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.
Articles 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.
Vermiculite: Uses for growing plants, safety, and comparison to Perlite
What vermiculite is, what it does for water retention and aeration, whether it is safe to handle, and how it compares with perlite in a mix.
What is coconut coir? Everything you need to know about this growing media
What coconut coir is, how it is made, and how it compares with peat moss as a growing medium: water retention, pH, drainage and when to use it.
What is perlite good for? Uses, types, and comparing growing media
What perlite is, how it is made and what it is good for: drainage, aeration, seed starting and hydroponics, plus how it compares to vermiculite.
Peat moss: Growing benefits, uses, and comparison to Coco Coir
What peat moss is, how it is harvested and what it does in a growing mix, plus an honest comparison with coconut coir on cost and sustainability.
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.