Potting soil and potting mix are two different gardening materials used for the same purpose. While both of them are frequently used interchangeably, they are widely different from each other. Any professional in landscape maintenance services can easily tell the difference between potting mix and potting soil. Since they are both used to grow plants inside a container, most individuals get confused between potting mix vs potting soil and which gardening products to use to grow their plants.
Potting soil contains dirt or any other medium that is used to grow plants in planters or containers. It is easily available in your garden. When you hire a local for landscape maintenance in St. Augustine, they will make sure that the soil remains intact. It can be easily used for planting purposes if the need be. On the other hand, potting mix involves a mix of perlite, peat moss, fine bark, and other elements. It is used to achieve better gardening results and improve plant growth.
The Difference Between Potting Mix and Potting Soil
In this article, we will look at the differences between potting soil and potting mix. You can find potting soil or potting mix gardening products at the shop, so it is essential to understand how to differentiate between the two. If there’s no label on the containers, there are high chance that you might get the wrong product, leading to poor plant growth. Let’s look at the difference in detail.
Potting Soil
Potting soil consists primarily of dirt that you can find in the store or even in your garden. It can be mixed with other soil-less materials. Generally speaking, potting soil is the best option for growing plants inside a container. When mixed with other materials, it becomes rich in nutrients. The plants grow naturally faster and provide the right environment to them.
However, it is recommended to never use potting soil alone in the container. The soil will easily become compact and doesn’t leave any space. It will block off air circulation, which will not lead to proper growth of the plant. Local landscaping and lawn care services experts suggest never using garden soil in isolation for growing indoor plants. It is a less-than-ideal growth medium.
There are several advantages of using potting soil. First of all, it is cheaper to acquire than the mix. You can get it from your garden. Secondly, it is 100% organic. Pure garden soil only comprises dirt, making it ideal to grow plants. But even though it is high-quality and long lasting, using it without any mix will take more time for the seeds to germinate.
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Potting Mix
Designed specifically for growing plants in containers, potting mix is a soil-less blend of materials. There are a lot of ingredients that comprise the mix. It will have the right materials that provide rich nutrients and ensure proper air circulation along with higher water retention. They provide the necessary moisture and drainage management for different plants.
Potting soil alone doesn’t give any room to the roots. Therefore, it is important to make a potting mix that gives the necessary space to the plant for its growth. It is extremely lightweight and fluffy, ensuring that the roots can easily find their way. In contrast to the potting soil, the mix provides complete aeration to the plant.
If you are hiring a company for landscape maintenance St. Augustine, you can ask them to make a potting mix with garden soil and other elements that can be found easily. Potting mix provides the right nutrients to each plant. And even though it costs more than the soil and may break down easily, it is important for the plant to reach its full growth potential. It acts as a catalyst for the indoor plant to grow easily.
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