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A guide to choosing the best potting mix
When it comes to choosing a potting mix, it can be a daunting task. With so many options, how do you know which one actually does the job? Here’s our guide to choosing a potting mix for your container plants. The right potting mix will ensure your plants are on the right track to thrive and flourish.
Why should I use a potting mix?
- Potting mix does more than help a plant to stand up. A good potting mix will provide the best growing medium for pot plants. Unlike soil, potting mixes will have the right size air pockets for the roots to grow, contain all the moisture and nutrients that the plant needs and will maintain a balance between holding moisture and draining well.
How do I choose a good quality potting mix?
- Good quality potting mix bags will have an Australian Standards set of ticks on it. The standard has been developed by a peak non-government body and is only applied to potting mixes that have been independently tested and passed a series of standards. The standards include how well the mix drains, hold waters, absorbs water and whether the potting mix has the right amount of nutrients, a suitable pH level and whether it will harm plants in any way
There are two standards of potting mixes:
- Regular (black ticks) – basic standard and does not contain fertilisers or wetting agents
- Premium (red ticks) – high standard of potting mix which lasts longer and needs less fertiliser
Which mix should I use?
- Premium (red ticks) potting mixes are the first choice when you want the very best for your plants, especially expensive, long-term container plants. They have greater water-holding capacity, contain added nitrogen, and although more expensive, don’t need added fertiliser to grow plants.
- Regular (black ticks) potting mixes are a great general-purpose mix and perform well when you are growing short-term plants (like one-season annual flowers or fast-growing vegetables). They will need a fertiliser at potting time.
- Specialty mixes have been formulated to be the most suitable growing medium for particular plant types.
Check out the Plants Plus site here for some more tips and inspiration for your garden.
Related links:
10 creative garden container ideas you’ll love
Your guide to vertical gardens
7 common container gardening mistakes to avoid