Robert Pavlis

Buying Soil Microbes – Are They Beneficial, Effective or Nonsense?

The market is being flooded by new products offering all kinds of soil microbes. Many companies call them “beneficial” and others call them “effective”. Specialty products like mycorrhizal fungi, probiotics and bacteria for degrading lawn thatch are now available. There are even probiotics to speed up your compost pile.

The market is still sorting out the terminology for these products but I see the name probiotics used more. If they are good for your gut, why would they not also be good for your soil?

What do these products really do in the garden and are they worth buying?

Buying Soil Probiotic Microbes - Are They Beneficial, Effective or Nonsense? — Buying Soil Probiotic Microbes – Are They Beneficial, Effective or Nonsense?, credit Youth & Earth

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Soil Moisture Meters – Do They Work – Should You Use Them?

I see soil moisture meters for sale all over the place and now there are numerous brands listed on Amazon. A lot of people must be buying them, but do they work? Are they accurate enough? Should you use soil moisture meters to determine when to water your plants?

Let’s have a close look at this garden device.

Soil Moisture Meters - Do They Work - Should You Use Them? — Soil Moisture Meters – Do They Work – Should You Use Them?

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Do Potted Plants Produce VOCs in Your Home?

I have written extensively showing that plants do not clean the air in your home, and now new studies suggest that they actually produce VOCs that pollute the air. Not only that, but plastic pots and microbes in the soil make the problem even worse.

Should you get rid of your houseplants to have cleaner air in your home and office?

Do Potted Plants Cause Air Pollution in Your Home?, credit: ETonline

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Growing Orchids in Water Culture – Is It A Good Idea?

I first came across water culture for orchids about 5 years ago. My immediate reaction was horror. I’ve been growing orchids for over 30 years and the thing that kills more orchids than anything else is overwatering. Now people suggest submersing the roots in water full time – that’s crazy – or is it?

Some people seem to be able to grow them well in water. The picture below is a large glass vessel containing several phalaenopsis orchids in water culture and they seem to be doing well. I am also part of a Facebook group dedicated to orchid water culture and I have personally tried both full and semi-water culture. In this post I will review the pros and cons of the technique and give you my impressions. I will answer the question, is this a good technique for growing orchids?

Growing Orchids in Water Culture - Is it A Good Idea? — Growing Orchids in Water Culture – Is it A Good Idea?

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Fabric Pots (Grow Bags) vs Plastic Pots – Which is Better?

Fabric pots (aka grow bags) are becoming very popular in home gardens as some gardeners are moving away from plastic pots. Manufacturers of fabric pots claim a number of benefits like better root growth, and cooler conditions for roots, but are these claims valid? The plants you buy at nurseries are still being sold in plastic pots and that industry is always looking for ways to grow plants faster. If fabric was better for plants would the industry not use them?

Will your plants grow better in grow bags? Should you stick with plastic or move on to fabric?

Fabric Pots vs Plastic Pots - Which is Better? — Fabric Pots vs Plastic Pots – Which is Better?, credit: Gardenuity

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Effective Microorganisms vs Beneficial Microorganisms – Should You Use Them in the Garden?

There is a lot of talk these days about Effective Microorganisms and Beneficial Microorganisms and at times the terms are interchanged. In this post I want to sort out the difference between them and also look at how they can be used in the garden.

Are these microbes something gardeners should be adding to their garden and potted plants?

Effective Microorganisms vs Beneficial Microorganisms - Should You Use Them in the Garden? — Effective Microorganisms vs Beneficial Microorganisms – Should You Use Them in the Garden?, credit: Byju’s

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Selecting the Best Potting Soil and Potting Mix

While creating some videos about potting soil (links below) I reviewed a lot of commercial products, looking at both ingredients and marketing claims. What a mess out there! It’s no wonder gardeners are confused when they go out an buy a potting mix. I created this post to try and bring some clarity to the situation.

I will go through a process of selecting a good product while pointing out the important issues and showing you what marketing gibberish you can ignore. This discussion applies to potting soil for houseplants, outdoor containers and starting seeds.

Selecting the Best Potting Soil and Potting Mix, credit: Pistils Nursery

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Is Soil an Antidepressant – Does it Make You Feel Good?

The meme pictured below has been making the rounds on social media, and it gets quick acceptance by readers. As gardeners, we all know that being in the garden or going for a walk in nature makes us feel good. Finally, science agrees with us and has even found the root cause for these feelings of euphoria: serotonin.

People agree with the meme quickly because it supports their existing beliefs, but they have no basis for their existing beliefs.

But let’s face it – a meme is not scientific proof. What does the science really say?

Is Soil an Antidepressant - Does it Make You Feel Good? — Is Soil an Antidepressant – Does it Make You Feel Good?

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Compost Can make You Sick

Compost sounds like such a great thing, but it can make you sick. The chance of this happening is very small, but it is possible, and people have died from it.

The first thing to be concerned about is the dust. Small dust particles can coat your lungs and cause breathing issues. This is a bigger concern with dry compost, so it is a good idea to wet it down before you use it. It is also a good idea to wear a respirator.

There are also a number of diseases that you can catch from compost. The best way to protect yourself is with masks and gloves.

It is important to put these diseases into perspective—they are all extremely rare. I do get a regular tetanus shot, and I do wear gloves to prevent infection on my hands. I don’t wear a respirator, nor do I worry about getting sick from compost. However, it is important to know the symptoms in case you do get sick.

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Bokashi vs Ensilaging vs Eco-enzymes – Are They All the Same Process?

I have been following Bokashi composting for a number of years and never really understood what happens during the fermentation process. Ask people what bokashi is and they reply with, it’s fermentation. Ok, what is fermentation? Few can take the discussion further especially on a chemical and cellular basis. Even dedicated Bokashi groups on Facebook don’t understand what actually happens during the process.

I have been looking at some other forms of fermentation including ensilaging and eco-enzymes, and the picture of what they are is starting to become clearer.

Bokashi vs Ensilaging vs Eco-enzymes - Are They All the Same Process? — Bokashi vs Ensilaging vs Eco-enzymes – Are They All the Same Process?, source: Green and Growing

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Damping Off Disease – Prevention and Treatment

Damping off disease is probably the number one killer of small seedlings. If you grow anything from seed you should be familiar with this problem and know how to prevent it. If your seedlings already have the disease – read on – I’ll show you how to fight it.

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Important Non-Bee Pollinators in Your Garden

A diverse array of pollinators supports the countless species of flowering plants that fill up our gardens, agricultural fields, and natural ecosystems. Unfortunately, bees tend to get all the credit and concern. Read on to learn about the non-bee pollinators that work their magic on the plants in your garden.

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