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Do I need to add fertilizer to store-bought soil for seedlings: tips for gardeners
14.12.2023 09:10
Florists often purchase soils recommended for a particular plant in specialized stores to sow flower seeds for seedlings.
Not everyone knows whether it is worth adding any fertilizers to ready-made soil mixtures and whether they can be used without disinfection.
Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, told us what to do with the soil in such a case.
As they say, there is no limit to perfection, so some improvements can be made to store-bought soil.
This applies to cases when you have to save money and buy an inexpensive mixture. Here's what you can add to the seedling mixture.
Biohumus
The composition significantly improves soil fertility. The product is environmentally friendly and is produced by earthworms.
It is added to the mixture only after calcination and other soil disinfection work.
Sand
This should be washed sand. It is added to the soil when it is necessary to make it looser, lighter and to eliminate moisture stagnation.
It is recommended to add sand to the soil in a ratio of 1:9. This will make the soil looser and prevent moisture from stagnating in it.
Dolomite flour
Allows to reduce soil acidity, but it is not applied to plants that like acidic soil. It is not recommended to use this fertilizer without necessity.
It is best to check the acidity of the soil using a device or litmus paper.
Disinfection
Even store-bought soil may contain pathogenic microorganisms, pest larvae, or mold.
Therefore, the soil is disinfected:
- by calcination in an oven heated to 80 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes;
- by pouring potassium permanganate (a pink solution, and then checking the acidity of the soil);
- or pour boiling water over it.
After processing, biofertilizers should be added. “Baikal EM10” or “Siyanie” are often recommended.
Earlier we talked about how to make high beds correctly.
