The substrate is the basis of plant life.
The most important ingredient, along with the sun and atmosphere. The substrate is what allows the plant to receive nutrition through the roots, thanks to watering, and starts the whole system, which will culminate in the creation of a cellular structure. Normal growth, and then fruiting, directly depend on the soil in which the tree, flower or shrub is located. A substrate is something that can be natural, or can be created artificially, by a person, in order to support the functioning of home (garden, garden) plants.
Types and composition
For indoor plants, special substrates are produced in bags. They can be bought in stores. There is a peat and soil substrate. Examples of the optimal functioning of plants in both types of soil leave the decision to the grower.
Although, of course, different kinds of flowers have different preferences. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages that each substrate has. This will give us the opportunity to choose the mixture we need more consciously and learn how to make soil mixtures at home using the methodmistakes and trials. Plants often successfully adapt to completely different types of substrate. But still they bloom and bear fruit best of all in a very specific environment. The soil necessary for grafting and propagation by seeds should not contain a large amount of fertilizer. But for adult plants in the soil should be much more nutrients. Consider the first type of substrate. These are potting mixes. They are most often based on rotten meadow turf with fertilizers. It also includes products from farming and forestry. In appearance, such a substrate resembles high-quality garden soil - it is loose, moderately lumpy and has a characteristic smell. Due to the density of soil mixtures, care must be taken when planting so as not to damage the roots of the plant. Also, the composition of such land usually includes bone meal, potassium sulfate and superphosphates.
The advantages of soil mixtures are as follows: they are able to supply the plant with nutrients for a long period; form a stable base in pots; There are different types - so there is a choice. The disadvantages include the variability of the composition and considerable weight, which makes transportation difficult.
Second type: peat substrate
When planting using this type of mixture, you need to compact it with your hands. The advantages of peat are its low weight and standard quality (even between different brands there are always many similarities). But such substrates consume nutrients faster, and therefore, the plant will more often need to be fed. Peat is lighter, so it can'tmake the pot more stable, as a result of which a tall and powerful plant may be in danger of tipping over. If the peat is very dry, then moisturizing it will be a problem, so regular watering is necessary. Other types of substrate include coconut fibers, moss-based orchid bark mixes, and cactus mixes with increased drainage.
