What is the Difference between Potting Mix and Potting Soil?
Gardening aficionados are often left perplexed when it comes to deciding between potting mix and potting soil. Both are used to plant and nurture plants, but they are not the same and knowing their difference is important.
Potting Mix
Potting mix is a soilless mixture composed of peat moss, compost, vermiculite, perlite, and/or bark. It is generally lightweight in consistency and sometimes has a bit of fertilizer mixed in. As a soilless mixture, it can also help avoid soil-borne diseases.
Benefits of Potting Mix
- Lightweight: Being lightweight, potting mix is ideal for transporting around from one place to another.
- Contains Nutrients: Potting mix often has fertilizers mixed in for providing nourishment.
Potting Soil
Potting soil, on the other hand, is a mixture of garden soil, sand, sphagnum moss, and other organic materials like manure. Compared to potting mix, potting soil is denser and has a higher water retention capacity.
Benefits of Potting Soil
- Coarse in Consistency: Potting soil is coarse in consistency and is capable of alleviating root rot.
- More Nutritious: Potting soil contains more nutrients than potting mix because of the presence of organic materials.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both potting mix and potting soil are important components for planting and nurturing plants. Potting mix is light in consistency and contains some nutrients, while potting soil is coarse and has more nutrition content.
