Summary of popular indoor and ornamental plant growing media such as monstera, philodendron, anthurium, dragon nest and fern. Please read the notes at the end of the article carefully before choosing a growing medium for your plant.
Monstera growing medium
Monstera Monstera is a fairly easy plant to grow, and can even be planted directly into soil. Below are some suitable growing media for Monstera.
Philodendron growing medium
Philodendron There are quite a variety of species, they differ in growth needs, so depending on each type of plant, choose the appropriate growing medium.
Anthurium growing medium
In general, Anthurium is quite picky about growing medium, most of them like ventilation and fear waterlogging, so the growing medium must drain well.
Growing medium for Dragon Nest
Since most dragon nests are grown on boards, there are not many suitable growing mediums. They also need good drainage.
Fern growing medium
Ferns prefer smooth and loose growing media such as humus. Ferns are not too picky about growing media.
Calathea growing medium
Calathea Prefers loam or loam, a medium rich in organic matter but still well drained. Most potting mixes made from coconut coir, rice husks or peat are suitable but make sure they do not retain water.
Palm growing medium
Palm Prefers loam or loam, a medium rich in organic matter and with good drainage. Most potting mixes, rice husks or peat moss, with a little coarse sand added, will do. Generally, a compact, slightly water-retaining soil is sufficient.
General Notes
Depending on each specific type of plant, each specific living environment and each type of climate, choose the appropriate growing medium. The same way of mixing growing medium but one person can grow it may not be the same for another person, it also depends on the above conditions and your plant care habits.
Notes when choosing a growing medium for ornamental plants
Drainage
This is the most important factor because the roots need oxygen to breathe. A well-draining medium will help prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. Some good drainage materials include:
- Coconut block
- Pine bark
- Terracotta (lightweight gravel)
- Perlite
- Pumice
Moisturizing properties
The growing medium also needs to be able to retain moisture to provide water to the plant over a long period of time. Some good moisture-retaining materials include:
- Coconut peat
- Rice husk smoked
- Sawdust
- Worm castings
pH
Most ornamental plants prefer a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. You can test the pH of your growing medium with pH test strips or a pH meter. If the pH is not right, you can adjust it by adding lime or sulfuric acid.
Size
The size of the growing medium should also be suitable for the size of the plant. Small plants should be planted in small growing medium, large plants should be planted in large growing medium.
Mass
The growing medium should be lightweight for easy transport and replacement.
Nutrition
The growing medium should provide enough nutrients for the plant to grow. You can supplement nutrients to the growing medium by adding fertilizer or using a pre-mixed growing medium with nutrients. See articles Good writing about nutrition at huykiengla.com.
Pathogens
Growing media should be treated to remove pathogens before use to avoid spreading disease to plants.
Price
The cost of the growing medium is also a factor to consider. You should choose the type of growing medium that suits your needs and budget.
Some other factors
- Current status of the tree
- The climate where you live
- The light the plant receives
- Watering frequency
- Open environment
- Temperature, humidity in the air.
