This very interesting and well equipped mix is a ferns dream. Ferns can be a bit of a diva when we bring them into our homes, this mix has been specially formulated to provide a high moisture retention as well as the ability to drain around the fine, and to reduce the risk the shock of these fast growing roots of our beloved and delicate ferns. Using a blend of: coco coir, worm castings, horticultural sand, zeolite, activated charcoal. Mixed plentifully together to form a stable substrate that creates many microcosms for their intricate roots to spread and colonise. The addition of horticultural sand means the drainage is even throughout and will drain a little different to a chunkier mix, ensuring that the higher presence of worm castings can deliver that retained moisture and necessary nutrients! The activated charcoal plays a vital role in removing impurities from the substrate and allowing beneficial microfauna and flora to flourish, as we know, a lot of roots cannot thrive without the necessary symbiosis of some microorganisms to help facilitate the uptake of nutrients and to break down macronutrients into a substance that they can use. That’s the magic of soil, and we intend to make you a fern casting witch! Don’t just limit yourself to ferns for this mix, it makes a fantastic seed starting mix and any thirsty, delicate plant that enjoys a neutral ph soil base, like cissus discolor or spiral ginger! This is a highly nutritious and well-draining mixture. Given that fern have very primitive, hair-thin roots, sand is a very important component in creating micro-passages for the roots to crawl through. Alongside this, the doubled amount of worm castings with a high coco coir portion means this mix is fertile and moisture retentive. The sand creates tiny pockets of air for the roots as well as superior drainage, while the perlite scatters larger air chambers throughout the pot. The zeolite present in the mix will also hold a lot of the nutrients when watering, allowing the roots to feed for longer. Although there are a variety of ferns found in the household this mix suits the majority of them nicely. What ferns ultimately want is moisture and fertility. However it is also important to remember the fine structure of ferns roots. It’s important that the soil is as loose as possible (which is why we add sand) as it allows these tiny roots to easily crawl through the pot, rather than work through dense, muddy substrate. Ferns benefit a lot from organic matter in soil, another benefit to the extra portion of worm castings. As with all of our premium mixes a population of positive bacteria, mycelium and microfauna is present in the substrate to create the potted ecosystem which keeps your plant healthy! Enough nutrients for the first 2 months of growth is also in every bag along with our specialist nutrient storage component, zeolite.