Sand / Soil

[CarolM]

Just a short question:

What is the difference between sand and soil?

 

[daniellenc]

Soil is dirt and sand is sand lol. Sand is made of rocks and minerals!

 

[CarolM]

Soil is dirt and sand is sand lol. Sand is made of rocks and minerals!

So soil would be softer and sand more of a rocky type substance?

 

[daniellenc]

Yes and sand is usually beige/white and soil is brown dirt. Guessing you use different names in South Africa? Soil is what most plant in if that’s helpful.

 

[CarolM]

Yes and sand is usually beige/white and soil is brown dirt. Guessing you use different names in South Africa? Soil is what most plant in if that’s helpful.

Okay. Thanks. I was just curious. I look at my garden and my plants and trees grow beautifully in it. BUT i have always thought of it as being sand. However if I think about potting sand that they sell in nurseries then I suppose that would be soil. More experienced gardeners would know the difference. I just wasn't sure. And I was re-reading Toms care sheet and was curious to know what the actual difference was.

 

[CarolM]

Okay. Thanks. I was just curious. I look at my garden and my plants and trees grow beautifully in it. BUT i have always thought of it as being sand. However if I think about potting sand that they sell in nurseries then I suppose that would be soil. More experienced gardeners would know the difference. I just wasn't sure. And I was re-reading Toms care sheet and was curious to know what the actual difference was.

Soil would absorb water better than sand correct.

 

[WithLisa]

Soil would absorb water better than sand correct.

Yes.

Sand is simply made of ground stones. Natural soil contains (more or less) sand, but also organic stuff (compost, microorganisms,...).

 

[Tom]

Sand is a word used to define the particle size of inert rock or mineral pieces. "Gravel" particles could be of the same material, only larger sized, and "silt" would be smaller sized particles of the same material.

"Soil" could be a combination of many things, but composted, decaying organic matter is a primary component.

You can mix sand sized rock or mineral particles in to soil, and it changes its drainage and water carrying capacity and its texture. This is a typical soil mix used for cacti and other succulents.

 

[CarolM]

Yes.

Sand is simply made of ground stones. Natural soil contains (more or less) sand, but also organic stuff (compost, microorganisms,...).

Yes and sand is usually beige/white and soil is brown dirt. Guessing you use different names in South Africa? Soil is what most plant in if that’s helpful.

Thank you both.

 

[CarolM]

Sand is a word used to define the particle size of inert rock or mineral pieces. "Gravel" particles could be of the same material, only larger sized, and "silt" would be smaller sized particles of the same material.

"Soil" could be a combination of many things, but composted, decaying organic matter is a primary component.

You can mix sand sized rock or mineral particles in to soil, and it changes its drainage and water carrying capacity and its texture. This is a typical soil mix used for cacti and other succulents.

Thank you Tom.

So this is the type you are refering to in your care sheet.

"Soil" could be a combination of many things, but composted, decaying organic matter is a primary component.

 

[Tom]

Thank you Tom.

So this is the type you are refering to in your care sheet.

"Soil" could be a combination of many things, but composted, decaying organic matter is a primary component.

I don't know which reference or which care sheet you are asking about.

Unless you live on a beach or in a sand dune area, the stuff on the ground outside your house would be dirt. Wet it and add some decaying organic matter and your dirt becomes "soil".

I don't recommend using any kind of bought in a bag soil for tortoise substrate because there is no way to know what composted material it is made of. I think soil is fine if a person makes it themselves out of known safe materials. Its still too messy for me though.

 

[CarolM]

I don't know which reference or which care sheet you are asking about.

Unless you live on a beach or in sand dune area, the stuff on the ground outside your house would be dirt. Wet it and add some decaying organic matter and your dirt becomes "soil".

I don't recommend using any kind of bought in a bag soil for tortoise substrate because there is no way to know what composted material it is made of. I think soil is fine if a person makes it themselves out of known safe materials. Its still too messy for me though.

I am using orchard bark at the moment. But was reading your Sulcata care sheet and was interested in the difference. However I like to know what all the different options are and to make sure I know what it is. So this is to make sure that I know what the difference is.

 

[CarolM]

I don't know which reference or which care sheet you are asking about.

Unless you live on a beach or in a sand dune area, the stuff on the ground outside your house would be dirt. Wet it and add some decaying organic matter and your dirt becomes "soil".

I don't recommend using any kind of bought in a bag soil for tortoise substrate because there is no way to know what composted material it is made of. I think soil is fine if a person makes it themselves out of known safe materials. Its still too messy for me though.

And thank you once again. Everybody is always so helpful.