Best soil for plants?
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Best soil for plants?
Hello,
As I have recently gotten in the gardening world, I am a little lost. I need the best soil that I can possibly get in Karachi as I am trying to growing some very expensive plants here that I ordered from abroad (don't want to mention the name publicly for some reason, pm me for details).
Over the last couple of days, I have visited local nurseries (in my area), shops near sabzi mandi and Vitax shop (located in DHA). However I am unable to find good potting mix. Local nurseries just have plain bhalu mitti and cow manure, sabzi mandi shops have organic compost (Khas sehat and some other brand) and vitax had organic compost by the name of "Nutra gold", available in 25kg pack.
I bought the "khas sehat" compost and bhallu mitti, and then mixed them 1:2 ratio and also added some peat moss in it for better water retention and aeration however I am not satisfied with the result because when I water the plants, the soil becomes very muddy, at first the water doesn't seem to seep in the soil but it eventually does and then after some time (hours), it completely dries up. It has characteristics just like beach sand. I am wondering if the bhallu mitti I was sold was actual bhallu mitti or not as I don't have any idea of how this "bhallu mitti" actually looks like...
I have also bought some pre-mixed "bhallu mitti" and "cow manure" soil from local nursery and it seems much better then the "bhallu-khas sehat compost" mix. It remains moist for a long time and looks more like "gardening-soil" to me.
On the internet, residents of other countries (US,UK etc) keep talking about soils with different brand names and compositions and upon looking the soils they are using in the video/pictures, it looks totally different from our soil. Why is that? where can I get that type of soil ?
So I was just wondering what do you guys use ? just simple nursery mix or something imported or like that? Where do I get these gardening soils ? (google "black gold soil" for example)
Any help will be greatly appreciated here.
P.S. I am only growing plants in pots so I don't need a whole lot load of it so cost is of little concern to me.
As I have recently gotten in the gardening world, I am a little lost. I need the best soil that I can possibly get in Karachi as I am trying to growing some very expensive plants here that I ordered from abroad (don't want to mention the name publicly for some reason, pm me for details).
Over the last couple of days, I have visited local nurseries (in my area), shops near sabzi mandi and Vitax shop (located in DHA). However I am unable to find good potting mix. Local nurseries just have plain bhalu mitti and cow manure, sabzi mandi shops have organic compost (Khas sehat and some other brand) and vitax had organic compost by the name of "Nutra gold", available in 25kg pack.
I bought the "khas sehat" compost and bhallu mitti, and then mixed them 1:2 ratio and also added some peat moss in it for better water retention and aeration however I am not satisfied with the result because when I water the plants, the soil becomes very muddy, at first the water doesn't seem to seep in the soil but it eventually does and then after some time (hours), it completely dries up. It has characteristics just like beach sand. I am wondering if the bhallu mitti I was sold was actual bhallu mitti or not as I don't have any idea of how this "bhallu mitti" actually looks like...
I have also bought some pre-mixed "bhallu mitti" and "cow manure" soil from local nursery and it seems much better then the "bhallu-khas sehat compost" mix. It remains moist for a long time and looks more like "gardening-soil" to me.
On the internet, residents of other countries (US,UK etc) keep talking about soils with different brand names and compositions and upon looking the soils they are using in the video/pictures, it looks totally different from our soil. Why is that? where can I get that type of soil ?
So I was just wondering what do you guys use ? just simple nursery mix or something imported or like that? Where do I get these gardening soils ? (google "black gold soil" for example)
Any help will be greatly appreciated here.
P.S. I am only growing plants in pots so I don't need a whole lot load of it so cost is of little concern to me.
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Re: Best soil for plants?
For annuals i buy baalu mitti and ojhri ki khaad separately and mix 2:1 ratio.. no other amendment.. this mix is fine for growing and blooming of annuals for 4-5 months.. to enhance blooming i use NPK (Engro zarkhez) 17:17:17 after the plant starts forming buds..
For leaf growth i use DAP in place of NPK..
For growing seeds, you can check my post for Seedling mix
For leaf growth i use DAP in place of NPK..
For growing seeds, you can check my post for Seedling mix
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Re: Best soil for plants?
Thank you for responding.
I see, I will ask around local nurseries for "ojhri ki khaad" but I doubt I will find it in my area. All they seem to have is cow manure.
Regarding your thread about "seedling mix", it is really informative. Much appreciated. Also, the picture of "ballu mitti" looks different than what I was given by my local nursery as ballu mitti :/
I see, I will ask around local nurseries for "ojhri ki khaad" but I doubt I will find it in my area. All they seem to have is cow manure.
Regarding your thread about "seedling mix", it is really informative. Much appreciated. Also, the picture of "ballu mitti" looks different than what I was given by my local nursery as ballu mitti :/
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Re: Best soil for plants?
Understand the origin of different sands: the coarse sands r heavy n settle at the river bed bottom. This is also the builders sand. It's excellent for good drainage but nutrient poor (option for cactus n succulents). The bhal or bhalu mitti is the nutrient rich alluvial soil that deposits at river banks; this is fine n drains poorly. It has tendency for compaction n needs amendments like compost etc to make the potting mix well draining... As long as it is not dug out soil u r good
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Re: Best soil for plants?
The day you find out what is one singular ideal food for yourself, you will figure out ideal soil recipe for plants.
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Re: Best soil for plants?
Alright then, I will go with the bhalu mitti for now. Thank you.talha.bin.ayub wrote:Understand the origin of different sands: the coarse sands r heavy n settle at the river bed bottom. This is also the builders sand. It's excellent for good drainage but nutrient poor (option for cactus n succulents). The bhal or bhalu mitti is the nutrient rich alluvial soil that deposits at river banks; this is fine n drains poorly. It has tendency for compaction n needs amendments like compost etc to make the potting mix well draining... As long as it is not dug out soil u r good
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