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ashes) can enhance the growth of the beneficial fungi and bacteria. Read articles online about Terra Preta for a better understanding.

3. Water: The most critical skill to master if you want healthy plants is to learn how to water properly. Over watering drives oxygen from the soil, kills beneficial micro organisms, encourages the growth of anaerobic bacteria (causing root rot) and leaches nutrients from the soil. Not enough water causes root damage. The best way I have found to deal with watering is to keep the soil moist enough that you can see and feel it is not dry, but not so wet you could get anything from it with a paper towel. Depending on the containers you use hefting the container will give you an accurate estimate as to the water content of the soil in the container, far better than touching or visual cues, which might reflect only the soil moisture on the surface.

4. Containers: The roots of your plants need darkness, moisture, nutrients and oxygen in order to grow and perform their critical processes. The best containers I have seen to date are those made from road construction felt. Next best are the net pot plastic containers designed for orchids because they provide good drainage and soil aeration. Clay and ceramic planters tend to either dry out the roots or become a host to an algae and slime mold colony. (Certain orchids do well in clay pot, but otherwise avoid them.) Those without drainage are not good for most plants as they encourage anaerobic bacteria growth and tend to drown roots.

5. Nutrients: This is really too plant specific a topic to discuss in general terms. The nutrient needs of each type of plant is so different that the only way to become proficient with the plants you grow is to follow the recommendations of experienced growers and use trial and error and study them on your own until you find what works best in your unique growing situation. But in general terms I reiterate the importance of introducing an inoculant into your soil to form a supportive biome in the soil. Mycorrhizal fungi blends are useful for extending the effective reach of roots and aiding the plant in digesting nutrients. There are also rhizobacteria which are nitrogen fixing bacteria. Other inoculants contain antagonistic organisms which attack plant pathogens.

This is a rapidly evolving field. Do some research, this will pay off in a level of consistent plant health that make everyone think you have a green thumb.

6. Air Circulation: Plants need carbon dioxide,

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