We are all increasingly aware of how important it is to make the most of the resources we have. So if you like plants, make own substrate It is a good choice. Without too much effort, you will make your flowers more beautiful than ever.
Buy a good quality acid substrate It's not always easy, and if we don't give our plants the nutrients they need, they won't unfold their full potential. Luckily, there are ways to create our own homemade substrate. Take good note of what we are going to tell you.
What is the substrate for plants?
First of all, let's start with the basics. We have all applied substrate to our plants, and yet many times we do not know exactly what this product is or what its true purpose is.
The substrate for indoor or outdoor plants is the soil or soil in which we put our plants. It is manufactured through a series of products that facilitate water retention, contribute to the drainage of excess moisture, and provide nutrients.
Among its components we can find:
- Earth or peat. It provides nutrients and is responsible for water retention.
- sand or perlite To facilitate drainage.
- Organic material. It is responsible for providing nutrients.
- Compost. It provides more nutrients and helps in water retention.
- Pine bark. Contributes to the aeration of the substrate.
- Vermiculite. To retain moisture.
- Coconut fiber. It contributes to better water retention and also to aeration of the substrate.
The substrate is the base on which our plants will grow, hence the importance of choosing a quality one that is suitable for every type of plant (more or less acid, with more or less drainage capacity, etc.)
What is needed to make substrate?
The components can be organic and inorganic and, depending on the "ingredients" that we put in our recipe, we will get an ideal substrate for each vegetable variety that we have at home.
The inorganic components you may have to buy: perlite, pumice stone, hydrogel, sand... But the organic components are usually by-products that you could find in your environment. For example, coconut fibers, cereal husks, tree bark and wood shavings.
Characteristics of the ideal substrate
Although it is true that each plant variety has different needs in terms of issues such as pH or humidity, there are a series of characteristics that are essential in a good home substrate.
- Stability. He has to maintain his physical qualities and not weigh down.
- Lightness. Low density, that when picked up it melts in the hands.
- Macropores. These allow aeration of the roots, which is why we are interested in a substrate that does not clump together.
- pH. Ideally, it should be between 6 and 6.5, which is what most plants prefer.
- Sterile. This implies that it must be free of pathogenic organisms that can absorb the nutrients that the plants need, or infect them.
- Water retention. The substrate has to retain 25% of the irrigation water.
- Nutrients It has to have the "food" that our plants need: phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, boron, etc. These can be provided through fertilizer, but it is interesting that the substrate has them at its origin.
How to make your own substrate
Although there are many varieties, we leave you the basic mix. To make it you have to combine quality garden soil (40%) with compost (30% and better if it is made at home), coarse sand or perlite (20%), and 10% organic matter (pruning remains, shells of cereals, straw, etc.)
In a large and clean container or surface, combine the ingredients in the proportion that we have indicated. You can mix them with a shovel, or directly by hand. If it seems to you that it is too thick, you can sift it with a mesh or a strainer.
This is the basic formula for making your own substrate, but now it's time to think about the needs of your plants. If they are varieties that need faster drainage, add more sand or perlite so that they lose part of their water retention capacity.
If you need a more acid substrate, increase the proportion of peat. While if what you need is a soil that is very rich in nutrients, you can add a greater amount of humus or organic matter.
You may have made more substrate than you need, but you can keep it. Store in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place. If it doesn't pick up moisture, it should hold up in top condition for a long time.
Benefits of making substrate
Spending time preparing the substrate for your plants will have more than one reward. In fact, as soon as you try the benefits you can get with it, you won't want to go back to the industrial. As an example, here you can see some of the advantages you get when making homemade substrate.
- Personalization. You can create the right substrate for each of your plants. You just have to adapt the proportion of the components.
- Quality control. Since you yourself are going to select the ingredients to create your substrate, you can see first-hand that they are of the highest quality. This is important to avoid the presence of pathogens, or that weeds end up growing.
- Saving. Without a doubt, making your own substrate ends up being cheaper than buying a manufactured product. In fact, you have already seen that some of the components can be obtained for free, such as pruning remains.
- Sustainability Making homemade substrate gives you the opportunity to recycle and reuse materials, so you contribute to taking care of the environment.
- Prettier plants. With a substrate adapted to your needs and made with quality materials, your plants will be much more beautiful. They will grow stronger, flower more, and be exposed to less risk of infection and pests.
Making your own substrate is simple and has advantages both for your plants and for your pocket and for the environment. Have you ever made it? Share your experience with us in the comments.