From the amateur enthusiast to the hard-nosed horticulturist, gardening is both a fun and rewarding hobby.
A cedar potting table consolidates your work space and makes for a more enjoyable and convenient time.
In addition to picking out what flowers, herbs or vegetables you want to enjoy, choosing the right potting soil for the job is an integral part of the process.
For example, cactuses flourish in sandy, loamy soil while azaleas prefer a more acidic environment.
At the same time, plants growing in direct sunlight might need a different combination of ingredients than plants grown in the shade.
When storing soil in a cedar potting table, be certain that whatever container you store it in is away from moisture, heat and too much sun.
Many bags of soil can be resealed and contain holes so the soil can breathe.
Often times, bags of soil are re-sealable and come with small holes punched throughout so the soil can breathe.
If you decide to go with a stronger container like a plastic tub, try to punch at least one hole in it so oxygen can circulate.
Also, if the soil is in a warm place and has not been sterilized there is a chance that weeds will sprout in it.
Among the ingredients in potting soil, there are four basic organic ones to include in your cedar potting table concoction.
These are humus, peat moss, manure and sand.
Humus comprises decayed matter, like for instance, what you might find in a home compost.
This type of soil is good at keeping moisture while also giving out nutrients and aerating the plant.
Scientifically known as sphagnum, peat moss is in reality hundreds of moss species grouped together under the umbrella of peat moss.
Because it is indigenous to swampy regions, peat moss is excellent at retaining water and will keep roots moist for a long time before you need to water again.
Manure is in essence refined fecal matter, usually collected as a byproduct of farm animals.
Luckily, it is nearly odorless, but because it is organic, manure provides valuable nutrients.
Finally, you may or may not choose to include sand as one of the materials with your cedar potting table.
This is because some plants naturally thrive in varying amounts of sand, while others are fine with none whatsoever.
Sand is suitable for plants that don't require much moisture because it drains quickly, so even under in heavy rain, plants will not retain unnecessary moisture.
Wood chips, charcoal and silica based materials are just some of the inorganic matter found in potting soil.
Silica, (those bead-looking blue specks in Miracle-Gro) help the soil to retain moisture.
The nice thing is that none of these or the organic materials will harm the surface of a cedar potting table so feel free to work directly on the tabletop.
Some people even go so far as to manufacture their own potting soil.
All it takes is the right combination of ingredients, including sand, manure and peat moss.
The main thing to remember if you do this is to sterilize the soil to remove harmful bacteria and weeds.
If you do choose the DIY approach, sterilization can be done in two ways.
For small batches, place on a cookie sheet and bake for half an hour at 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have much more than that, lay out soil on a tarp outside and let it sit in a sunny area for four weeks.
Once you've done that, flip it over and repeat the process for another month.
This method is obviously a lot more time-consuming, but if you're planning well in advance like you should, then you'll have no problem getting it done before the growing season.
A cedar potting table consolidates your work space and makes for a more enjoyable and convenient time.
In addition to picking out what flowers, herbs or vegetables you want to enjoy, choosing the right potting soil for the job is an integral part of the process.
For example, cactuses flourish in sandy, loamy soil while azaleas prefer a more acidic environment.
At the same time, plants growing in direct sunlight might need a different combination of ingredients than plants grown in the shade.
When storing soil in a cedar potting table, be certain that whatever container you store it in is away from moisture, heat and too much sun.
Many bags of soil can be resealed and contain holes so the soil can breathe.
Often times, bags of soil are re-sealable and come with small holes punched throughout so the soil can breathe.
If you decide to go with a stronger container like a plastic tub, try to punch at least one hole in it so oxygen can circulate.
Also, if the soil is in a warm place and has not been sterilized there is a chance that weeds will sprout in it.
Among the ingredients in potting soil, there are four basic organic ones to include in your cedar potting table concoction.
These are humus, peat moss, manure and sand.
Humus comprises decayed matter, like for instance, what you might find in a home compost.
This type of soil is good at keeping moisture while also giving out nutrients and aerating the plant.
Scientifically known as sphagnum, peat moss is in reality hundreds of moss species grouped together under the umbrella of peat moss.
Because it is indigenous to swampy regions, peat moss is excellent at retaining water and will keep roots moist for a long time before you need to water again.
Manure is in essence refined fecal matter, usually collected as a byproduct of farm animals.
Luckily, it is nearly odorless, but because it is organic, manure provides valuable nutrients.
Finally, you may or may not choose to include sand as one of the materials with your cedar potting table.
This is because some plants naturally thrive in varying amounts of sand, while others are fine with none whatsoever.
Sand is suitable for plants that don't require much moisture because it drains quickly, so even under in heavy rain, plants will not retain unnecessary moisture.
Wood chips, charcoal and silica based materials are just some of the inorganic matter found in potting soil.
Silica, (those bead-looking blue specks in Miracle-Gro) help the soil to retain moisture.
The nice thing is that none of these or the organic materials will harm the surface of a cedar potting table so feel free to work directly on the tabletop.
Some people even go so far as to manufacture their own potting soil.
All it takes is the right combination of ingredients, including sand, manure and peat moss.
The main thing to remember if you do this is to sterilize the soil to remove harmful bacteria and weeds.
If you do choose the DIY approach, sterilization can be done in two ways.
For small batches, place on a cookie sheet and bake for half an hour at 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have much more than that, lay out soil on a tarp outside and let it sit in a sunny area for four weeks.
Once you've done that, flip it over and repeat the process for another month.
This method is obviously a lot more time-consuming, but if you're planning well in advance like you should, then you'll have no problem getting it done before the growing season.
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