What is potting soil? Make piquing earth yourself

Special potting soil is often used so that young plants can be grown successfully from seeds. It has different properties than ordinary soil and gives the young plants the best starting conditions.

Characteristics of pricking earth

• As germ-free as possible
• free from weed seeds or components
• few nutrients
• good permeability
• fine crumbly

The small-grained soil structure makes it easier for the plants to spread their young and still fine roots in the substrate. The few nutrients force the plants to develop long and strong roots.
Sterility guarantees that weeds do not form and bacteria and fungi have no chance. Good potting soil does not go moldy.

Substances not necessary for potting soil

While peat is still often recommended, it should no longer be used in the garden because of its mining methods. When peat is extracted, peatlands are destroyed.

In addition, although peat stores a lot of water, it can make the substrate very impermeable when it dries out. The same goes for any type of fiber, such as coconut fiber.
Adding fertilizers is not necessary as there are enough nutrients in the compost. Too much fertilizer is more likely to damage the growth of the young plants. The fine roots could burn.

Note: To improve the mineral composition, you can mix in rock flour, for example.

Mushrooms in pricking soil

Unlike mold, other types of fungus can even help young plants grow. These include so-called mycorrhizal fungi. These are soil fungi that enter into a symbiosis with plants. They help plants absorb water or nutrients. Since the fungal network, even if it is not visible to the naked eye, can spread far better in the soil than the roots of plants, the plants benefit from this symbiosis, they grow

stronger and less susceptible to pests or diseases.

Use mycorrhizal fungi

There are different versions of the soil improver to buy in stores. Including powder for sprinkling or mixing with water or granulates, which also improve the soil structure. Complete fertilizer with mycorrhizal fungi as an additive is not suitable. Mycorrhizal fungi can be mixed into the seed compost. The fungal network later connects with the roots of the seedlings. It can take a while for a positive effect to appear.

Note: Never mix in the mushrooms before sterilizing. Like mold, they are killed in high heat.

Homemade seed compost

composition

• Ordinary garden soil, topsoil
• compost
• sand

If you prepare your substrate in spring, you can also use the soil from molehills, which usually has a very fine structure. The compost must be well stored, rotten manure is not suitable because of the coarse structure and the many nutrients. Any kind of sand that is not too fine can be used for young plant soil. It should loosen up the substrate and make it more permeable. To improve this effect, you can additionally

Mix in a little more pearlite.

Note: Perlite consists of crushed and heat-treated volcanic rock with a very large, porous surface. It looks similar to styrofoam.

Prepare potting soil

1. One third of topsoil, one third of compost and one third of sand are used. Additives that you might want to use do not change the basic composition
2. Sieve topsoil and compost as finely as possible. This will remove roots, stones or pieces of wood.
3. Mix the substrate vigorously in a bucket or larger tub.
4. So that the sowing soil does not go moldy and so that all animal or vegetable pests are eliminated, sterilize the substrate. The easiest way to do this is in the oven.
5. Spread your seed compost on a deep baking sheet, you may have to repeat the process several times if you want to produce a lot of substrate.
6. Put the baking sheet in the oven at 120 degrees for about 45 minutes. The decisive factor is less the level of the temperature than how long the heat can act.
7. You can also put the seed compost in the microwave if it is a small amount.
8. Let the self-made piquing earth cool down and only then mix in any desired additives.
9. You can then use the substrate immediately.