The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 19 Summer 2016/17 | Page 50
advertorial
the classic potting mix
Use long-lasting vermiculite in your potting mix to
improve drainage, aeration and retain moisture.
Keep your pot plants healthy by using a good potting mix.
Do you find that your pots dry up quickly
and that the soil becomes hard and
compacted? If so, you need to improve
your potting soil mix. It is important to
have a potting mix that is light and airy,
as this helps the plants to root better and
it will also prevent the potting mix from
becoming compacted too quickly. If you
don’t want to be watering and fertilising
frequently, use a good potting mix that
will hold moisture and add nutrients.
Avoid using soil straight from the garden
in your pots; different soils behave
differently in pots. For example, clay
might be good at retaining nutrients
but it doesn’t have good drainage,
and conversely, sandy soils have good
drainage but don’t hold moisture well.
A good potting mix recipe
Your mix should contain the following in
equal quantities:
1. Compost
Well-sieved compost, which is sold
as potting soil, can be bought at most
50
nurseries or you can make it at home by
sieving your own compost. Potting soil
alone in pots can sometimes be too fine.
2. Sand
Soil from the garden can be used but it
is better to use sandier soils than heavy
clay. River sand is a good option. It must
be sterilised first as you might get all the
weeds and diseases from the garden.
To sterilise it, place it in a black plastic
rubbish bin in the sun to bake for a few
days. The heat should sterilise it.
Vermiculite
Extras
To add more nutrients to the mix,
you should add either a handful of
Vermiculture compost or fertiliser.
These should be topped up every
month, as nutrients will be leached out
once you start watering them.
3. Vermiculite
Vermiculite is a sterile and naturally-
occurring mineral composed of shiny
flakes. These flakes are great for potting
mixes. This useful medium has many
attributes that can enhance your garden.
Vermiculite improves aeration as it
loosens the soil, which encourages roots
to grow and move through the soil with
ease. It also improves the drainage,
soaks up the water and, unlike compost,
vermiculite doesn’t break down and stays
in the mix forever.
SAMREC marketing
0773 653 354
04 498383
56 Arcturus Road
Highlands, Harare
[email protected]