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: '''Potting soil''' is a mixture used to grow [[plants]], [[herbs]] and [[vegetables]] in a contained [[garden]] environment. The first recorded use of the term is from an 1861 issue of the ''American Agriculturist''.<ref>[http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50185534/50185534se9?single=1&query_type=word&queryword=potting+soil&first=1&max_to_show=10&hilite=50185534se9 Oxford English Dictionary]</ref>
: '''Potting soil''' is a mixture used to grow [[plants]], [[herbs]] and [[vegetables]] in a contained [[garden]] environment. The first recorded use of the term is from an 1861 issue of the ''American Agriculturist''.<ref>[http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50185534/50185534se9?single=1&query_type=word&queryword=potting+soil&first=1&max_to_show=10&hilite=50185534se9 Oxford English Dictionary]</ref>


The most common ingredients used in potting soil are [[peat moss]], composted bark and/or other plant materials, [[sand]], and [[perlite]] (for drainage). Some potting soil mixtures contain particles of [[vermicompost]], while other contain [[vermiculite]] for water retention. Most commercially available brands of potting soil have their pH fine-tuned with ground [[limestone]], and some contain small amounts of [[fertilizer]] and slow-release nutrients.<ref>Nissen, Dante. “The Indoor Plant Bible.” Page 21. Barron’s. ISBN 0-7641-5769-8</ref> Despite its name, little or no soil is used in potting soil because it is considered too heavy for growing houseplants.<ref>Pleasant, Barbara. “The Complete Houseplant Survival Guide.” Pages 314. Storey Publishing. ISBN 1-58017-569-4</ref>
The most common ingredients used in potting soil are [[peat moss]], composted bark and/or other plant materials, [[sand]], and [[perlite]] (for drainage). Some potting soil mixtures contain particles of [[vermicompost]], while other contain [[vermiculite]] for water retention. Most commercially available brands of potting soil have their pH fine-tuned with ground [[limestone]], and some contain small amounts of [[fertilizer]] and slow-release nutrients.<ref>Nissen, Dante. “The Indoor Plant Bible.” Page 21. Barron’s. ISBN 0-7641-5769-8</ref> Despite its name, little or no [[soil]] is used in potting soil because it is considered too heavy for growing houseplants.<ref>Pleasant, Barbara. “The Complete Houseplant Survival Guide.” Pages 314. Storey Publishing. ISBN 1-58017-569-4</ref>


Some plants require potting soil that are specific for their environment. For example, an [[African violet]] would grow better in potting soil containing extra peat moss while a [[cactus]] would thrive in potting soil that contains material for sufficient drainage, most commonly perlite or sand.<ref>Burne, Geoffrey. “Encyclopedia of Container Gardening.” Page 22. Fog City Press. ISBN 978-1-87701-943-2</ref> But potting soil is not ideal for all contained gardening. Insectivorous plants, such as the [[Venus flytrap]] and the [[pitcher plant]], prefer nutrient-poor soils common to bogs and fens<ref>[http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/17273/a-e--dirty-buttons "Bogged Down," Philadelphia Weekly]</ref> while water-based plants thrive in a heavier topsoil mix.<ref>[http://features.csmonitor.com/gardening/2008/06/18/creating-a-water-garden-in-a-tub/ "Creating a Garden in a Tub," Christian Science Monitor]</ref>
Some plants require potting soil that are specific for their environment. For example, an [[African violet]] would grow better in potting soil containing extra peat moss while a [[cactus]] would thrive in potting soil that contains material for sufficient drainage, most commonly perlite or sand.<ref>Burne, Geoffrey. “Encyclopedia of Container Gardening.” Page 22. Fog City Press. ISBN 978-1-87701-943-2</ref> But potting soil is not ideal for all contained gardening. Insectivorous plants, such as the [[Venus flytrap]] and the [[pitcher plant]], prefer nutrient-poor soils common to bogs and fens<ref>[http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/17273/a-e--dirty-buttons "Bogged Down," Philadelphia Weekly]</ref> while water-based plants thrive in a heavier topsoil mix.<ref>[http://features.csmonitor.com/gardening/2008/06/18/creating-a-water-garden-in-a-tub/ "Creating a Garden in a Tub," Christian Science Monitor]</ref>

