Soil
Soil has several important properties that need to be considered:
Texture - it is determined by the size of the comprising particles. Soils with larger particles like gravel or sand are considered light soils. On the other extreme silt and clay whose particles are hundredths of the millimeter in size are heavy soils. Each type of soil has its benefits in gardening. Light soils allow more air in between the particles, and as such drain water easily and warm up faster in spring, making it a perfect soil for rooting new plants. A drawback for lighter soils is that water washes away easily soil nutrients making it less fertile. Heavy soils on the other hand, do not allow air and water flow, and are hard to penetrate by the plant roots. They hold water for much longer, and take longer to warm up. This makes them really good for certain types of plants that require moist soils. In real life soils are rarely on the extreme however, and are a mixture of different soils and humus - the organic matter left behind from plants, small animals and insects that live in the soils.
Acidity - soils acidity can vary from 1.0 pH to 14.0 pH. Most soils are with acidity between 4.5 and 8.0. pH of 7.0 and below are considered acidic, and above 7.0 - alkaline. Generally if the other characteristics of your soil are at their optimum the acidity makes little difference. Too much acidity or alkalinity however will affects the level of minerals and certain bacteria present in the soil.
Acidity can be changed with adding lime (from limestone) to reduce acidity. To increase it use ammonium sulphate, or soil sulfur. Natural additions like pine needles, oak leaves will also increase the acidity of the soil.
Texture - it is determined by the size of the comprising particles. Soils with larger particles like gravel or sand are considered light soils. On the other extreme silt and clay whose particles are hundredths of the millimeter in size are heavy soils. Each type of soil has its benefits in gardening. Light soils allow more air in between the particles, and as such drain water easily and warm up faster in spring, making it a perfect soil for rooting new plants. A drawback for lighter soils is that water washes away easily soil nutrients making it less fertile. Heavy soils on the other hand, do not allow air and water flow, and are hard to penetrate by the plant roots. They hold water for much longer, and take longer to warm up. This makes them really good for certain types of plants that require moist soils. In real life soils are rarely on the extreme however, and are a mixture of different soils and humus - the organic matter left behind from plants, small animals and insects that live in the soils.
Acidity - soils acidity can vary from 1.0 pH to 14.0 pH. Most soils are with acidity between 4.5 and 8.0. pH of 7.0 and below are considered acidic, and above 7.0 - alkaline. Generally if the other characteristics of your soil are at their optimum the acidity makes little difference. Too much acidity or alkalinity however will affects the level of minerals and certain bacteria present in the soil.
Acidity can be changed with adding lime (from limestone) to reduce acidity. To increase it use ammonium sulphate, or soil sulfur. Natural additions like pine needles, oak leaves will also increase the acidity of the soil.
Fertilizing.
To keep your plants healthy, encourage blooming or new leaf development you need to provide the necessary nutrients to the plant. Each plant needs a certain ingredient in different proportions. When getting the fertilizer pay attention to the N-P-K ratio. What this means is simply a ratio of the Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K) quantities in the package. The letters come from the chemistry elements table. If you have 5-10-5 ratio in 100 pound bag, it means that 5 pounds are Nitrogen, 10 pounds are Phosphorus, and 5 - Potassium. The rest is filler. If there are other types of nutrients they are also labeled.
Nitrogen (N) - supports foliage and stem growth. If you see pale leaves, this may be an indication of lack of nitrogen in the soil.
Phosphorus (P) - contributes to the root, flower, seed or fruit development.
Potassium (K) - stimulates early growth and general health of the plant, making it more resistant to diseases and weather conditions.
When choosing the right fertilizer for your plant you need to take into consideration the N-P-K ratio this particular plant needs.
The most important rule is to go easy on fertilizer. More fertilizer doesn't mean stronger and healthier plants. So better go on the slightly less fertilizer when measuring.
Nitrogen (N) - supports foliage and stem growth. If you see pale leaves, this may be an indication of lack of nitrogen in the soil.
Phosphorus (P) - contributes to the root, flower, seed or fruit development.
Potassium (K) - stimulates early growth and general health of the plant, making it more resistant to diseases and weather conditions.
When choosing the right fertilizer for your plant you need to take into consideration the N-P-K ratio this particular plant needs.
The most important rule is to go easy on fertilizer. More fertilizer doesn't mean stronger and healthier plants. So better go on the slightly less fertilizer when measuring.
