Growing MediasGrowing Medias

The stuff plants grow inThe stuff plants grow in

Things to KnowThings to Know

Aeration: The presence of oxygen.Aeration: The presence of oxygen.

Pore Spaces: Air holes between Pore Spaces: Air holes between soil particles.soil particles.

Inorganic: Non living substances.Inorganic: Non living substances.

Organic: Anything that is or once Organic: Anything that is or once was living.was living.

Things to knowThings to know

Soil Ammendment: Items Soil Ammendment: Items added to the soil to increase added to the soil to increase plant growth.plant growth.

Pasteurization: Process of Pasteurization: Process of heating soil to 180 degrees F heating soil to 180 degrees F to kill harmfull diseases, to kill harmfull diseases, weed seeds, and insects.weed seeds, and insects.

Macronutrients: Elements Macronutrients: Elements needed by the plant in large needed by the plant in large

amountsamounts..

Things to knowThings to know

Fertilizer: Any material Fertilizer: Any material provided to plants to supply provided to plants to supply the nutrients needed for plant the nutrients needed for plant growth.growth.

Fertilizer Analysis: Statement Fertilizer Analysis: Statement on a fertilizer bag indicating on a fertilizer bag indicating the amount of primary the amount of primary elements in a fertilizer.elements in a fertilizer.

Types of MediaTypes of Media

SoilSoil

Soilless medium: Soilless medium: Contains no topsoil.Contains no topsoil.

Hydroponics: Hydroponics: Growing plants in Growing plants in water solutions.water solutions.

Things media should provide:Things media should provide:

Media should hold Media should hold nutrientsnutrients..

Adequete drainageAdequete drainage- plants can die from - plants can die from lack of oxygen.lack of oxygen.

Some consistencySome consistency..

Components of SoilComponents of Soil

Sand: The largest soil particleSand: The largest soil particle

Silt: Is smaller than sand but larger than clay.Silt: Is smaller than sand but larger than clay.

Clay: The smallest soil particle.Clay: The smallest soil particle.

Organic Matter: Anything that is or once was Organic Matter: Anything that is or once was living.living.

Components of SoilComponents of Soil

% Soil Components% Soil Components

Sand, Silt, andClayOrganic Matter

Air

Water

5%

45%

25%

25%

Determine your soil typeDetermine your soil type

Soiless MixesSoiless Mixes

Peat Moss: A plant material Peat Moss: A plant material that origionates in bogsthat origionates in bogs

– Great moisture and nutrient Great moisture and nutrient holding ability.holding ability.

– Light weight.Light weight.– Can be acidic.Can be acidic.

Soiless MixesSoiless Mixes

Perlite: White in color and comes from Perlite: White in color and comes from heat-treated lava.heat-treated lava.

– Used to aerate the soil.Used to aerate the soil.– Light weight.Light weight.

Soiless MixesSoiless Mixes

Vermiculite: Comes from Vermiculite: Comes from the mineral mica, and is the mineral mica, and is shiny brown in color.shiny brown in color.

– Light weight.Light weight.– Good for seed germination.Good for seed germination.– High moisture holding High moisture holding

capacity.capacity.

Advantages of Soiless MixesAdvantages of Soiless Mixes

They are:They are:– UniformUniform– SterileSterile– Can be Can be manipulatedmanipulated to change the to change the drainangedrainange

and moisture holding ability.and moisture holding ability.– Easier to ship and move.Easier to ship and move.– Can be personally mixed to get the desired Can be personally mixed to get the desired

results.results.

Disadvantages of Soiless Mixes.Disadvantages of Soiless Mixes.

They lack nutrients and require more They lack nutrients and require more fertilization.fertilization.

When used outdoors they are easily blown When used outdoors they are easily blown over.over.

Plants sometimes do not adapt well from Plants sometimes do not adapt well from soil to soiless mixes.soil to soiless mixes.

MacronutrientsMacronutrients

Nitrogen –NNitrogen –N

Phosphorus – PPhosphorus – P

Pottasium – KPottasium – K

Calcium – CaCalcium – Ca

Magnessium – MgMagnessium – Mg

Primary Nutrients:Primary Nutrients:

N – Green leafy N – Green leafy growth.growth.

P – Flower and P – Flower and fruit production.fruit production.

K – Disease K – Disease resistance.resistance.

MicronutrientsMicronutrients

Boron (B)Boron (B)

Copper (Cu)Copper (Cu)

Chlorine (Cl)Chlorine (Cl)

Iron (Fe)Iron (Fe)

Manganese (Mn)Manganese (Mn)

Molybdenum (Mo)Molybdenum (Mo)

Zinc (Zn)Zinc (Zn)

DeficienciesDeficiencies

Can be detected by soil tests.Can be detected by soil tests.

Can be detected by the plants.Can be detected by the plants.

Phosphorous: Purpling around the edge of leaf.Phosphorous: Purpling around the edge of leaf.

Phosphorus: Yellowing around the edges.Phosphorus: Yellowing around the edges.

Nitrogen: Whole leaf yellows (most common Nitrogen: Whole leaf yellows (most common deficiency.deficiency.

Soil PhSoil Ph

Soil Ph can range from 1-14Soil Ph can range from 1-14

Ph’s of 1-6 are acidic.Ph’s of 1-6 are acidic.

Ph’s of 7 are nuetral.Ph’s of 7 are nuetral.

Ph’s of 8-14 are alkaline.Ph’s of 8-14 are alkaline.

Ph’s of 7 are nuetral.Ph’s of 7 are nuetral.

Soil PhSoil Ph

Most plants prefer a Ph of 5.6 – 7Most plants prefer a Ph of 5.6 – 7

To raise the Ph add limestone.To raise the Ph add limestone.

To lower the Ph add sulfur.To lower the Ph add sulfur.

FertilizersFertilizers

The fertilizer analysis is written in three The fertilizer analysis is written in three numbers and tells the percent N, P, and K numbers and tells the percent N, P, and K

For example: (15-10-26)For example: (15-10-26)– This fertilizer is 15% NitrogenThis fertilizer is 15% Nitrogen– 10% Phosphorus10% Phosphorus– 26 % Potassium26 % Potassium– 49 % filler material.49 % filler material.

FertilizersFertilizers

If a fertilizer contains all three primary If a fertilizer contains all three primary elements it is a complete fertilizer.elements it is a complete fertilizer.

If it lacks any of the three elements it is an If it lacks any of the three elements it is an incomplete fertilizer.incomplete fertilizer.

Methods of applying fertilizerMethods of applying fertilizer

Liquid Form: Fertilizers are sprayed Liquid Form: Fertilizers are sprayed directly onto the foliage.directly onto the foliage.

Slow Release: Are in granular form and Slow Release: Are in granular form and release nutrients slowly through the soil.release nutrients slowly through the soil.

Water solubles: Dissolve in water and are Water solubles: Dissolve in water and are applied with watering.applied with watering.