Revision as of 07:27, 26 April 2011

A flowerpot filled with potting soil
Potting soil is a mixture used to grow plants, herbs and vegetables in a contained garden environment. The first recorded use of the term is from an 1861 issue of the American Agriculturist.[1]

The most common ingredients used in potting soil are peat moss, composted bark and/or other plant materials, sand, and perlite (for drainage). Some potting soil mixtures contain particles of vermicompost, while other contain vermiculite for water retention. Most commercially available brands of potting soil have their pH fine-tuned with ground limestone, and some contain small amounts of fertilizer and slow-release nutrients.[2] Despite its name, little or no soil is used in potting soil because it is considered too heavy for growing houseplants.[3]

Some plants require potting soil that are specific for their environment. For example, an African violet would grow better in potting soil containing extra peat moss while a cactus would thrive in potting soil that contains material for sufficient drainage, most commonly perlite or sand.[4] But potting soil is not ideal for all contained gardening. Insectivorous plants, such as the Venus flytrap and the pitcher plant, prefer nutrient-poor soils common to bogs and fens[5] while water-based plants thrive in a heavier topsoil mix.[6]

Commercially available potting soil is sterilized, in order to avoid the spread of weeds and plant-borne diseases. It is possible to reuse commercial potting soil, provided that the remnants of plant roots, fungus, weeds and insects are removed from the mixture through heating before new planting can take place.[7] Packaged potting soil is sold in bags ranging from 5 to 50 pounds (2.3–22.7 kg).[8]

As with garden soil, potting soil can attract insects. For example, the fungus gnat is often found around houseplants because it lays eggs in moist potting soil.[9]

Legionella contamination

Infections due to potting mix have been reported in Australia,[10] New Zealand,[11] the Netherlands,[12] and the United States.[13]

On June 13, 2000, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that a woman in Washington was hospitalized with pneumonia that was triggered by Legionella longbeachae, the bacterium associated with Legionnaires' Disease. The CDC also confirmed the presence of Legionella longbeachae in soil in Australia and Japan.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Oxford English Dictionary
  2. ^ Nissen, Dante. “The Indoor Plant Bible.” Page 21. Barron’s. ISBN 0-7641-5769-8
  3. ^ Pleasant, Barbara. “The Complete Houseplant Survival Guide.” Pages 314. Storey Publishing. ISBN 1-58017-569-4
  4. ^ Burne, Geoffrey. “Encyclopedia of Container Gardening.” Page 22. Fog City Press. ISBN 978-1-87701-943-2
  5. ^ "Bogged Down," Philadelphia Weekly
  6. ^ "Creating a Garden in a Tub," Christian Science Monitor
  7. ^ Carol Cloud Bailey: Heat potting soil to prepare it for replanting" TCPalm.com
  8. ^ Reader's Digest Association. “Care-free Plants.” Page 298. Readers Digest. ISBN 0-7621-0358-2
  9. ^ "How to minimize dents in carpet from furniture," Arizona Republic
  10. ^ Speers DJ, Tribe AE (1994). "Legionella longbeachae pneumonia associated with potting mix". Med. J. Aust. 161 (8): 509. PMID 7935133. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Kingston M, Padwell A (1994). "Fatal legionellosis from gardening". N. Z. Med. J. 107 (974): 111. PMID 8127508. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  12. ^ den Boer JW, Yzerman EP, Jansen R, Bruin JP, Verhoef LP, Neve G, van der Zwaluw K (2007). "Legionnaires' disease and gardening". Clin. Microbiol. Infect. 13 (1): 88–91. doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2006.01562.x. PMID 17184293. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Legionnaires' disease associated with potting soil--California, Oregon, and Washington, May-June 2000". Can. Commun. Dis. Rep. 26 (22): 189–92. 2000. PMID 11131692. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ U.S. Centers for Disease Control
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