The Difference between Potting Soil and Vermicompost

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The Difference between Potting Soil and
Vermicompost Gardeners often get confused between
Potting Soil and Vermicompost. In todays blog we
will address this concern of home gardeners and
explain the difference between the two types
soils and their usage.
1. What is Potting Soil?
Potting Soil is a standalone growing medium which
can be used for seed-starting
and gardening. Potting soil generally contain a
base of garden soil, aged
compost, and other additives. These additives
provide more nutrition to the
plant which helps it receive an overall
nutritional benefit.
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Garden Genies Potting soil is ideal to be used
as potting medium and seed-
starting for any plant. It is our special 5 IN 1
Formulae enriched with
Vermicompost, Dolomite, Gypsum, Coco-peat and
Mycorrhiza Bio Fertilizer
which not only provide a balanced nutrient to the
plant for their overall growth
but also improves water holding capacity of the
soil which means less watering
for you.
2. What is Vermicompost ?
The process of cultivating earthworms for
converting organic waste into
fertilizer is called vermicomposting and the end
result provides us with
Vermicompost.
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Vermicompost is a nutrient rich manure having
high quantity of Nitrogen,
Phosphorus and Potassium compared to any other
compost and is used as a soil
amendment in gardening.
Garden Genies Vermicompost is 100 virgin
compost which improves the
nutrient availability of the soil improves
water-holding capacity of the soil and
improves soil texture. However, Vermicompost
cannot be replaced for potting
soil.
3. What to Use Potting Soil Or Vermicompost?
For starting seedlings and propagating
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• Potting Soil are better for seeds and
  propagation. Thats because they can keep
• the soil moist, and they have good drainage to
  prevent wet and soggy
• conditions. Even if the potting soil you have
  picked lacks proper nutrients, it can be easily
  remedied with the right fertilizer.
• For indoor plants
• Potting soil are better because it is sterile
  without pathogens, and they are devoid of any
  smell which can be difficult to bear especially
  indoors. Potting Soil with the right ingredients
  also restricts weeds ad pests which can be
  difficult to manage indoors.
• For outdoor gardens
• Use can mix vermicompost or other fertilizers to
  garden soil for outdoor gardening primarily
  because of the cost. Vermiompost contains a
  variety of micro-organisms which would help the
  organic matter in the soil to decompose and
  slowly release plant nutrients over time.
• For growing vegetables
• Its best to use a combination of garden soil
  with vermicompost for vegetables. It is not only
  cheaper, but compost also contains a variety of
  microbial activities which can help break down
  the plant nutrients in the soil over time and
  helps the proper growth of organic vegetables.

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• Can I Plant in Only Potting Soil?
• You can plant in only potting soil because they
  are formulated to be substitutes for soil. As
  long as youre using the right mix for your
  plant, you should get good results. But you
  might need to fertilize the mix at intervals
  depending on the nutritional content of your
  potting soil
• Can I Plant in Only Vermicompost?
• Its not advised to plant in only vermicompost.
  Vermicompost is a soil amendment it is not soil
  or a suitable alternative like potting soil.
  Vermicompost is light, and cant support the
  root structure of plants. Furthermore, it drains
  easily, leaving plants needy for water.

If you are using garden soil for planting that it
is beneficial to add vermicompost
to garden soil in the ratio of 12 so that the
plants get the required NPK.
6. Should I Add Vermicompost to Potting Soil?
Theres no harm in adding vermicompost to the
potting soil. In fact,
some potting soil contains vermicompost. Adding
vermicompost to
your mix will provide some nutrients to the
plants.
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Add 10 to 20 percent of vermicompost. You dont
need to mix it with
the potting mix, just spread it on top, and
worms, water, and
microorganisms will do the mixing for you.
7. Overview
Potting Soil Vermicompost
Type Used as potting medium Used as Soil Amendment
Nature Every Potting Soil is different and the quality and its fertility is dependent on what additives has been added by the manufacturer. So read the ingredient It is decomposed organic matter hence it contains high amount of NPK.
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carefully before
ordering. ordering. ordering.
Benefits Improves root growth and structure and provides essential nutrient to the plant which helps them in their growth, amongst other things. Improves root growth and structure and provides essential nutrient to the plant which helps them in their growth, amongst other things. Improves root growth and structure and provides essential nutrient to the plant which helps them in their growth, amongst other things. Improves Soil Texture amongst many other things. Add vermicompost to clayish soils to improve drainage and to sandy soils to increase their ability to hold water.
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