Retail FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions for Retailers

What does the mix do?
What doesn't the mix do?
What should our customers expect from the mix?
Physical properties — aeration, water retention, and density
Chemical properties — pH and soluble salts 

Other properties

What the mix does:
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The mix:

• Holds water.
• Holds air.
• Holds plant nutrients.
• Provides mechanical support for plant roots.
• Has balanced pH to provide a proper chemical environment.

What the mix does not do:
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The mix does not grow a plant by itself. The grower/gardener makes the many decisions that grow a plant:

• Watering
• Fertilizing
• Insect control
• Disease control

What should our customers expect from the mix?
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The mix should hold an appropriate amount of water.

• Not too much
• Not too little

The mix should also provide an appropriate level of aeration. The pH should be adjusted to the proper level. The mix should be weed and disease free. The mix should be uniform and consistent from batch to batch.

Physical — properties  aeration, water retention, and density
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• Aeration and water retention are controlled by porosity.
• After watering, large pores drain and fill with air.
• Small pores hold water.
• There must be a balance between the number of large and small pores or the mix will stay too wet or dry out too quickly.
• The greater the ratio of large particles to small ones, the larger pore spaces there are. When there are more small particles than large, there are smaller pore spaces.
• These physical properties are set when the mix is made. They cannot be adjusted in the pot. Therefore, it is important that they are right to begin with.

Chemical properties — pH and soluble salts
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• Have to do with fertilizer and the way it behaves in the soil.
• pH is the relative degree of acidity or alkalinity of the mix and controls the availability of plant nutrients.
• Most plants grow best at a pH value between 6 and 7.
• pH is adjusted by adding lime.
• Soluble salts are the measure of fertilizer amounts in the mix.
• It is an easy way to check the general fertility status of the soil.

Other properties
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• The mixes are not sterilized. They are made of plant-free, pathogen-free materials. A properly stored mix will not be contaminated. Mix will not contain weed seeds.