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Direct From the Nursery: unique home accents for outdoor and indoor gardeners

Commercial Potting soils and mixes or make your own

Potting mix is the all-important ingredient for healthy plants. It forms the medium in which plants live and grow; it provides the initial nutrients plants need; and it permits moisture retention while allowing any excess water to drain away.

Commercial potting mixes

For most indoor gardeners, buying a package of prepared potting mix is the most efficient method of selecting house plant soil. Potting mix is sold in varying sized packages, so you can purchase only the amount you need at the time.

Use a commercial mix specifically formulated for house plants. It temporarily provides the nutrients that plants need; you can replenish these nutrients when necessary with a house plant fertilizer The packaged potting mix has been sterilized to eliminate any pests or diseases that might be present. These mixes are readily available at nurseries, indoor plant stores, or other stores where garden supplies are sold.

Some lightweight mixes need to be moistened before planting. Squeeze a handful of soil in your fist; the mix should be damp enough to form a compact ball when you release it, yet not be dripping wet. If the mix is dry and crumbly, add enough water to the mix to make it cohesive.

If purchasing a commercial potting mix in a plastic bag isn't your idea of returning to the soil indoors, you can make your own. Blend equal amounts of coarse washed sand, garden loam or a good garden topsoil and peat moss, leaf mold or fir bark.

Every ingredient in your potting mix has a purpose. Garden loam or topsoil contains particles of clay that hold fertilizing materials in an available state for plant roots. Sand, perlite, and leaf mold hold air around the roots, which is essential to good plant growth. Leaf mold also provides some nutrients. Charcoal bits keep the soil "sweet." These ingredients are usually available at most nurseries, garden supply stores, or indoor plant stores.

Any potting mix that you make yourself which contains garden soil must be sterilized. Garden loam or topsoil may contain pests, weed seeds, or plant diseases; sterilizing the mix eliminates these problems.

An alternate method is to cover the soil-filled pans with kitchen foil or clear baking wrap and seal. Insert a cooking thermometer through the center of the covering into the soil but not touching the pan. Place in the oven and heat until the soil temperature reaches 180'; keep the temperature at that level no higher for 30 minutes.

Prepare yourself for the nasty odor of baking soil. Luckily this odor isn't lasting. Remove the sterilized soil from the oven and let it air for a few days. Store it in sturdy paper or plastic bags.

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