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Indoor Garden Soil Isn't The Same As Outdoor Soil

When you're gardening indoors, it is even more important to manage you soil than it is outdoors. Indoor soil tends to lose its nutrients much more quickly. There are many nutrients in the soil that support the health of your plants, the most valuable of which are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. Besides these, there are numerous organisms contributing to the health of your soil. There are a number of reasons why you shouldn't use ordinary garden soil for indoor gardening. Outdoor soil often contains diseases and insects that are harder to control in a confined indoor area, and even the highest-quality garden soil can become compacted in containers.

Soil mixes are the best growing medium for indoor gardening; you will find them sold under names such as light potting mixes, peat mix or seed starting mix. A good blend for indoor gardening would be equal parts potting soil, vermiculite, peat, and perlite. These mixes are usually lightweight and very fine, so it's important to add some sand or soil for weight. You can usually find them in ready to use packages, but if you want to create the mix on your own, it can easily be made at home.

High-quality potting soil mixes sometimes contain slow-release fertilizers, which take care of a plant's nutritional requirements for several months. There is also something called sterile potting soil which has been subjected to high temperatures to kill the bacteria and weed seeds in it. The only downside to this type of potting soil is that the high heat destroys the good bacteria in it as well.

If you're not quite satisfied with the potting mix varieties you're finding at your local nursery or hardware store, you can always make your own. You'll need topsoil, sharp sand and leaf mold or compost to make a good soil that almost anything will grow in. You may be able to find these items around your front or backyard, or you can purchase them separately from the grocery store. And, if you're growing vegetables and herbs and want the flavor to really stand out, you can add organic fertilizer to the mix to make sure that your crop is especially green and healthy.

With so many soils specifically geared towards indoor plants, make sure to use the correct one and the best quality you can find to ensure your indoor garden stays healthy all year round.

Article Source: GardenGap.com

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Greenhouse gardening is the perfect way to extend your growing season. In particular, a mini indoor greenhouse is a popular and convenient way to grow plants throughout the winter. Click here to learn more about the indoor greenhouse.