The choice of substrate plays a key role in plant cultivation. Let’s examine the main characteristics of coconut substrate, peat, vermicompost, mineral wool, and regular soil, along with their advantages, disadvantages, and recommendations for improvement and usage.

1. Coconut Substrate

Pros:
✅ Excellent air permeability and drainage.
✅ Retains moisture but does not become waterlogged.
✅ Neutral pH (5.7–6.5), suitable for most plants.
✅ Environmentally friendly, free from pathogens.
✅ Decomposes slowly, making it long-lasting.

Cons:
❌ Contains almost no nutrients, requiring fertilization.
❌ May accumulate salts when using hard water.
❌ More expensive than regular soil.

Best Uses:
✔️ Hydroponics, seedlings, substrate for aroids, strawberries, and orchids.

2. Peat

Pros:
✅ High water retention capacity.
✅ Good air permeability (when mixed with perlite/vermiculite).
✅ Acidifies soil, beneficial for acid-loving plants.
✅ Often sterile if properly processed.

Cons:
❌ Decomposes quickly, losing structure.
❌ Can dry out and become water-repellent.
❌ Depletes over time, requiring fertilization.
❌ Peat extraction harms ecosystems.

Best Uses:
✔️ Component of substrates for seedlings and acid-loving plants (blueberries, azaleas).

3. Vermicompost

Pros:
✅ Rich in microorganisms and nutrients.
✅ Improves soil structure.
✅ Accelerates plant growth, increases yields.
✅ Environmentally safe.

Cons:
❌ Too nutrient-dense to be used alone, requiring mixing with other substrates.
❌ High cost.
❌ May contain insect eggs, harmful microorganisms, or weed seeds.

Best Uses:
✔️ Soil amendment, compost, organic farming.

4. Mineral Wool

Pros:
✅ Ideal balance of moisture and air.
✅ Sterile, free from pests and pathogens.
✅ Allows precise control of plant nutrition.
✅ Well-suited for hydroponics.

Cons:
❌ Completely inert, containing no nutrients.
❌ Requires frequent watering and pH monitoring.
❌ May release micro-particles that irritate the skin and respiratory tract.
❌ Does not decompose in nature, creating waste.

Best Uses:
✔️ Hydroponics, vertical farms, vegetable and strawberry cultivation.

5. Regular Soil

Pros:
✅ Freely available or inexpensive.
✅ Contains microorganisms and nutrients.
✅ Versatile for most plants.

Cons:
❌ May contain pests, pathogens, and weeds.
❌ Heavy, with poor aeration.
❌ Requires improvement (aerators, fertilizers).

Best Uses:
✔️ Open-field cultivation, gardens, container gardening (with amendments).

Enriching Substrates with Beneficial Microorganisms and Plant Protection Products

Regardless of the chosen substrate, it can be improved by adding beneficial microorganisms and biopreparations. This helps prevent diseases, increase yields, and enhance soil structure.

🔹 For example, introducing beneficial microorganisms found in AnGuzal Agroservis products can improve any substrate, protect plants, and enhance nutrient absorption:

• Biofungicide Sporagin - Bacillus subtilis – suppresses fungal diseases (Botrytis, Fusarium, Phytophthora, etc.).
  • Growth Biostimulator Plantastim - Trichoderma harzianum – protects against root rot and enhances nutrient uptake.
  • Bio-nitrogen Fertilizer Baktomin - Azotobacter – enriches the soil with nitrogen.

🔹 Application Methods:
• Add microorganism-based biopreparations directly into the substrate.
• Spray already planted plants on the leaves.
• Water planted plants at the root (with Plantastim).

These methods help improve any substrate, especially poor or sterilized ones.

Conclusion

The choice of substrate depends on the purpose of cultivation:
• For seedlings and houseplants → coconut + vermicompost.
• For acid-loving crops → peat + perlite.
• For organic farming → soil + vermicompost.
• For hydroponics and city farms → mineral wool or coconut.

If a universal option is needed, a good mix is peat + coconut + vermicompost.
Mineral wool works best in hydroponic systems but requires strict pH monitoring.

❗ Enriching substrates with beneficial microorganisms significantly improves their properties and protects plants.

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