soil contains many bacteria and insect eggs. Mix the prepared moss, fine sand, and leaf mold together with water and stir evenly. The ratio is: moss:leaf mold:fine sand = 4:4:2.

2. Stir the above 3 things into a paste, then spread it evenly on the surface of the potting soil! Do not worry that the moss will be broken up, because even if it is broken, the moss will still grow out.

3. Within 1 week after planting, keep it moist and spray water on the moss 1-2 times a day. After that, the moss will gradually grow out. Once it has grown, just water thoroughly whenever you see the pot surface is dry.

8. Eggshells

Effects: Eggshells are likewise rich and contain nutrients such as iron, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Spread on the pot surface, they can not only promote the growth of flower roots, but also prevent and control mosquitoes and insects, and improve the cold resistance and disease resistance of flowers.

How to spread eggshells on the surface?

1. Clean used eggshells thoroughly and expose them to the sun for several days until they crumble with a pinch.

2. Crush the eggshells with your feet. The finer, the better.

3. You can also use a household blender and put the eggshells in to crush them.

4. The crushed eggshells can then be sprinkled on the surface of the potting soil. Likewise, a thin layer is enough. With water, the eggshells slowly release nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus, which are absorbed by the flowers, and the flowers will grow especially vigorously.

The above are some of the things Qinnong Web wants to introduce to everyone that can be spread on the pot surface. Do not underestimate them. These also play a considerable role in the healthy growth of green plants, so be sure to make good use of them!