DIY POTTING MIX

Have some fun making your own general purpose or specialty potting mixes at home.

BASE MATERIALS

Homemade compost is good at storing water and supplying organic nutrients to plants. Coir fibre offers no nutrients, but is very good at storing and supplying moisture and nutrients applied to the mix. It’s a by-product of coconut production, and can be purchased from garden centres as compressed bricks, which you soak in water before use.

Washed river sand improves drainage and reduces slump. You can buy it at garden centres and landscape suppliers. Perlite is extremely lightweight, and helps to aerate potting mixes while holding moisture. It’s available at garden centres and produce stores.

Semi-composted pine bark is a coarse material that helps add air to a mix. It’s usually available at landscape suppliers.

General purpose

● 1 part compost ● 1 part expanded coir fibre ● 1 part washed river sand ● 1 part semi-composted pine bark

Vegetables/herbs

● 10L compost (substitute or mix with well-rotted, sieved cow or horse manure) ● 10L expanded coir fibre ● 10L perlite ● 3 cups dried worm castings

● 1 cup lime

Fruit trees

● Vegetable mix (above) ● 10L washed river sand

Cacti/succulents

● 1 part expanded coir fibre ● 1 part perlite

● 1 part washed river sand

Orchids

● 10L semi-composted pine bark (5–10mm diameter)

● 1 cup horticultural charcoal ● 1 cup shell grit

African violets

● 1 part regular-grade potting mix ● 1 part expanded coir fibre

● 1 part perlite