Our care tips for soil
Peat-free, peat-reduced or containing peat?
A question that is increasingly preoccupying garden lovers. There have certainly been successful applications, but there have also been disappointments.
Which soil is good and which is not? We would like to help you find your way around, give you tips and tricks and explain the compositions to you. Based on these facts, you will be able to make a safe decision and contribute to environmental protection.
Fundamentals
There are different mixtures of soils:
- Peat-free soil, e.g. Hack potting soil
- Peat-reduced soils, e.g. Hack universal soil “peat-reduced”
- Peat soil, e.g. Hack quality potting soil
Products from our range:
peat-free
peat-reduced
peaty
Compositions
Green compost
- provides nutrients
- RAL quality assured
- Recycling or upcycling
Bark humus
- structurally stable
- promotes aeration of the roots
- provides nutrients
Wood fiber
- structurally stable
- promotes aeration of the roots
Coconut fibers
- Improves the storage of water
- Ground coconut
- structurally stable
- promotes aeration of the roots
Fertilizer
- Purely plant-based fertilizer mix
- uninteresting for fungus gnats
Zeolites
- Improves water and nutrient retention
Environmental and climate protection
Peat-free soils make an important contribution to environmental protection. They stop the extraction of peat, which destroys valuable moors. These serve as huge carbon reservoirs and protect biodiversity. Gardening with peat-free soil avoids the release of CO2 produced by burning peat and promotes the use of sustainable alternatives such as wood fiber, compost and coconut products.
Contribution to climate protection
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Peatlands are the largest carbon reservoirs on earth. When peat is extracted, this carbon is released as a climate-damaging gas. Not using peat prevents these emissions.
Prevention of bog shrinkage
Peat extraction dries out moorland areas and destroys the habitats of countless animal and plant species. Peat-free soil protects these valuable ecosystems.
Sustainable alternatives
Diverse raw materials
Peat-free soils use renewable raw materials such as compost, wood fibers, bark humus and coconut products.
Maintain and preserve
General information
Peat-free soils are generally and at first glance coarser than peat soils. You will notice this when you pick up peat-free soil to repot or plant your plants. This is due to the raw materials such as wood fiber and bark humus.
Due to the coarse structure, the soil does not absorb the liquid so well when watering. During the application or pouring phases, the finer parts such as ground coconut are moved further down. This results in the soil appearing dry in the upper horizon, but wet in the lower pot area.
Watering and fertilizing correctly – a summary of the most important points
Casting
Due to the structure and composition of the peat-free soil, a slightly different watering behavior is necessary, as the water is stored less well in some cases. This can often be seen in the upper part of the soil, so that it is quickly assumed that the soil has already dried out. However, this is often not the case, as the soil in the deeper part of the pot or tub is still sufficiently moist and can supply your plant with water. It is advisable to check the moisture in the deeper part of the pot before watering again. After a while you will develop a good feeling for when your plant should be watered again.
Tips:
- Too much water in the root area means little oxygen in the root area – roots need oxygen, waterlogging should be avoided.
- Lift the plant pots (if possible) and check whether the pots are very heavy. This can be an indication of a lot of moisture.
- Mixing with Hack organic drainage & planting granules also improves the aeration of your peat-free soils and can also be used for all other soils.
- A saucer in and/or under the container can help to check the humidity.
- The use of Hack organic indoor plant granules. This mineral substrate makes it possible to dispense with classic potting soils.
- Use your fingers or a small shovel to lightly and courageously scoop out 3-4 cm of soil.
and get an impression of the moisture level.
Suitable products from our range:
Fertilize
Due to the compost content, peat-free soils are characterized by a high activity of microorganisms. This is important to know because these decompose the raw material, such as wood fibers, and consume nitrogen to do so. This means that less nitrogen is available to the plants. Put simply, this means that you should provide your plants with fertilizer early after planting. In pots, this should preferably be done with liquid fertilizers. You can use various liquid fertilizers from the Hack range, such as our Hack liquid flower fertilizer.
Tips:
- For outdoor planting, mix the substrate and/or the planting hole with Hack organic horn shavings. This ensures a slow but steady supply of nitrogen right from the start (this lasts for approx. 4 – 5 months). Our organic horn grit can also be used for this purpose, as this material is finer and therefore more effective.
- Did you know that horn shavings and horn grit “only” contain nitrogen? This is the argument for using additional fertilizers over time. Various special and universal fertilizers are available here, such as our Hack organic garden fertilizer.
Suitable products from our range:
