If you want to repot plants and learn more about potting mixtures there are a few things you need to know.
There's what's actually in potting mixtures, different varieties of ready mixed potting, and how to mix your own potting material.
With a bit of know-how you will see repotting plants is not a hard task.
Potting soil mixture can be bought from a local gardener, or you can mix it up yourself.
To fit the needs of any vegetable, plant, herb, or flower you can combine soils with store bought potting soils.
What most call potting soil it's not really soil.
It's really more of a composite potting mixture.
By mixing composted barks, perlite and other drainage materials, peat moss for nutrients, plus potash bone meal and time released fertilizers you can get very stable mix.
Loaded with nutrients topsoil has a useful role in helping your plants flourish.
Material being sold as potting soil would be more appropriately called potting mixture since there no real soil in it.
Normal soil from your yard is actually not well suited for potting plants since it's dense it doesn't drain well.
Not to mention outdoor soil contains insects, small disease causing organisms, and seeds of weeds.
Potting mixture provides a clean, healthy, nutrient rich medium through which the plants roots can anchor to absorb those nutrients, and water through their roots.
Ready mixed potting mix can be bought in many different varieties.
Several brand name, professional potting mixtures are lightweight and don't compact the pot.
You can also find plant specific potting that is mixed especially for a particular plant or purpose like starting seeds.
Many find that mixing themselves is just as effective and as an added bonus save a little money.
A good general mix would contain peat moss, coir and perlite.
Perlite is a variety of obsidian, or volcanic glass, consisting of masses of small pearly globules used as a soil conditioner.
Once you put everything together add about a tablespoon of limestone for every gallon of the mixture.
For best results use limestone that contains dolomite, as it provides the plant with magnesium.
When mixing and handling everything make sure you wear a dust mask to prevent inhaling too much of the material since it can be harmful.
Continue mixing after adding the limestone by adding warm to hot water.
Dust issues are minimized once the materials are wet, but keep the material moist be careful not to over water.
Peat moss has to be chemically treated to allow it to absorb water easier.
Helping the peat moss absorb water is also one of the reasons for the water has to be hot as you continue to mixing things together.
This is a easy, general mix that can be used for most plants with exception of orchids, cacti, and other plants that naturally live in dryer environments.
Whether you decide on a ready made mix or go it on your own, you have more than enough to get you started.
Understanding the potting mixture is a foundation of health plants and successful repotting.
So put this to use and you'll be on your way.