Potting Media

Potting media
Presented to Presented by
Dr. Zahoor M.Umair
Ahmed Mphil botany-09
The Department of Botany Punjab University Lahore

Potting Media
Potting Media
• Introduction
• Function of potting media
• Properties of potting media
• Composition of potting media Content
• Advantages of potting media
• Disadvantages of potting media
• Conclusion
• Reference
The Department of Botany Punjab University Lahore

Potting Media
Introduction
• Soil is a complex media

• Plants growing in container make more
demand for water , air and nutrient
• Soil is replaced by alternating media
termed as potting media
Potting Media
Function
Nutrient Support Water retention Aeration

Potting Media
Characteristics of potting media
Physical Chemical Biological

Physical Properties
Potting Media
WATER
POROSITY Stability RETENTIOIN
Chemical Properties
Potting Media
Physical
pH CEC and fertility

Media Ingredients
• There are two kinds are media
• Soil based media
• Soilless media
• A variety of ingredients are used in soilless media
• Organic in origin
• Inorganic in origin
Organic ingredients
• Include partially decomposed plants matter i.e. peat
moss , sawdust , and bark etc
• These mainly give the media its dark colour
• Contribute to improve water holding capacity ion bcz of
large proportion of Micropores .
• These remain functional throughout the life of crop
• high CEC to help retain nutrients
• Partially decomposed plant material recovered underneath bogs
and swamp Peat
• Has high water holding capacity
• Contribute in nutrient availability
• Different types include
• Sedge peat
• Hypnum peat Physical
• Reed peat
• Sphagnum peat of h3 grade has good horticulture quality
Inorganic ingredient
• Include sand , vermiculite ,
sand, perlite and pumice .
• Maintain the structure system
of macropores thus improve
the water drainage and
aeration
• Dark brown mica-like mineral expanded to 20 times its original size at
760°C
Vermiculite
• This expansion enables it to absorb moisture(3-5 times by its volume)
• Available in different grades according to size (grade 2 is preferred)
• Can attract nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, calcium and
phosphorus
Cont .....
Physical
Perlite
• Low weight white aggregates of
Aluminum silicate rock
• Its role is to improve
Physical aeration and
drainage
• Its lightweight can be problem
Sand
• Inert material
Physical
• Readily available
• Improve the aeration in
container
Other Additives
• Fertilizer
Physical
• Wetting agent
• Limestone
• Expanded polystyrene
Factors in selection of media material
• Quality of Ingredients
• Availability
Physical
• Cost
• Ease in preparation
Diy seed starting mix recipe
8 part peat moss
1 part vermiculite
• Dump all the ingredients into a bucket 1 part perlite or pumice
• Simply mix the ingredients with a 1/4 tsp garden lime per
gallon
trowel Physical
• Fill your seedling trays and start
planting seeds right away after well
blending ingredients
Soilless Potting Mix
• 1 part compost
• 1 part vermiculite
• 1 part peat moss
• Screened with ¼-inch screen Physical
to mix together
• Per 1 gallon mix add:
• 0.6 oz blood meal (17.01 grams)
• 0.4 oz clay phosphate (11.34 grams)
(Sanchez and Richard 2009)

Advantages
• Mix is uniform in fertility, pH, and texture

• Mix is sterile Physical
• Lighter in weight, thus easier to handle

and ship
• Good moisture retention and drainage
Disadvantages
• Since they are lightweight, containers can be blown

over
Physical
• Minor plant food elements necessary for plant life
are missing
• Plants transplanted from a soilless mix often hesitate
to extend roots into a different growing media
Conclusion
In container , soil is inappropriate media for plants
growth bcz of its bulky nature so potting media is used
as substitute to soil . A good potting media provide
mimic environment to plant. Although it is not perfect
but gives positive result in most cases .
Reference
• Grubinger, V. P. Potting Mixes for Organic Growers 2007 .Sustainable Vegetable

production from Start up to Market. Ithaca: National Resource Agricultural
Engineering Service (NRAES), 1999.
• Klein, J., and K. Hammer. “Compost-based potting mixes require different
management for transplants.” Growing for Market (February 2006).
• Leonard, B., and A. Rangarajan. Organic Transplant Media and Tomato Performance
2007. Ithaca: Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, 2007.
• Pennsylvania Certified Organic. “PCO Guidance on Manure, Compost, and Compost
Tea Products.” 2010.
Reference
• www.paorganic.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/ CERT-A18-Compost-
Manure-Tea-Guidance.pdf.
• Sanchez, E. Saline Soils and Plant Growth. University Park: Penn State
Cooperative Extension, 2010. extension.psu.edu/vegetable-fruit/fact-sheets.
• Sanchez, E., and T. L. Richard. Using Organic Nutrient Sources. University Park:
Penn State Cooperative Extension, 2009.
• Wander, M. Organic Potting Mix Basics. eXtension.org, 2010.
www.extension.org/article/20982

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Potting media

The Department of Botany Punjab University Lahore

The Department of Botany Punjab University Lahore

• Soil is a complex media

Nutrient Support Water retention Aeration

Physical Chemical Biological

pH CEC and fertility

(Sanchez and Richard 2009)

• Mix is uniform in fertility, pH, and texture

• Lighter in weight, thus easier to handle

• Since they are lightweight, containers can be blown

• Grubinger, V. P. Potting Mixes for Organic Growers 2007 .Sustainable Vegetable

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