plantation soil = bad substrate for rooting plants??

[dadmccabe]

hey all,

is plantation soil a bad substrate for rooting plants??

I have two live plants: idk what kind specifically - but I'm guessing one is a Philodendra and one is a Gasteria (based on pictures) Actually, if you look at my album - you can kind of see what i have.


Anyhoo, they seem to be doing just fine, however even the slightest "grazing" (while i change water or tidy up) seems to nearly uproot these things.. My guess is that the "loose" nature of the plantation soil is bad for strong rooting.. Should I have used something else? or shall I just roll w/ it b/c they are growing just fine??

[DonLisk]

Usually plants need to root to an object such as a stone under the soil to help them stay upright. I use plantation soil but I usually plant my plants into something such as a cork round to add stability. The cork round can be cut to be hidden under the soil but gives the plants something to root to.

You can also place an object next to or around the plants base to help support it.

Plants usually take a long time to root deep into a viv and some of my plants have rooted right through the substrate screen and into the drainage layer over the years.

[dadmccabe]

Thanks again Don!