Substrate types for each type of plant

List by plant type.

The secret to keeping your plant happy and content is to give it just what it needs: water, light, and good soil. The substrate is of vital importance for the growth of your plant, as it will be its source of food, among other things, and must respond to the type of plant. Each species has different needs and the substrate should be chosen accordingly. Don't worry, this will be a quick reference guide to choosing the substrate for each type of plant.

The importance of choosing a good substrate

With the substrate you have to be very demanding, as it has to meet a series of characteristics: it must be able to provide a solid soil that supports the plant, in addition to providing nutrients and being the vehicle that retains the sufficient amount of water necessary for its growth and feeding; all this without cutting the air circulation and with the ideal texture to allow the development of the roots.

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The first thing to know is that there is not just one type of substrate. This can be made up of a mixture of various materials that allow you to create a perfect environment to sustain a certain type of plant, as what is sought is to recreate the conditions of the plant in nature, even optimizing them to compensate for other factors that can affect the development of the plant.

For example, natural soil may have 3% organic matter, while a pot may have a concentration of up to 70%. A pot also has a more porous and airy substrate compared to the soil, which is very positive for the plant as it allows it to expand its roots at will.

Types of substrate

for each type of plant

You can prepare your substrate by buying various components and creating a special mixture, but it is also possible to find pre-mixed and packaged substrates that will make your life easier. If you go to the Accessories section of Be.Green you will find some substrates for your plant, including the multipurpose or universal substrate. It contains a balanced mix of peat moss, perlite, coco coir, compost and compost. This mix goes great with most houseplants, but if you want something more special, you can try specific substrates, depending on each type of plant.

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Substrate for acidic or

acidophilic plants:

Aciophilic plants are those that require a more acidic substrate, with a pH between 4 and 6. They are usually native to Asia and prefer climates with distinct seasons. If they don't have an acidic substrate, plants begin to suffer from chlorosis, the first symptom of which is yellow leaves. Some acidic plants include hydrangea, camellias, rhododendron, and cyclamen. A substrate mix for these can contain 50% blonde peat moss, 30% perlite, and 20% mulch.

Substrate for green indoor

plants

This group includes green plants, with large leaves and which are usually of tropical origin. For this type of plant, a balanced mixture of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. As they require a more or less high humidity, they should ideally contain 60% peat, vermiculite and some perlite to facilitate drainage. A universal substrate is perfect for this type of plant.

We ship plants to all locations, you can see more options here.

There

are those who sell a specific substrate for flowering plants, but I have noticed that not all flowering plants have the same needs. For example, azaleas are acidophilic, while violets are not; So my choice for this type of plant is to complement the type-specific substrate with an organic fertilizer such as guano, which will stimulate and nourish the flowering cycle.

Substrate for succulents

(cacti and succulents)

While many plants can go very well with a universal substrate, in the case of succulents it is best to go straight for a special substrate. This is because they require a mixture that facilitates drainage even more, as this prevents problems with excess moisture that can rot the roots. Some recommend the mixture of vermiculite, black peat moss, and perlite; while others put high concentration of sand in the mix.

Orchids are usually aerial plants, which live suspended from trees and other plants, so they do not require a dense and heavy substrate; rather, it is preferable to look for light and very porous substrates, which facilitate the drainage of water because its excess can kill them.

Bonsai

are very

unique plants, which require a particular composition of substrate, which must be very rich in nutrients but with an incredible drainage capacity. It should also be very low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus and potassium as this allows the trunk to widen and not lengthen so much. Ideally, you should mix akadama and kiryuzuna, adding kanuma if it is an acidophilic plant.

It is very important to know the type of plant you are adopting to be part of your home, as this will allow you to make correct decisions in terms of substrate, lighting and other factors that will give it quality of life.

This is precisely why at Be.Green we give you a sheet with a summary of all these characteristics and you can always consult them on our website. We want taking care of your plants to always be simple and become a pleasurable activity.