Compost.
Peat is one of the most common additives at home. But its reserves are decreasing year by year, and prices are correspondingly rising. In this connection, it is necessary to search for inexpensive analogues. One way to solve the problem is to use other organic materials. For example - compost. Substrate for flowers from compost can not completely replace peat. But this is not required. With compost, you can reduce the peat filler by 20%. And consequently, at the same interest cut costs, optimizing the conditions for growing flower crops.
In addition to monetary savings, the use of the substrate from the compost solves many problems for summer residents and owners of private houses. For example, it helps to dispose of organic waste on the site with the benefit for business and ecology. Composting without additional costs ensures the transfer of grass, fallen leaves, surpluses of vegetables and fruits cut into slices and weeding them in a form that is accessible to future plants.
The addition of compost has a beneficial effect on the chemical and physical properties of the substrate for pot and container crops. The process of its preparation is connected with the activity of aerobic soil microorganisms, which decompose complex organic substances into simple ones. These redox reactions are largely dependent on unstable environmental conditions, such as temperature and the presence of oxygen, so they are difficult to control.
If there is no possibility or desire to compost, you can buy ready. For example, compost, obtained as a result of the activity of worms, in particular the red Californian worm. The vermicompost obtained with the help of worms, unlike usual, is more stable in composition and "prepares" much faster. A group of scientists at the University of Ohio (USA) has proved that vermicompost positively influences the growth of plants, especially flower plants. Under its influence, biomass increases, quality improves. The commercial appearance of the flowers is preserved even after prolonged transportation. Optimal results are obtained by adding 10-20% vermicompost to the substrate. At the same time, there was no need to fertilize flowers at home with mineral fertilizers.
This action can be explained by additional nutrients introduced with a vermicompost. Plants on the substrate with vermicompost develop much better than on the substrate without it, but with the same level of nutrients. In addition, the effect disappears when sterilizing the vermicompost and is not restored even with the addition of additional batteries.
Clay.
Clay is a plastic sedimentary rock. It has long been used in potassium-substrate substrates, although this is not the most convenient material to use. Clay is very sticky, it is difficult to evenly distribute it in a mixture of substrate. Therefore, the dry clay is preliminarily ground and only then mixed with purified black peat to prevent clumping of its particles. This semi-finished product is used in soil mixtures for cyclamen, small-flowered chrysanthemums, etc. Clay retains water well and enhances its absorption. When only 5% of clay is added, the water absorption is doubled. But while it absorbs less water than the peat mixture.
Clay has a slightly negative charge, therefore, with mineral top dressing, it adsorbs positively charged ions of ammonium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus. These elements are almost not washed out with water and are used by plants gradually, as necessary. But it is necessary to take into account that certain kinds of clay are needed for flower crops.
Coir.
Coconut fibers significantly improve the capillary effect of the substrate for colors and its ability to absorb water. The addition of coconut fibers has a positive effect on almost all tested flower crops. First, the difference in moistening of the upper and lower layer of the substrate in the flower pot decreases, which favorably affects the development of the roots - they are evenly distributed throughout the volume. Secondly, the development of plants is accelerated due to the close contact of roots with a moist substrate, even coarse-grained (in the latter the upper layer dries out faster, namely, young roots are in it). Thirdly, because of a good capillary effect, the drying of the upper layer slows down considerably. As a result, the stems are better fixed in the soil. Fourth, it is easier to irrigate various substrates, even over-dried peat, which helps to grow quality flowers. With the impossibility of regular watering, coconut fibers are increasingly used for growing crops in the open ground, where wind and sun quickly dry the soil.
Protection of the substrate from pathogenic microorganisms.
Suppression of the development of diseases in groundless systems with the help of introduced microorganisms is a new direction in the cultivation of plants on artificial substrates, for example, on mineral wool. A necessary requirement of mass floriculture has always been considered the maximum sterility. However, some root diseases often occur even if all the conditions of growing flowers are observed. For example, Pythium and Phytoftora are well adapted to the conditions of hydroponics and perfectly grow on groundless substrates. Usually they are protected by disinfection, sterilization, but this is effective only as a preventive measure.
Today much attention is paid to a special microflora, which suppresses pathogenic microorganisms. In specialized stores you can buy or order drugs that fight with many diseases of plants. And the combination of different microorganisms is more effective than the use of one strain. Also it is necessary to take into account the method of introducing preventive drugs. If the pathogen enters the plant through a nutrient solution, then it is useless to make preparations with a useful microflora on the surface of the substrate. Therefore, no matter what substrate you use for flowers at home, you need to have additional knowledge, to read specialized literature, and to consult with experienced flower growers to grow quality healthy flowers.