Soil Science

Got some mud you'd like to link on the sidebar? Chuck it in here.

I'm doing mainly hydroponics by now, but still have some pots on my balcony with soil in them, and I don't plan to change that. Most of them are just "there" and filled with flower mixes for insects, aka weeds. Those aren't high value crops for me, but still, I'm seeing them as test subjects.

I have a few pots of soil I made myself on my balcony, and I wanna test following things: - pH: I already have a pH testing rod for soil, but it seems to be very inaccurate. I also have a proper digital pH meter for my hydroponics, which is way more accurate. How do I test the soil in the liquid form? Are there any standards, so it is more comparable? - Composition: Ratio of organic vs inorganic stuff, and also the water retention and aeration. - Microbial and biological fingerprint: I saw a huge amount of earthworms last year, but this year, none at all. Did my ants kill them? Are they still there, but just beneath the soil? How well do the microbes feel? How active is the soil? - Decomposition grade (I'm reusing the soil from the last years): how drained and compacted is my soil already? - Are there harmful nematodes or whatever in there? - The ratio of Calcium and Magnesium compared to other ions (I suspect nutrient lockouts due to tap water) - etc.

I had a really bad slug infestation on my balcony garden last year. Because they were eating on everything, and were in the thousands almost, I had to resort to "poison" bait. Not one of the toxic ones, because I have cats, but ones based on Iron phosphate.

For all the time I spend looking at various techniques and growing tips, I know shockingly little about soil, especially when you buy it at a garden center. Lemmy has treated me quite well every time I've asked for gardening advice, so once again I come to all of you to ask: What exactly differentiates potting mix and in-ground soil? What should I be looking for when purchasing soil? Is the type I choose all that important? Enlighten me soil scientists, and add any other fun tidbits you think I should know.

I've recently tried mixing the used coffee grounds in baking soda, and I'm seeing a very visible chemical reaction. I haven't tried putting it in the ground yet though.

Long story short - I moved from a country where there’s an abundance of black soil to a country with a dry climate and not much black soil. Not only that, I moved from an apartment to a house with plenty of land. I believe strongly that growing my own produce is the way to go, but sadly I lack a lot of skill.