1. It’s what’s for dinner? Huh?
Soilless Media
It’s what’s for dinner? Huh?

2. Objectives Identify the advantages of a soilless mix
Identify components of as soilless mix
Compare plant growth in different media mixes
Identify common types of soilless mixes and their costs.
Identify common soil components used to blend mixes.

3. What are the functions of growing media?
Give support to the plant in the container
Supply a source of water to the plant
Provide aeration and drainage
Supply a source of nutrients

4. What are the two categories of soils used in nursery production?
Soil- based
Soilless

5. What is the composition of the soil?
45% mineral matter
25% air
25%water
5% organic matter

6. Factor to Consider
Soil-based
Soilless
Availability
Varies on location
Readily
Cost
Economical
Expensive
Sterilization
Necessary, costly
None needed
Texture consistency
Varies
Yes
Weeds present No
pH Consistency
Consistent
Accessibility

7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a soilless media?
Mix is uniform in fertility, pH, and texture
Since they are lightweight, containers can be blown over
Mix is sterile
Minor plant food elements necessary for plant life are missing
Lighter in weight, thus easier to handle and ship
Plants transplanted from a soilless mix often hesitate to extend roots into a different growing media
Good moisture retention and drainage

8. What are different materials in a soilless mixture?
Perlite
Sphagnum moss
Peat moss
Vermiculite
Limestone
Tree Bark
Slow-release fertilizer

9. What are common blends of the following materials?
Mixes may contain two or more of the previous ingredients
Plants needing excellent drainage will contain a high percentage of coarse materials such as bark or perlite

10. Common blends…
Most mixes contain an organic material for moisture retention
Common commercial mix is 50% shredded sphagnum moss, 50% vermiculite, and a slow-release fertilizer

11. Soil compounds ORGANIC INORGANIC Vermiculite Perlite Sand Gravel
Compost
Bark
Mulch
Straw
Peat Moss
Sphagnum
Saw dust
Wood Shavings
INORGANIC
Vermiculite
Perlite
Sand
Gravel

12. pH Measurement of acidity or alkalinity from 0 to 14
Acid= less than 7.0 on a pH scale
Alkaline= more than 7.0 on pH scale
Organic matter is acid
Artificial media is neutral

13. The End