One of the key factors to ensure a flourishing greenhouse lies beneath the surface – in the greenhouse soil. The soil plays a crucial role in offering vital nutrients, moisture, and assistance the plants need to nourish.
Selecting the right soil type that suits the requirements of greenhouse plants is essential to ensure healthy roots and good growth. Choosing the best quality greenhouse soil that meets the needs of plants helps to lay a strong foundation that supports flourishing growth and harvest.
According to a report by Extrapolate, the greenhouse soil market revenue globally is projected to reach $5.75 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 5.15% from 2023 to 2030.
This blog explores the types of greenhouse soil and factors to consider while selecting the right soil for your needs.
Types of Greenhouse Soil
The following are a few of the soil options available for greenhouses and are most often used:
- Sod Soil: Sod soil is sufficient for the growth of flowers and their seedlings. A turf base is perfect for vegetable crops if supplemented with humus and peat.
- Peat Soil: For breathable and fertile soil, lush and soft peat forms an efficient base. One thing to note is that peat will not be sufficient to grow full plants by itself. It is suggested to mix peat with sawdust and humus. One of the optimum soil ratios is six parts peat and two parts of both sawdust and humus.
- Leaf soil: Greenhouse soil can also use fallen leaves for fertilization. Leaf soil serves as a lightweight additive that enhances the soil. However, it does not have the required substances to fertilize the soil. Various fertilizers will be required based on the type of crop that will be planted in the soil.
- Manure: Manure is the best, easiest, and most affordable way to saturate the soil with the required nutrients and fertilize it. This is beneficial for vegetable gardens and livestock farms. It is suggested not to put manure right before planting seedlings. The main reason for this is that it creates high temperatures. Users can add various types of manure to the ground during the digging process.
- Compost: One of the popular strategies to prepare garden nutrients is by creating compost heaps where organic matter and fruits decay. It is recommended that compost does not suit greenhouses because the impact of high temperatures hurts the plants more rather than doing good to it.
- Mixed greenhouse soil: Based on your expertise in farming and knowledge of soil composition in your garden, you can come up with your own greenhouse soil mixes. You can even mix peat, humus, foliage, and sawdust at suitable proportions based on the requirements of the plant and greenhouse.
Top 10 Factors to Consider When Selecting the Best Greenhouse Soil
Selecting soil for a greenhouse that perfectly fits the garden’s needs is crucial. Following are the important factors that you can consider to ensure choosing the best soil for the greenhouse that creates a suitable growing environment for your garden:
1. Evaluate the Plants’ Needs
Various plants need different soil nutrition and textures to ensure good growth. It is crucial to conduct extensive research to identify the ideal soil types for the particular plant you want to grow. For instance, plants like cacti will need porous sandy soil that drains water quickly, but other plants might need some other type of soil.
Individuals need to evaluate the water and nutrition needs of their crops to understand which type of soil is suitable for the crop. Root structures also play a crucial role in determining which soil suits the crop perfectly.
2. Determine the Soil pH Levels
The health of plants is significantly influenced by soil pH levels. Acidity and alkalinity define the pH level of the soil. The majority of the plants require a little acidic to neutral pH that ranges approximately between 6.0 and 7.0. It is essential to measure the soil pH to understand what adjustments are needed to make the best soil for the greenhouse.
Individuals can add lime to the greenhouse soil mixes to increase the pH, and adding sulfur will reduce it. The plant will absorb most of the nutrients if the soil pH is in alignment with the plant's needs.
3. Soil Aeration
In order for the plants to grow effectively, they need proper aeration at the roots to have access to the required oxygen. The soil that you select for the greenhouse should have proper aeration to ensure growth. While selecting the best soil for a greenhouse, check if the soil is loose and does not compact easily to aid the growth of roots and microbial activity.
4. The Organic Matter Percentage
The soil should have a good quality organic matter that enhances the soil structure, nutrition content, and moisture retention. Organic adjustments with compost, peat moss, and aged manure can improve the soil quality.
5. Disease and Pest-Free
It is essential to select soil that does not have the presence of diseases, pests, and weed seeds. Selecting a greenhouse soil that is sterilized or pasteurized can help prevent the introduction of harmful pathogens and pests.
6. Measure the Soil Drainage Capacity
Evaluating the soil drainage helps avoid waterlogged conditions that result in issues such as root rot. It is crucial to determine how quickly the soil absorbs or drains water. Clay soil has the capacity to retain water for a longer duration, while sandy soil immediately drains all the water. A perfect balance between water drainage and retention ensures the plants get sufficient moisture without the risk of being waterlogged.
7. Check the Fertility and Nutrient of Soil for Greenhouse
The fertility of soil also has a significant impact on the growth of the plant. It is crucial to evaluate the nutrient content to check if it meets the requirements of the plants or not. During the evaluation, individuals should focus on important nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Conducting a nutrient level assessment is helpful in determining the accurate nutrient levels. If there are any nutrient deficiencies, users can enhance the soil fertility by adding composts or organic fertilizers.
8. Explore the Commercial Greenhouse Soil
There are various reliable and effective types of soil available for greenhouses commercially.
Exploring all the available options, evaluating each one of them, and selecting the right one that fits the garden’s needs will help in the plant’s growth. If the commercially available option does not suit your needs, you can consider preparing your own greenhouse soil mixes.
9. Create Tailor Made Greenhouse Soil Mixes
If you want complete control over the soil conditions, you can customize the greenhouse soil mix. It is an effective way to achieve optimum moisture retention, drainage capacity, and nutrient levels. The factors mentioned in this article can serve as a guide to making an appropriate mix that fits all the needs of the greenhouse.
10. Cost and Availability
Cost and availability play an important role in selecting the right soil that suits the greenhouse's needs. The best quality of soil might be costly if it is not readily available in your area. Users can strike a perfect balance between quality and practicality while choosing soil for their greenhouse needs.
Leverage the Best Greenhouse Soil for your Plants to Thrive
The success of greenhouses depends on the quality and type of soil selected to grow the plants. The best greenhouse soil that suits your plants' needs will help to have a thriving garden. This article can serve as a guide for users exploring the types of soil available for their greenhouse and selecting the best one according to their needs.
