Soil & Fertilization guides
What you grow in matters more than almost anything else indoors. These guides cover potting mixes, peat moss, coconut coir, perlite and vermiculite, plus feeding, composting and testing your soil.
11 guides in this section
Everything you need to know about liquid seaweed fertilizer
What liquid seaweed fertilizer actually does, why its NPK is so low, how to dilute and apply it, which plants respond, and how to make your own.
What you need to know to grow herbs indoors during winter
Winter indoors means less light, drier air and cooler nights. How to adjust lighting, watering and humidity so your herbs keep growing through it.
How to test the pH of soil in 4 ways
Four ways to test your soil pH at home, from probe meters to a DIY vinegar and baking soda test, plus how to raise or lower it for herbs.
The ultimate guide to composting at home
How to compost at home whatever your space: tumblers, worm bins and bokashi compared, what to add, what to avoid, and how to tell when it is ready.
What is vermiculite? What it does in a pot, and whether it is safe
Vermiculite is a mica-family mineral popped into water-holding accordion flakes. What it does that perlite cannot, why it collapses over time, and the honest...
What is coconut coir? How it is made, what it does, and how to use it
Coconut coir holds water like peat and feeds a plant like gravel. What it is, the three forms it is sold in, why it locks up calcium and magnesium, and how t...
What is perlite? What it is made of, and what it is good for
Perlite is volcanic glass popped like popcorn at around 900°C. What it is made of, why it holds air instead of food, and how to use it in pots, seed trays an...
What is peat moss? What it does, and how it compares with coir
Peat moss holds water, resists compaction and arrives free of weed seeds and pathogens. What it is, why straight peat is too acidic for most herbs, and where...
The ultimate guide to the best growing media for indoor herbs
The best growing media for indoor herbs compared: potting soil, peat moss, coconut coir, perlite and vermiculite, and when to use each one.
How to sterilize soil: The ultimate guide for every treatment
Every method for sterilizing soil at home: oven, microwave, steam and solarization, with temperatures, timings and when each one is worth doing.
Fertilizer for herbs: Benefits, types, and how to fertilize
Why indoor herbs need feeding, which fertilizer types suit container growing, and how often to apply them without scorching your plants.