How to prepare a natural Super Soil

In this article we explain how to prepare natural Super Soil, a nutrient-rich substrate that will give excellent results both indoors or outdoors, by adding only tap water during cultivation.

We all now know how we can help the environment - and ourselves - thanks to organic farming. Without a doubt, giving up aggressive practices for the soil and sticking to the use of 100% organic fertilizers and soil improvers represents the most rational and respectful option for Nature, as well as providing us with results of a quality that is difficult to match with another type of techniques. or fertilizers.

As the outdoor planting season will start soon in the Northern Hemisphere, we would like to take this opportunity to present you a great crop option for this year, which in the long run will save you work and money, as well as give you the pleasure of consume a 100% natural (and super tasty!) product with the peace of mind that you have also improved the substrate used, unlike when using other types of nutrients. We are talking about Supersoil, an explosive mixture for your crops and which we detail below.

1. What is the Super Soil?

In general terms, a Supersoil is an active substrate that contains all the necessary nutrients, NPK, micro-macro elements and microbial life during the entire life cycle of the plant, from growth to flowering. Surely many of you have used more or less fertilized organic substrates, so much so that sooner or later some type of fertilizer had to be added to avoid the appearance of nutritional deficiencies and the consequent decrease in the total yield of the plants. Well, with a supersoil this shouldn't happen, as the plants can only be irrigated with water throughout the cycle.

This is not the first time that we have talked to you about the importance of the micro-screw in the substrate; thanks to it - and as we saw in our article on the soil food chain - a symbiotic relationship can be established between microorganisms and plants, so that in addition to a better use of the nutrients present in the soil, new ones are produced. In short, it would come to represent the textual definition of what today we would call a win-win relationship, where all the elements present win.

Thanks to the presence of bacteria, fungi and other beneficial microorganisms, a Super soil will provide everything necessary for plants to develop normally and correctly, establishing that ecosystem based on symbiosis in the substrate; In addition, the grower will save time and money throughout the crop by not having to use any type of fertilizer or liquid additive, resulting in a 100% organic product of the best quality. If we add to this that it is the most environmentally friendly way of growing, the oldest, we are undoubtedly facing a winning cocktail!

In this way, with the use of Super Soil, a healthy and living substrate is obtained, rich in nutrients, beneficial microorganisms, humic and fulvic acids, organic matter rich in carbon and everything our plants need to bear fruit. generous and tasty!

2. How to prepare a Super Soil

To have a good super soil we will mainly need a basic substrate, the main macro and micronutrients and obviously the microbial life. Furthermore, and in case the base substrate does not carry them, we will add some elements to improve the aeration, the level of moisture retention or the sponginess of the culture medium, also to stabilize its pH.

Step 1

The basic substrate: use bags of good quality soil and avoid field or garden land, unless it has been previously worked for agriculture. It is essential that the consistency is spongy and does not contain toxic or polluting substances.

Atami Janeco Light

Cellmax Light Mix

Mills Light Mix

Plagron Lightmix

Cellmax Bio Soil Mix

Atami Bi Grow

Step 2

To prepare the Super Soil we will need a large container or directly a cloth on the ground where to make the dough. We will add each of the chosen ingredients according to the corresponding proportion, mixing well after adding each of the elements to obtain a uniform mixture. Once all the ingredients are well mixed, they are lightly hydrated with a sprayer or tube (ideally, as they are mixed) and covered with burlap.

Step 3

It will take approximately 30-60 days for our Super Soil to be ready for use. During these weeks it is convenient to stir the mixture every 5 days, rehydrating the mixture if necessary.

3. Ingredients and Mix to make a Super Soil

The base substrate should be soft, airy and light, with a slightly acidic pH. There are several recipes that contemplate different bases for the substrate and ingredients, today we offer you 3 mixes for the super soil, an economic mix, a "brand" mix and a more advanced one made by SubCool, a legend in the world of growers:

Complete and economical blend

Here is an easier and faster way to prepare your Super Soil, by combining:

• 3 parts of base soil
• 1 part of perlite
• 1 part of earthworm humus
• Bat guano to taste *
• Hydrated lime to taste *
• Powdered seaweed to taste *
• Active mycorrhizae q.s. *
• Bentonite to taste *

* Administer according to the dosage indicated on the package of the purchased product.

