Potting soil and potting soil are offered as separate products in specialist garden centers or at discounters. Both should be suitable for balcony planting, but also for the garden bed. In order to be able to use the earth properly, one must know the differences between the two earths.
Potting soil and potting soil are almost identical
The potting soil
Since the ingredients in the potting soil are usually of higher quality than in the potting soil, the prices for potting soil are slightly higher. It always depends on whether it is a branded product or a no-name product.
The potting soil is adapted to the needs of potted flowers, tubs or balcony plants.
It contains, among other things:
- Peat, in the case of peat-free soil it is bark humus or fibers from wood or coconut
- compost
- Clay granules, used to store water
- Perlite (37.51€) (made of volcanic glass), also for water storage
- Quartz sand (€15.85) makes the soil permeable so that excess water can drain off
- Lime to regulate pH
- NPK fertilizer, an initial fertilizer depot of Nitrogen N, Phosphorus P, Potassium K
The potting soil
This soil has almost the same structure as the potting soil. it consists of
- organic components such as peat or humus
- compost
- mineral additives such as sand or clay
- Lime for pH
- few fertilizers
- fibers
Potting soil can be used anywhere in the garden. If it is to be used for special plants, special additives can be added.
The main differences
At first glance, there are only a few differences between the two earths. However, their composition varies. Potting soil contains less sulphur, phosphate and nitrogen than potting soil, but more potassium.
Flowers grown in potting soil have limited space for their roots. So that there is always enough water, the potting soil has to store water over a longer period of time and therefore contains clay granules or perlite. Potting soil loosens up normal garden soil. The plants cultivated in it use the structure of the garden soil to take root.
Potting soil must be structurally stable so that the flowers find sufficient support and do not fall over at the slightest gust of wind.
Potting soil contains little fertilizer and is used for new plantings. It improves the soil condition. The cultivated plants get their nutrients from the surrounding soil.
Potting soil is provided with a fertilizer depot, which supplies the plants for the first few weeks. Then it has to be fertilized later.