Correctly maintaining your plant’s hydration level is ESSENTIAL for them to thrive.

One of the first key things to think about when determining how much water to give your plants is: what dirt is it planted in?

We designed Good Dirt potting mixes to require less frequent waterings, so it can take some adjusting! Our clean dirt is actually a soilless peat-based product, whereas many other mixes are bark based. 

Let’s start with a breakdown of these two popular ingredients in the potting mix world…

Peat Based Products vs. Bark Based Products

What is a bark based product?

Growing media (i.e. dirt for you plants) that are bark based means it is composed primarily of finely grounded or shredded bits of bark. The bark is sourced from fallen or scraped-off tree bark.

Bark based products can protect your plant’s roots from excessive heat or chilly temperatures, like natural insulation. Bark can be found in potting soil, soil conditioners, and mulch type products, which you would choose based upon your gardening needs.

Bark can also break down quickly. When dirt gets dense, it takes away available air space — and your plant’s root health counts on air just as much as it does water.

A word of caution for cheaper soil mixes that simply say “wood products” in the ingredient list: that means it’s not bark and could be anything made of wood! It could be wooden palettes or old furniture. These items don’t have to be cleaned before they are ground up for growing media, which means fuel, chemicals, or other unwanted byproducts could be mixed into your dirt. These ground up “wood products” break down even faster than bark, compounding your soil and taking away necessary air from your plants’ roots. 

What is a peat based product?

Peat based products (like Good Dirt!)  means the primary ingredient is an organic, soilless, naturally sterile medium harvested from peat bogs. Soils that are based in peat moss are typically lightweight, fluffy, and have good airflow.

Peat moss is part of the same plant as sphagnum moss. The sphagnum moss originates from the plant on the surface of a soil or marsh, while peat moss is the layer beneath it that holds the saturated, dead sphagnum moss. Because of this, peat moss naturally holds water, like a sponge — it can soak up to 20 times its own weight in moisture!

That stellar water retention means you need to hear a word of caution: be careful not to overwater peat based soils.

A Common Problem: Overwatering

Ever noticed bugs in your soil? The general answer is a resounding yes.

Think about your watering habits. While we want to keep our plants thriving, overwatering is a common issue regardless of the potting mix you choose. In fact, overwatering is the number one reason plants shrivel and die.

Overwatering = Bugs

While we never want our plants to go thirsty, we have to be cautious about giving them too much water. 

Your plant’s overly wet soil is an enticing environment for gnats, who will start eyeing your plants as their new home.

Fungus gnats, or otherwise referred to as soil gnats, are attracted to moist soil. Female fungus gnats will lay their eggs on the soil’s surface – up to 300 eggs. Yep, you read that right, up to 300 eggs that will hatch on your beloved plant within three to six days. 

The gnat larvae will find their food by eating the soft parts of plant stems and also burrow down within the soil to eat the roots. Wilting is a sign that they may be feasting on the roots of your plant. Keep reading to the TIPS section to see how to get rid of an infestation. 

Bugs are not in our peat based Good Dirt potting mixes, but if our dirt is excessively wet over a long period of time, fungus gnats may try to make their home in it. 

Overly wet dirt is also bad for your plant’s roots, so let’s talk about how to best water plants potted in Good Dirt.

Top 3 Tips for Watering Plants in Good Dirt 

We designed Good Dirt for ideal air and water retention — so your plants (both indoors and outdoors) would need less frequent waterings! This might be a big learning curve if you’re used to bark based potting mixes. 

Here are our pro tips:

#1 — Don’t overwater! 

Overwatering leads to the suffocation of a plant. Over-saturated soil equates to a lack of oxygen that can travel to the plant’s roots, and the inevitable rotting of the soil, if not caught soon enough. 

Overwatering kills a plant more easily than underwatering. 

Signs of overwatering are yellowing leaves, wilted or limp leaves, and stunted growth. To learn more about watering plants, check out Everything you Need to Know about Watering Plants for a comprehensive, concise guide.

If you have overwatered, you can allow the soil to dry, you can repot the plant in fresh soil, remove any dead leaves, remove standing water from the saucer, and make sure drainage holes are not blocked.

When you see those pesky fungus gnats, go ahead and isolate the plant if it is around others – and check to make sure they haven’t navigated to surrounding plants. 

The next steps vary depending on your comfort level in your plant nursing skills, but you can use fly paper to catch them, dehydrate your plant, find a DIY treatment option, or buy a spray to get rid of the nuisance causing harm to your plant.

#2 — Touch the dirt.

Touching the dirt is the quickest and easiest way to check if your plant needs water or not. 

The top of the potting mix may look dry, so you need to insert your finger into the soil to check for moisture. If you feel moisture, don’t water.

When you stick your finger into the soil, you can tell if it’s dry, moist, or too wet. When doing this though, make sure to reach deep into the soil enough that your finger is inserted to your second knuckle, or two to three inches deep.

If the soil sticks together — it is moist, and if it crumbles or remains loose — it is dry. If it’s wet, don’t add more water!

When in doubt, moisture meters are a great additional tool to monitor your plant’s water needs.

#3 — Use pots with drainage holes — and don’t add rocks to the bottom of your containers.

You must use pots with drainage holes! A hole in the bottom of your container is critical. The water needs to be able to freely drain, so that your plant doesn’t end up sitting in water. 

Rocks should not be placed at the bottom of containers. They block the drainage needed for excess water to exit the soil. And if the soil cannot expel the moisture, it will cause rotting roots.

Our Dirt, Our Promise

When choosing which products to use for your plants, Good Dirt Indoor Potting Mix is a safe, sustainable, peat-based choice. Our dirt is lightweight and fluffy, allowing the soil to have clear airflow and substantial water retention. Just follow the steps above and you (and your plants) will be a-ok!