The tepojal or tepezil It is a valuable ally in the care of plants of all kinds, as it provides numerous beneficial properties to the soil or substrate, making its composition much better for plants when mixed with normal soil.
However, this valuable resource in the form of volcanic pomx stone is still unknown to many hobbyists. If you want to learn how to make your own tepojal substrate to improve the health of your plants, join us in this Green Ecologist article in which we have what is tepojal for plants, what is it for and how is it used.
What is tepezil or tepojal for plants
The tepojal or tepezil is a volcanic rock, which in many places is called pumice, for being a pumice stone. However, this last way of calling it can change according to the country or the area, therefore, what is called pumice in some places is called tepojal and in other places two different types of stones are called thus.
It is a material whose properties improve the composition of soils for cultivation of practically any species of plants, so it is widely used in gardening and ecological horticulture, in addition to its other uses as a construction material.
The tepojal includes in its composition the following elements: silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, iron and ferric and ferrous oxides, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium oxide and titanium dioxide. All of these are useful components for plants.
What is the tepojal for plants for
The benefits of tepojal for plants they are very varied.
- To begin with, this stone lightens the ground. The substrate of tepojal or tepejil It is a lighter material than common soil or substrate, so it helps to make the mixture lighter and looser, compacting less and, therefore, favoring the aeration of the roots and an easy development for the plant.
- For the same reason, it is also a great ally when it comes to improving the ability to drainage of a soil, something vital in the vast majority of species: very few plants tolerate flooded soils. Succulents, whose roots are especially sensitive to excess moisture, are particularly benefited from the use of this material.
- Its porous texture makes it a highly absorbent material. This allows it to absorb both water and fertilizers, fungicides or pesticides, releasing them continuously and slowly afterwards, thus improving their performance. This is also a great help in maintaining controlled moisture levels in the soil.
- By lightening the soil, it makes the task of tilling it easier. Remove and aerate the earth with tepojal it is faster and more comfortable.
- To the maintain proper humidity levels, it is necessary to water less often and it helps to avoid the appearance of cracks or scabs in the earth due to the effect of the sun.
- It is chemically inert and of neutral pH, so it does not affect the balance of the soil.
- It does not favor the appearance of fungi or pests of any kind, being very useful for hydroponic cultivation and for cuttings.
- It is also often used in the formation of vertical gardens or cultivated roofs, since it helps to greatly reduce the weight of the substrate to be used, also benefiting the crop.
- It is a non-organic material, so it can be reused without losing its properties or degrading in the short term.
- Its composition is rich in a large amount of micronutrients and essential macronutrients for plants, like iron, vital for the formation of chlorophyll or potassium, which favors root growth.
How to use the tepojal for plants
The use of tepojal substrate for plants It is very simple. It is only necessary to mix a part of this material with the soil or substrate in which we are going to cultivate. Here are some tips:
- Sometimes we can limit ourselves to putting a layer of tepojal on the ground or substrate, at the base of the plant. In this way we create an insulation between the plant and the soil, helping to separate it from excess moisture and maintaining a more stable temperature in the soil.
- However, if we want to lighten the soil and improve its drainage and nutrient properties, it is better to mix it, trying to homogenize the mixture as much as possible. The good thing about tepojal or tepezil is that, unlike other similar materials, it has a slightly higher weight, so it mixes better with the earth instead of tending to rise to the surface.
We advise you to read this other article on How to make a substrate for cacti and succulents.
What can be used as a substitute for tepojal
Whether you want to know what can be used as a substitute for tepojal or to what other materials can substitute the tepojalIt must be taken into account that it is usually used as a substitute, or vice versa, for other types of porous stones.
Thus, tepojal or tepezil is usually used together with perlite or vermiculite. They are materials of similar compositions, that fulfill similar functions and with small changes in their thickness, granularity or color. Vermiculite is the one that retains the greatest amount of water of the three, being therefore more suitable for plants with a greater need for it. For the rest, they can be used interchangeably according to taste, although it is also very common to mix them in order to enjoy the properties of all of them.
Here you can learn more about what vermiculite is, its uses and how to make a substrate with it.
If you want to read more articles similar to Tepojal for plants: what it is, what it is for and how it is used, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
