Every gardener occasionally experiences the sharp disappointment of watching a cherished plant slowly decline. Despite ideal light and moisture, nothing seems to reverse the gradual loss of vigour and the falling leaves. Poor soil quality kills more garden plants and houseplants than any other condition, and understanding a plant's soil preference is important in influencing its growth.
Plants have long memories, and thrive best in soil similar to that of their origins.
Growing these plants in your backyard requires thoughtful soil preparation if they're going to thrive. Good soil structure, which supplies appropriate amounts of water and oxygen, is more important for container-grown plants than the nutrients soil contains, because plants manufacture most of their food through photosynthesis. In fact, seeds and cuttings do best in growing mediums that contain no soil at all. Myriad commercially packaged soil mixes are readily available, but you can make your own mixes with a few simple, inexpensive ingredients. Here is a list of the ingredients you'll need, and below are the recipes to cover several kinds of plants and planting circumstances.