One of the most common mistakes when growing seedlings is using ordinary garden soil.
Unfortunately, for this reason you can destroy your green pets right at the start.
The fact is that such soil provokes diseases, extremely poor growth and, ultimately, leads to the death of immature plants.
What kind of soil is needed?
As reported by the expert of the online publication BelNovosti, scientist agronomist and landscape designer Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , any seedlings, be it vegetables or flowers, need nutritious soil.
We are talking about loose, water- and air-permeable soil with a neutral acidity level.
Only in such soil will the roots of young plants be able to develop normally.
As already noted, garden soil is not suitable and, moreover, is harmful to seedlings.
Why? Because, the expert explains, such soil may be too dense.
It can also be infected with diseases and pests.
Or it will not contain enough nutrients for young plants.
How to avoid fatal mistakes
To avoid trouble, you should use special soil. In stores, this is usually sold with the mark "For seedlings".
If you still want to use garden soil, you need to disinfect it.
The procedure can be carried out, for example, by freezing the soil (temperature below -15 degrees) or by baking it in the oven (half an hour at a temperature of +70 to +90 degrees).
Other options: steam with boiling water, treat with fungicides or in a solution of hydrogen peroxide.
It is advisable to add loosening agents (say, peat or coconut substrate) to the mixture you have prepared to make the soil light and airy.
If your mixture is too acidic, you can neutralize it by adding a little dolomite flour or wood ash.
Expert: Anastasia Kovrizhnykh
