water and soil

Water and soil work as a team to help get the nutrients and help plants need to stay healthy. In really warm conditions, plants are naturally able to keep themselves cool through what is known as transpiration which is the drawing of water from the soil through root hairs, then transporting that water to the stems of the leaves. As water moves from the leaves, it carries heat energy away from the plant, which cools the plant down (DelPrince). It is quite amazing how plants are able to do this all on their own. In order for plants to be able to do all this work, the right soil needs to be provided to them as well.

Water Flow

One of the most important things you need to know and remember about water is that it moves from areas of high concentration to areas of low water concentration. The diffusion of water through the cellular membranes in the plant is called osmosis. Osmosis plays a central role in the movement of water between cells and various compartments within plants. In the absence of transpiration, osmotic forces dominate the movement of water into roots (the Nature Ed.). Water also moves through the plant because as it evaporates from its leaf surfaces, its natural tendency to stick to itself causes it to move from cell to cell and outside the plant itself. This moisture that ends up surrounding the plant helps to cool it down it down from heat, much like how our bodies sweat to keep us cool. The vast amount of a plants weight is water, that’s why it is so important to know how much water you need to give your plant, and the quality of water they are receiving as well.

Water Quality

The last thing you probably think about is the quality of the water you are feeding to your plants. Water might be a basic need for plants to survive, a need that can be fulfilled easily, but we need to think about what is in the water that can affect your plants overall health. Plants can be affected by soluble salts, and the hardness of the water. A lot of water contains soluble salts which are all types of minerals dissolved in the water. They are so tiny that they are measured in parts per million! Plant fertilizers contain these minerals, and overtime they can collect in the soil of the plant which can be detrimental. One way to get rid of these salts is by a method known as leaching, where you fill your planter with enough water that it flushes out the excess salts through the drainage holes. This is such an easy and effective way of getting rid of salt buildup. In order for you to know if your plant is accumulating a lot of salt, one of the best ways is to do it through a soil test. Another way bad water can effect plants is by its hardness. A lot of water supplies are softened, which means that calcium and magnesium are replaced with sodium which is harmful to plants (DelPrince).

Water Temperature

When it comes to the temperature of the water you are watering your plants in, if you are uncomfortable with the temperature, odds are your plant is uncomfortable too. When it comes to the room temperature that your plant is in, too hot can cause the leaves to turn dark and droop, while too cold can cause whats called a “freezing injury”. This happens due to water in the plant cells solidifying and forming ice crystals that pierce through the cell walls, causing the contents inside to leak which ends up killing the cells and tissue (DelPrince). A daytime temperature range for indoor plants can be anywhere from 65° to 75°F, and most plants have no trouble tolerating occasional summertime highs of up to 90°F (How Stuff Works).

Soil Nutrition

There are 16 essential elemental nutrients necessary for plant survival, they are often referred to as the “sweet 16”. These elements cannot be broken down into smaller quantities. The purpose of these elements help with plant growth and development, and in appearance in plants deficient of particular elements. If a certain plant is low on an element, or overpowered by an element, you can take action. Here is a link to the effects and deficiency of certain elements to your plants. Below is the 16 essential elements.

Soil Mix

Several amendments are used to make indoor planting mix. There are a lot of mixes of various proportions of these “amendments” in order to suit the grower and the plants that want to be grown. Here is a list of different materials that are found in various potting mixes.

Peat Moss: Peat moss is harvested form many different geographic locations. It is produced by marsh moss that has been preserved under water, and it is a very limited source. Gardeners use peat moss mainly as a soil amendment or ingredient in potting soil. It has an acid pH, so it’s ideal for acid loving plants,

Perlite: This is a heat treated product that is made from volcanic lava. It is mall, white pebbles and it provides aeration and water-holding properties for plants.

Vermiculite: Is the product of heat-treated mica from natural deposits. It is available in different sizes and looks like miniature accordions that absorb water and add good aeration to soils.

Sand: Sand has good drainage properties to soil mixes. It does not hold nutrients . Certain plants do well in this type of soil, for example; Cacti, Yucca, and Agave.

Sphagnum Moss: This soil is dried up bog plant. It can be sold in two forms, milled and unmilled. Milled if finer and resemble saw dust, while unmilled is more course and not as fine. It contains a natural anti-fungal substance which can really benefit your plants.

Information from “Interior Plantscaping Principles and Practices” by James M. DelPrince, The Nature Education “Water Uptake and Transport in Vascular Plants”, How Stuff Works “How to Care for House Plants”.