What does it mean to have well drained soil for a houseplant?
Question:Any suggestion on keeping Calatheas, Basil, and Airplane plants happy?
Answers:
Well drained soil is soil in a 'pot' or in a garden' that is 'set' so that 'excess water' can 'run off' and can't 'pool up around the roots' of any plant. If you are growing any plant indoors, then MAKE SURE it is in a pot with 'holes' in the bottom so the excess water can 'flow off' easily, and you may also try using some of the 'water holding' soil that has little 'beads' that can absorb the water that is 'in excess' and the let it 'bleed out' when the 'humidity' of the soil gets 'below' a certain level. I do BOTH, and it really does 'work' to give me healthy plants. And in my 'garden' plants, I make the 'beds' higher and put little 'drainage ditches' around the edges of the bed to be sure they are all 'draining properly' after I 'water' them in the morning. I DO NOT WATER at night, because the plants can 'rot' because the water doesn't 'evaporate' from the leaves as well when it's 'dark' and cooler and the plants 'need water' to help them 'get through the day properly.'
It means not ever letting them sit in water - either with holes in the pot and/or gravel (or drainage in a bed). Some plants don't like wet feet!
Get some GOOD QUALITY potting soil. It will time-release water and nutrients to your plants to make sure they get what they need when they need it. Check out http://www.1800topsoil.com to see if they sell it locally.
That the water can drain out of the pot and it doesn't pool on the bottom. Make sure you have a hole or two in the bottom of your can.
Some plants need to dry out between waterings.
well drained soil has sand, pumice, cinder or pyrite that do not retain water. Heavy soils are high in silt, moss or clay that retain water. Most house plant soil mixes have a combination of the above, a cactus mix has more sand allowing the water to drain and the roots to dry out.
Well-drained means water is easily drained away from the compost and that the plant's roots are not water-logged. For a cactus or any succulent make a mix of 40% horticultural grit or sand and 60% compost. Never water if they are kept in a cool place in winter as they hate a combination of cold and wet. In the spring/summer months make sure you only water when the compost feels dry or the plant will die from overwatering. If it's not a cactus or succulent and is a tree, shrub or herbaceous needing well-drained soil, only mix about 25% grit to the compost. Don't worry too much it can be a bit confusing not knowing how much water a plant needs so always find out where the plant originally comes from and that can give you a good idea as to its needs. Also most plants are quite forgiving and will soon show you if they are unhappy.
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