Increasingly, gardeners prefer to purchase soil for seedlings and even for home plants in special stores. There is no need to prepare the soil yourself, which saves the gardener a lot of hassle. Therefore, in this article we will try to figure out what are the advantages and disadvantages of purchased soil.
Ready to use
The purchased soil is a mixture ready for planting. It contains all the substances necessary for the growth and development of young shoots, and does not require additional processing.
Loaded with nutrients
Store soil usually consists of the following components: peat, humus, turf soil. This is a base to which other substances can be added: sand, dolomite flour, manure, sawdust, perlite, ash, lime, humus. The amount of additives depends on which crops the soil is intended for.
It is important that it contains all the necessary trace elements for plants, does not need to be disinfected, and practically does not have harmful microorganisms.
Light soil
Purchased soil is considered the best option, as it is light, loose and moisture-absorbing. Plants breathe oxygen and grow well. Also, moisture, penetrating through the soil, does not stagnate in it.
Selection by weight
When buying soil in a store, you can choose the packaging of the goods that is convenient for you. It is practically not difficult to purchase a package from 1 to 50 kg. You can plan in advance how much land you need.
Excess or lack of nutrients
When purchasing a product, carefully study its composition. After all, it can contain either a lot or a little of any substances. If the data is indicated in a certain range, for example, from 1 to 4 g, then it is better to refuse this option, since you do not know the exact amount of the substance.
Neutral or slightly acidic soil
The acidity level of the soil is also indicated in a fairly wide range of values. Therefore, when buying a product, you can purchase both neutral and slightly acidic soil. For some crops, this is a very important parameter. Germination, growth and further development depend on it.
Peat dust instead of peat
Companies of unverified manufacturers use peat dust instead of peat. It has no beneficial properties and is not a plant fertilizer. However, peat is needed to grow seedlings.
The risk of buying low-quality soil
There is always an opportunity to buy a low-quality product, which may also be contaminated with some bacteria, expired or unusable for growing plants.
Therefore, when purchasing ready-made soil, carefully study its composition, date of manufacture and expiration date. Take a small bag first to make sure it's quality.
