The soil mixture for the Haworthia genus plants
Let's share some knowledge about the Haworthia genus plants, specifically the soil mixture for these plants. Keep reading for more information!
【About Soil Mixture】
A good soil mixture can facilitate management. The soil I use for my Haworthia plants has gone through several changes during my growing process. The current mixture includes red jade soil, pumice stone, German peat, perlite, charcoal, and vermiculite. The ratio of the first four ingredients is 2:1:1:2, approximately, and I'm not too strict about it. Only a small amount of charcoal and vermiculite is added. This formula is suitable for semi-open greenhouses, plastic pots, or semi-open balconies. If it's a fully open balcony or ceramic pots, you need to increase the proportion of peat or vermiculite to enhance water retention.
tips:
1. It's best to use imported German peat, not something like northeast grass peat, which often contains eggs or seeds due to incomplete sterilization. Moreover, the pH value of northeast grass peat has not been adjusted, and it's too acidic, which is not conducive to root growth or seed germination, and it's extremely prone to compaction.
2. Sieve ingredients like red jade soil and perlite to remove dust and prevent pore blockage. However, I often skip sieving the red jade soil. German peat should be manually crumbled. Charcoal should be soaked in water to remove the fire element and to make the final mixed soil slightly moist without being wet.
3. If it's a mature plant, I would replace German peat with Xian soil and increase the amount of vermiculite.
【Soil Mixture Analysis】
Let's analyze why we use these types of soil and in what proportions.
A. Red jade soil. Increases horizontal water capillarity and enhances oxygen permeability.
B. Pumice stone. Lightweight, good drainage, moisture retention, and breathability, with some nutritional content. It's very suitable for the root attachment of Haworthia genus plants. I've found that the fine roots of Haworthia genus plants like to wrap around pumice stone, which means it's beneficial for the growth of fine roots. The only downside of pumice stone is that it can easily crumble.
C. Peat. Increases water retention and provides a nitrogen source.
D. Perlite. A lightweight soil that makes the soil loose and prevents compaction, allowing air exchange and reducing the overall weight of the soil. The only downside is that it's too light, and the perlite on top can float up when watered.
E. Charcoal. Provides a potassium source, promoting future root development and enhancing plant resistance.
F. Vermiculite. Promotes plant root growth and provides minerals. It has multiple functions such as fertilizing, water retention, water storage, breathability, and mineral fertilizer.
That's all the content about the soil mixture for the Haworthia genus plants, for your comprehensive understanding and reference!