Homemade Soil Methods for Family Flower Cultivation
This article provides a comprehensive introduction to homemade soil methods for family flower cultivation and related topics about the simplest universal soil for flower gardening. Please see the detailed introduction below.
When I first started growing flowers and vegetables on the balcony, I disapproved of the garden soil, thinking it was not loose or fertile enough, so I began to buy flower soil for planting. Especially after becoming obsessed with succulents, I started to favor granular soil and thus embarked on the path of buying flower soil. I was either placing orders or waiting for快递 deliveries. The pace of buying soil couldn't keep up with the pace of using it, and after all, buying flower soil is quite expensive. Before I changed a few flower pots, the soil was gone again. Later, I carefully calculated and realized that I spent more money on soil than on plants. Have you experienced this?
However, the elderly woman in my family, who also enjoys growing flowers, never buys flower soil and doesn't believe that the bought soil is better than the soil she collects herself. Nevertheless, it has been proven that the potting soil she uses for her flowers remains loose even when it's time to change the soil, unlike some granular soils that can become compacted. Later, I silently learned to make homemade flower soil from her, and it really saved a lot of money. I won't keep this great method to myself; let's make free and useful flower soil together.
When Climbing, Don't Forget to Bring Tools to Collect Fertile Flower Soil
In the past, every Qingming Festival, the elderly woman would go to the mountain, always wearing gloves and carrying bags, and she would always come back with a full bag of flower soil. I used to tease her for not being tired, carrying a bag of soil from such a distance. When there was no flower soil available, I used the soil she brought back once, and then I had to eat my words because it was really loose. Now, without the elderly woman collecting soil, we already have several large bags of soil at home.
The type of soil the elderly woman collects is called decomposed leaf soil. She usually collects pine needles and the thick pine needle soil under pine trees because pine needle decomposed leaf soil contains more humus than other decomposed leaf soils, especially suitable for plants that prefer slightly acidic soil. Therefore, she collects pine needle decomposed leaf soil whenever she has the chance. Of course, if pine needle decomposed leaf soil is not available, other decomposed leaf soils are also fine.
When we collect pine needle decomposed leaf soil, we collect dried pine needles or those that have weathered and can be easily crushed, as these needles decompose more easily. In addition to collecting pine needles, under the pine trees, there is black soil that is very fertile, and some of this soil should also be collected to be mixed with the decomposed pine needles to make flower soil.
After collecting the pine needles and soil, you can mix the pine needles with the soil or separate them into black bags. Wet the soil and pine needles, then seal them and place them in the sun to晒晒. In the summer, they can usually be used after about two months (weathered pine needles may take less time), while lower temperatures may require half a year. The decomposed pine needle decomposed leaf soil, when mixed with some river sand during planting, is suitable for the growth of most plants and can be considered a very versatile soil.
Actually, not only are there decomposed leaf soils on the mountain, but they can also be found in parks and residential areas. However, the decomposed leaf soil on the mountain accumulates over the years and is usually more abundant and almost completely decomposed, whereas in parks and residential areas, it is often cleaned up, so there is less decomposed leaf soil, mostly leaves that have recently fallen and need more time to decompose. If only pine needles or leaves are collected, they can also be wetted and decomposed, and when planting, mixed with garden soil and river sand, they can also make very good soil.
Also, when collecting pine needle decomposed leaf soil, don't forget to collect some pine cones, especially those that are weathered and easily crumbled. Placing them at the bottom of the pot can increase drainage and also serve as fertilizer. Crushing and decomposing them and mixing them into the soil is also an option.
Using Kitchen Waste to Make Fertile Flower Soil
In the spring, I collected a lot of decomposed leaf soil, and there was a bag that I didn't use recently. To make it more fertile, I buried chopped-up leftover vegetable leaves and overripe celery from the foam box in the soil, then sealed the bag mouth to let them ferment and decompose fully in the bag. Once decomposed, it becomes fertile soil.
In fact, we have many such resources at hand, such as fish intestines and bones, cooked eggshells, banana peels, apple peels, roasted peanut shells, sunflower seed shells, cooked soybeans, etc. Don't underestimate them. Burying them in garden soil and letting them decompose can make very good organic fertilizers, significantly improving the fertility of the soil.
When we change pots, don't throw away the soil we take out. By burying vegetable leaves, fruit peels, and other kitchen waste in the soil to ferment, we can make the soil more fertile and reusable. Isn't this also the method we use when farming?
In summary, as long as we pay attention, there are many materials around us that can be used to make homemade soil. The homemade soil is loose, fertile, and has good drainage, not inferior to the purchased soil. Moreover, we can save money on buying soil to spend on flowers, expanding our "small garden." After all, isn't it the way of life to do things ourselves when we can, enjoying the process and saving money at the same time?
The detailed explanation above about homemade soil methods for family flower cultivation and the simplest universal soil for flower gardening is hoped to provide help in green plant management!