How Do I Imitate Forest Soil For Potting?

Question

I have a tree that calls for forest soil. Does anyone know how to imitate it for a potting medium, or what ratio of aggregates to organic matter I need to create?

Answer 1

Forest soil is a broad term with no real ratio. You will have to play around with a mix until you find something that works.

Generally speaking, this is a rich mix that has very little to no clay, quite a bit of silt, and lots and lots of organic matter.

Another thing to consider is the exact tree species that you have. Without this information I cannot tell you what kind of soil that it prefers, so you will have to do a little research on where you tree is native so that you can begin to craft a soil to recreate what it prefers. Depending on the species, there may be extra requirements to keep the tree healthy.

In short, there is no one solution that fits all, here. The soil will come down to the specific tree in question, and where it is native.

The most general solution that I can offer is to find a pre-bagged soil that is designed for forest trees. Otherwise, this will be a trial-and-error endeavor.

These articles will offer more information about building soils:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/the-importance-of-soil-for-an-organic-garden.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/improving-garden-soil.htm