The health of any plant is largely dependent on the condition of the soil in which it grows. Plants continuously take nutrients, oxygen and water from the soil. There are thirteen minerals that plants need from soil to grow and thrive. The type and condition of soil affects all 3 of these requirements.
Soil mainly consists of particles of sand, silt and clay. Soil particle sizes range from very fine to very coarse.
Loamy soil is considered the best for growing plants. It is a mixture of silt, sand, and clay, and the particles pack together well. The more silt in the soil, the fluffier and more crumbly it becomes, like a cake. When moist, a clump of this soil feels light and bendable, like wet clay.