Does your plant always have to be in soil or are there other possibilities? Here I would like to show you 3 of the most known substrates that both professionals and individuals can work with. WHAT IS A SUBSTRATE?A substrate is synonymous anything a plant can grow in. The primary purpose of a substrate (or growing medium) is therefore also primarily to keep the plant in place. 1) Potting soil - how to choose good potting soil?On the packing of qualitative potting soil you will find an RHP quality mark, this quality mark stands for the guarantee of quality, content and safety. Herewith is taken into account where the product is produced, and how environmental conscious this happens and that they are free of salmonella/ legionella/ e-coli and many other elements. By this control this label guarantees the following points. - Less weeds - Less watering - Better growth and flowering - Environmentally friendly - Safe(r) for people and animals - Better root development - Guarantee on volume - Free of diseases / harmful substances 2) VulcastratVulcastrat is an alternative for potting soil, and looks like small stones. It is a type of gravel that can be compared to cat gravel, as it absorbs moisture. Because Vulcatrat absorbs more water than ordinary soil, it gradually releases water to the roots. Vulcatrat contains the ideal water and air ratio (45% water and 55% air). Whereby the susceptibility to diseases, is reduced. This substrate can even be reused several times, it doesn't even need to be replaced after years. The nutrients, however, will disappear over time. Vulcastrat can absorb water up to 30cm high, making your plant less likely to get wet feet. It cannot clog up like soil, so oxygen can always reach the roots, the advantage to Vulcastrat is that watering becomes even easier. Especially if you use a water meter. You can choose to add a separate water meter to the pot or choose for a self-watering pot, in this case a water meter is attached to the pot. Advantages of Vulcastrat - It lasts a long time. - It ensures that there is always oxygen available for the roots. - watering becomes easier, especially if you use a water meter. How do you care for plants in Vulcastrat? The water meter does not tell you when to water, but it indicates that you should not water too much at once. Plants do not like wet feet. However, there is a difference when you put a water meter at the bottom of your pot or choose for a self-watering pot. With a self-watering pot there is a water reservoir at the bottom so your plant does not stand with its 'feet' in the water. In a self-watering pot there is an opening where you can put water in to the reservoir. If you have used a regular water meter then water slowly, it will run down slowly before the water meter starts moving. Make sure the meter never goes over MAX, within 24-48 hours your meter will drop again because the Vulcastrat has absorbed the water, do not give extra water. I also have some plants on this substrate without a meter, I water them until it runs out of the holes at the bottom (almost all my plants are in grow pots with holes, whether they are on Vulcastrat or soil) I let them drain a bit before I put them back in place. You definitely want to avoid leaving them in a layer of water. TIP: after planting on Vulcastrat flush the pot until clear water comes out, there is often dirt and sand between the substrate that you flush away as much as possible. TIP: also by the weight of your pot and the color of the Vulcastrat you can tell if you need to water or not. Feeding plants on Vulcastrat Here there is little difference with feeding plants on soil, here the preference is for liquid feeding. Always stick to the recommended amount on the packaging of your chosen nutrient. Whrite it on your calender when you have give them nutrition so that you do not give it to them again too soon, overfeeding can harm and even kill them. Slow growing plants or plants that are further from a light source (and therefore grow a little slower) need less nutrition. When in doubt, read the article about nutrition. 3) HydroponicsHydroponics can be compared to plants on Vulcastrat, only that plants on hydro culture often have their roots in water. They are specifically grown for this purpose. Because they are in water, it is very easy to provide them with nutrition. For plants on hydro we use hydro grains. These are so airy that the roots can still easily absorb oxygen and again you can use a water meter. Advantages of hydroponics - Less frequent watering - No acidification or choking of the soil - Longer life span - Less chance of pests - Easier to apply the right amount of water and nutrition Hydroponic care Again, watering is similar to the other two substrates, water your plant until the water meter is at 'optimal'. When your water meter is back at 'minimum' wait 4 more days before watering, this time your plant needs to air out the roots and prevent rot. Feeding is done differently with hydroponics, give them some liquid food at every watering or once every six months hydroponic food. Did you like it? Please leave a 👍 below & follow my plant adventures on Instagram!
Source: https://www.123planten.nl/verzorging/hydrocultuur
1 Comment
Prisca
11/7/2023 12:38:21 am
Hi! Do you maybe know whether you need to repot hydroponic plants into a larger pot every so often?
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AuthorCrazy plant lady who likes to inspire others! Everything I write here comes from my own experience, knowledge that I gained by reading books and on the internet. If I would literally copy someone's info, I would do my best to link it of course! Do you spot typos or do you have other concerns, let me know! Have fun reading! I've only just started writing English blogs since January 2021, that's why there are many Dutch blogs and not so many English ones.
I use DeepL to help me translate. ARCHIVES
Maart 2022
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