How Soil Impacts the Health of Your Plumerias
From your plumeria’s point of view, the main ingredient in the environment is the soil. Soil takes decades, and in some cases, centuries to develop into a mixture rich in nutrients capable of sustaining life. Every plant that grows in and dies in the soil aids in its nutrient content of it. Soil is made up of a delicate balance of different living microscopic organisms, some of them are fungi or bacteria. Earthworms are even an important component of soil dense with nutrients because they leave routes through the soil that water and air can travel through.
Planting in the ground
Ground soil can be very different from place to place. Just like with any other type of plant, plumerias like specific types of soil to grow in. Before you set about planting plumerias on your property, you should do a little research in order to find out if the soil is in the optimal condition for planting plumerias. Not only do the nutrients in the soil need to be right, but the soil itself also needs to be loose enough to allow good drainage and hold too much water for plumerias. The soil will be the habitat for many organisms that will help your plumerias to grow healthy.
Every plant requires different soil conditions to do well, yet we sometimes take plumeria for granted and assume they will grow in any soil. Soils can vary considerably, especially those that have been disturbed by human intervention, and this impacts a plant’s ability to survive. What is optimal plumeria soil?
These are some of the functions that soil performs:
- Reservoir for plant nutrients and water
- Habitat for bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter
- Habitat for insects, worms and other animals that mix the soil
- Medium for anchoring plant roots
Many plumeria problems in urbanized areas can be traced to changes in the physical or chemical aspects of the soil. Grading and associated construction activity can quickly alter the natural soil environment and disturb roots. Understanding the effects of these impacts on soil and plumeria health, and learning how to improve them, will enable plumeria growers to more wisely maintain the soil and its environment.
Soil Characteristics
There are several general types of soil with different properties that make them up. These properties determine how well the soil holds together, how well it holds moisture, nutrients, and air. These different types of soil include:
- Sandy soil – this type of soil has looser particles that allow air to penetrate, but it does not hold moisture very well and is usually poor in nutrients.
- Clay soil – Which has smaller pores between particles which doesn’t allow much air in, but holds water very well and is generally high in nutrients.
- Sandy, Clay soil – This type is a combination of the first two. This type of soil allows air to get in somewhat, is compact enough to hold onto moisture well while being rich in nutrients.
Soil conditions to watch out for
Drainage – Soil that holds onto the water can be good during drought conditions, however, for plumeria it’s a problem it can cause plumerias to drown. While the ground around and under plumerias can hold too much water, it can cause the ground to saturate and that can prevent the tree roots systems from getting air.
To fix this issue you can add some sand or sandy soil to the mix in order to help it drain better. You might use organic material like mulch or other composted material in order to mix in.
Compaction – There are a few things that can cause soil compaction. When the soil has a high clay content it will become compacted much easier. It can happen as the result of high foot traffic, yard machinery, and driving over it. When it occurs it compresses the soil and eliminates the air in between the particles. This causes water to pool on top of the soil and saturate the ground.
To fix this issue try adding mulch or other organic material into the soil in order for it to create small pockets of air in the soil. You may also use a core aerator to help add a looser texture to the soil.
Chemical Properties
The more acquainted you are with the soil that your plumerias are living in, the easier it will be to keep them healthy. By maintaining healthy plumerias it can make it easier for you to notice when there is an issue with them. When you are forewarned about potential problems it can help you prevent them from happening.