Determining the proper soil is easier than it seems. There are many small things you can look for to tell what your soil needs. The soil’s acid and lime content, the PH, can be tested using a small bit of boiled cabbage. Boil a piece of red cabbage and retain the water in a clear cup or test tube. Use a spoon and scoop up a bit of your soil. An 8th of a tsp should be sufficient. Insert this into a small glass or test tube and swirl it so that it dissolves into the reddened water. The red will change colour according to how much acidity is in the soil. The more purple the water turns, the more lime based fertilizers you should be using.
Lime is the reverse of acid, and will create a better place for most plants. Some plants, however, will not tolerate lime, and so it is also important to read up on the flowers your going to be planting. Peat moss, or coconut fiber, can be used to create the hummus that most plants will crave. The softness allows for easier root growth, and the rotting matter will feed your plants slowly over time. Soil preparations can be done that will render the need to fertilize obsolete, but it can only be done in mass quantities before the plants are placed. Once everything is in the dirt it will be rather hard to dig deep hols and drop in compost.
Lime is the reverse of acid, and will create a better place for most plants. Some plants, however, will not tolerate lime, and so it is also important to read up on the flowers your going to be planting. Peat moss, or coconut fiber, can be used to create the hummus that most plants will crave. The softness allows for easier root growth, and the rotting matter will feed your plants slowly over time. Soil preparations can be done that will render the need to fertilize obsolete, but it can only be done in mass quantities before the plants are placed. Once everything is in the dirt it will be rather hard to dig deep hols and drop in compost.