Understanding Growing Media Components

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Understanding Growing Media Components

• Lesson 4 - 2

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Next Generation Science/Common Core Standards
Addressed!

• WHST.9-12.7 Conduct short as well as more
  sustained research projects to answer a question
  (including a self generated question) or solve a
  problem narrow or broaden the inquiry when
  appropriate synthesize multiple sources on the
  subject, demonstrating understanding of the
  subject under investigation. (HS-LS1-3)
• HSSIC. B.6 Evaluate reports based on data.
  (HS-LS2-6)

3
Bell Work!

• Describe the components of soil.
• 2. List the components of a soilless mix.
• 3. Compare and contrast the use of soil versus a
  soilless mix.

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Terms

• Clay
• Inorganic
• Loam
• Mineral matter
• Organic matter
• Pasteurization
• Peat Moss
• Perlite

• Sand
• Silt
• Soil
• Soil Amendment
• Soilless Mix
• Sterilization
• Vermiculite

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Dont Judge a Soil by Its Label!

• Never look gift soil in the label!
• What is in a soil?
• Dont count your plants before they germinate!

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What is Soil?

• Soil outer layer of the earth that supports
  life.
• Recipe for Soil
• 1cu. Air
• 1cu. Water
• 1 4/5 cu. Mineral matter
• 1 tbl. organic matter
• Mix thoroughly and let stand.

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Soil is

• 25 air
• 25 water
• 45 mineral matter
• 5 organic matter

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Soil Composition
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Mineral Matter

• Non-living substances generally thought of as
  weathered rock.
• Soil particles have 3 general sizes
• Sand largest and increases drainage (feels
  gritty)
• Silt medium size and gives a talc feel
• Clay smallest and higher water holding
  capacity, feels slick.

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Soil Particle Comparison
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Organic Matter

• Organic matter is living or dead plants and
  animals.
• Organic matter is necessary for plant growth
  because of its high nutrient content.
• Higher O.M. generally increases productivity.

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Whats in a soilless mix?

• A soilless mix is a combination of organic and
  inorganic substances that provide sufficient
  support for plant growth.
• A soilless mix does not contain topsoil.

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Common components in a soilless mix are

• Peat moss is plant material that originates in
  bogs. Peat moss has great moisture and nutrient
  holding capacity.
• Perlite is white in color and comes from
  heat-treated lava rock. Perlite is used in the
  soil mix to aerate the soil.

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Components Continued

• Vermiculite comes from the mineral mica and is
  shiny brown in color. It has high moisture
  holding capacity and is very lightweight.
• Choir is fibers from coconut hulls which is
  hollow and aids in water and air holding while
  remaining lightweight.

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Components Continued

• Sand large soil particles used to reduce overall
  water holding capacity
• Amendments are added to change the air / water
  relationship of a mix while reducing the cost
• Wetting Agents are soaps used to aid water uptake
  of the dry mix. Also aids in rewetting.

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The advantages of a soilless mix are

• 1. The mix is uniform. It does not vary in
  components, texture, or nutrients.
• 2. The mix is sterile. Sterilization is a process
  that eliminates all disease organisms, in-sects,
  or weed seeds. Soil mixes often contain these
  items and a grower who chooses to use a soil mix
  must pasteurize his or her soil before using it.
  Pasteurization is the process of heating soil to
  kill harmful diseases, weed seeds, and insects.

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The advantages of a soilless mix are

• 3. Soilless mixes can be manipulated to improve
  the drainage and moisture holding capacity of the
  mix.
• 4. A grower can personally mix the combination of
  components exactly to what he or she needs for
  their particular crop.
• 5. Soilless mixes are easier to ship and move
  because they are lightweight.

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The disadvantages of a soilless mix are

• 1. Fertilizers often need to be added more
  frequently to the mix because the mixes are
  lacking in minor plant food elements. Soil
  contains and holds many of these minor nutrients.
• 2. When plants are grown outdoors, the wind can
  blow dry pots over because the mix is very light.

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The disadvantages of a soilless mix are

• 3. It is sometimes difficult to transplant a
  plant from a soil mix to a soilless one. The
  roots often will not grow into the new media and
  the plant will die because it can not absorb any
  moisture.
• 4. There is a cost to the media

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REVIEW
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What are the ingredients of soil?

• Air
• Water
• O.M.
• Mineral Matter

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What are the sizes of soil particles?

• Sand
• Silt
• Clay

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What are the materials used for soilless mixes?

• Peat
• Perlite
• Vermiculite
• Choir
• Amendments bark, rice hulls,
• Sand
• Wetting Agents

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What are the advantages of mixes?

• Uniform
• Sterile
• Light
• Amendable

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What are the disadvantages of mixes?

• Light
• Need nutrients
• Cost
• Transplant issues

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The End