Mix by Guanokalong

This is a method proposed by the Guanokalong line of organic fertilizers to obtain a natural substrate to which only tap water is added:

• Terra Complete Mix
• Guano in polvere
• Veg Pearls
• Cenere di Palma

Mix by SubCool

Mix by Lurpe

This recipe is based on Lurpe organic products, designed to facilitate cultivation in soil with Super Soil.

• Basic substrate (with perlite and peat)
• 10-20% worm humus
• 10-14 g/L di substrate of Earth Vibes Supersoil in pot, 2100 g/m2 in open air.

• During flowering: 4 g/L di Tasty Flowers Top Dress in pot, 450-600 g/m2 in open air, to be sprinkled on the surface and mixed with the first 5-10 cm of soil.

Optional: Every 7-10 days water with Compost Tea for Growing Stage during vegetative stage and Compost Tea for flowering since the flowers begin to appear. Use these organics with non-chlorinated water.

4. Microbial life and mycorrhizae

Thanks to microbial life, the soil food chain can be established, so that, in addition to producing new nutrients, they are used effectively, significantly increasing the rate of assimilation and the final yield. As if that weren't enough, a good colony of beneficial micro-lives will prevent the emergence of harmful substrate fungi and other root pathogens.

Bionova MicroLife - 2Kg

MicroLife by Bionova is a fertiliser packed full of essential soil organisms like Mycorrhiza sp., Bacillus sp., yeasts and enzymes combined in an organic blend of algae, bone meal, cacao pellets, lime and compost. MicroLife not only stimulates the growth of micro-organisms, it also stimulates the growth and flowering of all plants with the addition of a variety of trace elements and natural hormones.

€ 46,90

Acquista ora

In case of adding both bacteria and beneficial fungi (a classic example would be Trichoderma harzianum), remember that it is always preferable to add the bacteria first and wait about two weeks to add the mushrooms. Due to the substrate's high colonization rate of these, and when added together at the same time, fungi would hardly leave physical space available for bacteria to establish their colonies.

See all products with Mycorrhizae

5. How to use the Super Soil

It is really important to note that homemade Super Soil is very rich in nutrients and should not be used for germinating seeds, planting seedlings or clones. You will need to germinate your seeds and keep your young plants in neutral soil for at least the first few weeks, transplanting them only once they have officially begun to vegetate.

To avoid the stress of pot transplanting, you can place the Super Soil in a large pot (11-20L), leaving a "hole" of about 3L in the center to be filled with a light / neutral soil. In this way, during the first stages of life, the plant will feed on the lightest substrate and will have access to Super Soil when its roots have developed well and the plant is ready to receive more nutrients.

Alternatively you can do the same thing but working in layers: You can overlap 3 parts of normal organic soil to 1 part of Super Soil, for example, if your pot contains 6.5L of total soil, put 1.5L of Super Soil on top of the pot. bottom - ideally two fingers of expanded clay on top - and then add 5L of regular potting soil on top., as is done for non-fertilized and pre-fertilized soils.

Bionova - Profimix 2Kg

The bacteria and fungi in the product need to restore or improve the soil in one way. This optimal soil condition regulates the conversion of organic nutrients into absorbable nutrients

€ 44,50

Acquista ora

6. Supplements

Working with a Super Soil, with a view to watering with water only throughout the cycle, we can integrate added water retainers into our substrate to limit manual irrigation without stressing the plants. This is very useful when growing outdoors.

For years there have been bio-degradable products or natural minerals that absorb water and nutrients and slowly release them into the soil. Among these we find:

• Vermiculite
• Bactogel
• Aqua Bits

The expanded clay moreover it should always be placed, once the Super Soil has been prepared, on the bottom of our pot and on the bottom of the hole in the open field. This will increase the oxygenation of the substrate and its draining capacity, as well as protect the roots from the cold.

7. Conclusions

Growing organically is a great way to grow plants, even if it takes longer than just mixing the nutrients in the bottle, you will see the difference in the smell and taste of your crops. Always keep an eye on the plants to understand how they are assimilating nutrients and remember that if there are small deficiencies even with the use of super soil it will almost always depend on the pH of the water with which you irrigate, so always adjust the pH in order to ensure that all the elements of the soil are properly absorbed.