This is a blog post about the benefits of regular tilling and turning over of the soil to maintain healthy houseplants.
In order to get sufficient nutrition from the soil, the roots need to penetrate deeper. This can only happen when the soil is turned free and loose.
This facilitates water and fertilizer absorption in roots.
Moreover, the roots can breathe easily in loose soil because tilling adds oxygen in it.
Useful microbes also grow well in such oxygen-rich soil.
Regular tilling also prevents building up of compacted soil and clay lumps which can choke even the most sturdy of houseplants.
Soil clumps and compact soil prevent nutrients and water absorption
So every time you want to put fertilizer in your potted plants, first till the soil.
You can use a small hand trowel or a garden tiller for this purpose.
I simply use a screwdriver (mostly because I have been lazy in ordering the proper gardening tools and I use whatever I find convenient).
Do not forget to clean the tool thoroughly with alcohol cotton swab (to avoid infection in plant/soil) before and after tilling.
In potted plants, the roots can be quite near the surface, so please be gentle when using the tool.
Try not to rush it or one might cut or injure the roots. Remove all the weeds and stones and break the hard soil clumps for healthy plans in your pot.
Happy Tilling!
