Smart Farming Solutions

Plant growth can vary significantly depending the soil composition. This is perfectly illustrated with the basil plants in the picture. The two pots to the left have muck soil, rich in organic matter. The two pots to the right are filled with sand. The pots were seeded at the same time. As you can see, the growth rate difference is nothing short of remarkable.
Organic rich soils, those containing humus, are the best soils to grow most plants. They retain both moisture and nutrients. Humus particles are both positively and negatively charged. As a result, positively charged ions such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, as well as negatively charged nitrates and phosphates bind to their surface. Water is also held to the surface of the humus colloids. This physical property of humus prevents leaching of nutrients and retards water evaporation. Humus soils are also rich in microbial life, essential for the transport of nutrients to the root zone, and nitrogen fixation.
Sandy soils on the other hand have no physical means of retaining water, nutrients or bacteria. Nutrients are rapidly leached with rain; and the soil also rapidly looses moisture. Nevertheless, some plants (such as cucumbers and tomatoes) thrive in this environment as long as moisture and fertilizers are available.
I find that most potting soils on the market are too light of a mix to grow garden vegetable without constant watering. This can be remedied using Hydretain. Hydretain is a remarkable liquid humectant, which retains moisture at the root zone and limits moisture evaporation. Unlike polymer beads that must be incorporated in the soil at time of planting, it can be sprayed on the lawn or pot at any time. Hydretain is a huge hit with golf course superintendents because they can cut their water use by 50% to 70%, saving them tens of thousands of dollars in water cost every year.
Another solution is to make your own mix, specific to the plant you want to grow. For example, for tomatoes, I combine an equal mixture of potting soil, backyard sand and topsoil (muck). This gives me a good balance between drainage and nutrient retention. I also add Inoculaid at planting and every two weeks thereafter. Inoculaid is a newly available strain of beneficial bacteria, that create moisture in the soil and turns nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia that the plants uptake. As a result, I cut my fertilizer use in half. Another reason for using Inoculaid is that the beneficial bacteria attack harmful pathogens. I no longer use fungicides, even during our hot and wet summers.
So before buying any potting soil, first determine the plant’s needs in term of water and nutrients and also consider your climate. For example, if you live out west in a desert or semi desert conditions, a typical peat potting soil will fail to provide the necessary moisture. In such case, making your own mix may be more appropriate.