Why Wetting Brand-New Potting Soil Before Planting Is A Smart Idea

To get ready to plant houseplants or flower seeds, you grab your pots, tools, and potting soil. You have already made sure to learn about the different types of potting soil and how to choose the best one for your plants, opting for a blend that's the perfect growing medium for your new plants. But there's a key step you cannot miss if you want long-term success with your potted plants. Wetting brand-new potting soil is essential before it can be ready to use. Otherwise, you may struggle with hydrophobic soil that does not support the growth and health of your plants. 

There are two qualities that matter most when selecting potting soil. First, it should contain plenty of nutrients. But it should also be lightweight, yet stable. Many potting soil mixes contain certain materials like peat moss, which helps make it lighter. However, materials like peat can easily dry out and are difficult to rewet. And a bag of unopened potting soil, which is packaged dry, may be very hard to rewet when it contains peat moss or cococoir. 

If you happen to use a potting mix without wetting it first, you will likely end up with floating soil and seeds. Avoid the mess by soaking everything thoroughly beforehand. Additionally, the roots of your plants will not like the contact with overly dry soil.

Hydrophobic soil is a problem, as it can prevent seed germination and limit plant root growth. But dry, hydrophobic potting soil is also difficult to water properly. If your potting soil appears exceptionally dry when you open the bag, you will most likely need to add water and mix it around after opening the bag. Placing it in a larger plastic tub or container gives you room to work. However, while you want the soil to be moist, you do not want it to be soaking wet. Add water a little bit at first, pausing to mix it around as you go. The soil should feel damp but not sopping wet. Soaking your soil can cause more problems than it solves, like hindering germination. Use warm water to make the process easier.

It is also a good idea to wait a little while to allow the potting soil to soak up the water evenly. Allow about one day for the mix to be fully ready for use. Check the consistency of the soil to see if it's even. It should stay together if squeezed. However, a crumbling mix is too dry, and a dripping mix is too wet. And because of materials like peat moss and cococoir found in many potting soil blends, potting soil may be a fire risk. Pre-soaking or pre-wetting the soil before use is a way to reduce this risk by keeping the soil moist and healthy.