Healthy soil is one of the most magical parts of our planet, full of organic material that supports a robust microbiome which in turn supports plant growth all over the earth.
The soil in your ecological zone is special and has been shaped by your region’s specific climate and history. The soil in your county, your town, your neighborhood – all are increasingly specific to your own special corner of the world. The soil in your very own garden patch is incredibly special, shaped uniquely by the inputs you provide and the care you’ve offered it. This terroir (literally “soil”) makes your tomatoes, cucumbers, flowers, and anything else you grow into something extremely special.
Since soil is so incredibly wonderful, why would anyone (aside from an adventurous hydroponic gardener…) want to grow in a soil-LESS growing medium?!
First, a definition: A soilless growing medium (or growing “mix”) is a sterile material that has the perfect consistency to support seed germination and root growth for young plant, but does not contain actual soil. It has to be able to hold oxygen and air, retain water, and also support nutrients required for continued plant growth.
Here are some very specific situations where soilless growing mixes or mediums are a good choice:
- If you want to share a plant from your garden with a friend and you want to reduce the chance of accidentally also sharing a soil-borne pathogen along with your plant, a sterile, soilless medium can help you out! Weed seeds, fungal spores, unfriendly bacteria, insects, insect larvae, and other undesirable hitchhikers can easily tag along with your garden soil. In your own garden, the balance of predators, good bacteria and fungi, your microclimate, soil pH (acidity/alkalinity), and more all can combine to naturally control elements that might not be counterbalanced in your friend’s garden. Sharing plants that were grown in a soilless growing mix/medium can prevent the spread of unwanted pathogens and pests.
- Additionally, if you want to mail a plant from your garden to someone in another location, soil can be a problem. Many U.S. states prohibit “importing” soil from other states for the exact reasons listed above. If you want to legally ship a plant via mail, a soilless medium will allow you to accomplish this.
At Triple Wren, we grow and ship our rooted dahlia cuttings throughout the U.S. in a soilless growing medium that is a mixture of sterilized, sustainably farmed spaghnum peat moss, perlite, and micronutrients. We wouldn’t choose to grow our dahlia plants all season long in this kind of growing mix, because we believe the terroir at our farm is perfect for providing the complete nutrition, support, and little bit of Triple Wren magic that really great dahlias need. Your garden soil will also provide this for the dahlia cuttings you order from our farm, so we recommend carefully planting the rooted dahlia cuttings you receive from us into healthy soil in your garden, raised bed, or planters as soon as possible.