Which Potting Mix Should I Use?
When it comes to caring for plants, the type of potting mix you use can make or break their growth. Unlike soil, which is composed mainly of dirt, potting mixes are usually made up of a number of microorganisms, nutrients, and compostable organic matter such as peat moss, perlite and vermiculite. This combination of materials means that the right quality potting mix often provides plants with optimal conditions for healthy growth.
With the wide variety of potting mixes available, it can be difficult to determine the best mix for your garden, or the right soil for indoor plants and container plants. Below, we’ve compiled a list of tips to get you started.
What Are the Advantages of Potting Mix?
Due to their measured design and tailored composition, potting mixes have a number of advantages over regular soil. The exact nature of these can differ depending on the type of plant you are growing. For example, a mix dedicated to succulent potting can perform differently to an orchid potting mix due to its draining and aeration requirements. It is best to discuss your gardening project with experts to ensure you pick up the right potting mix for your plants.
Superior Properties
Potting mixes can have better airflow and water drainage abilities than regular soil. This is due to their carefully designed formulas, which include unique materials such as pine bark, sand, perlite and vermiculite. These ingredients are beneficial for most plants, as they provide superior moisture retention, water drainage and airflow properties to regular soil.
Container Gardening
Most gardening experts recommend selecting a potting mix for indoor plants over regular soil, as many potting mixes are specifically designed for container gardening. They are also highly customisable, which allows you to use certain mixes for specific plants. It is also possible to create a custom mix to use during a particular stage of growth.
Lightweight Texture
In order for roots to propagate easily, it is important that their soil provides enough space and is not overly compacted. Potting mixes can provide all of the necessary qualities for roots to grow efficiently. This is because most potting mixes are lightweight and have an easy-to-penetrate texture that isn’t commonly found in regular soil.
Which Potting Mix Should You Choose?
In Australia, high quality potting mixes are identified by a logo with a set of ticks. This shows that they have passed a series of stringent tests and conform to the Australian standards.
General purpose potting mixes carry black ticks and are recommended for growing short-term plants, such as annual flowers or fast growing vegetables. Potting mixes with black ticks also require fertiliser to be added at the time of potting.
On the other hand, premium potting mix carries red ticks and is best for more expensive, long-term container plants. Premium mixes need less initial fertiliser when potting, have superior water-holding capacity, and also contain added nitrogen. Gardening experts consider premium potting mix to be a worthwhile investment as it can remain at peak performance for a longer period.
Where to Find the Best Potting Mixes
It is best to speak to a gardening expert before picking up your next potting mix, especially if you are a beginner who is only just starting to venture into the green world of gardening.
Park Road Timber & Hardware is a great choice for gardening enthusiasts in Bayside and its surrounding suburbs. As experts on all things outdoors, Park Road Timber stock a range of potting mixes, mulches and fertilisers from leading brands such as Brunnings, Seasol and Yates.
Our range of great value and high quality products can help you maximise your plant’s growth, including liquid fertilisers, organic fertilisers, soil conditioners, and water saving products.
To discuss your next gardening project and its required potting mix, contact our knowledgeable garden experts today on (03) 9909 5397, or through our online contact form.
