Seedlings and cuttings are transferred to larger pots once they reach sufficient size.
Some plant species may stay in these larger pots longer than the cells they were in during the germination or rooting stages. For this reason, it is crucial that the structure of the growing medium, which affects water retention capacity and air permeability, remains unchanged. Maintaining the stability of the substrate structure is essential to prevent risks to plant development due to factors such as waterlogging or loss of water retention capacity.
Structural changes can occur due to the following reasons:
- Frequent watering causing water droplets to compact the substrate surface, leading to reduced permeability.
- The substrate reaching saturation, which prevents rapid drying.
- Increased water retention capacity due to reduced pore spaces and the formation of fine particles caused by the natural biological or chemical breakdown of substrate components.
