Orlando, FL Soil Profile

Orlando, Florida (Orange County) has mostly sand and fine sand soils. These types of soils are extremely well-draining, with Orlando having a lower available water capacity between 0.06 and 0.09 cm/cm. This can cause issues for gardeners due to the lack of nutrients, so it’s important to add organic matter when planting in the area. Check out the table below for more details on the soil in Orlando.

Soil Properties
Texture	Sand, Fine Sand
Bulk Density	1.09 – 1.64 g/cm³
Available Water Capacity (AWC)	> 0.6, <= 0.9 cm/cm
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity (Ksat)	10 – 100 micrometers per second (High)
Organic Matter	Less than 1.2%
pH	4.5 – 7.8
Electrical Conductivity	> 0.0, <1.0 (dS/m) at 25°C
Cation-Exchange Capacity (CEC)	> 1.9, <6.9 meq/100g
Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR)	> 0.2, < 1.0
Liquid Limit	> 3.9%, < 8.3%
Depth to Bedrock	> 200 cm
Unified Soil Classification (Surface)	SP – SM, SP, PT
Available Water Supply	> 4.8, <= 9.35

Additional Info on the Type of Soil in Orlando, FL

1. Some muck can be found in various areas, like along SR 423, just north of US 17, for example.
2. The same area along SR 423 has a lower bulk density, measuring between 0.2 and 0.96 g/cm³.
3. A few areas, like the City of Orlando Nursery, have much more organic matter in the soil.
4. Most of Orlando has a pH level between 4.5 and 5.5. The areas surrounding Lake Mann, such as Malibu Groves, Richmond Heights, and Clear Lake, have slightly alkaline pH levels, ranging from 7.4 to 7.8.
5. Most of the area west of Downtown Orlando does not have readily available CEC information.
6. Most of the area downtown, south of downtown along I-4, and Orlando National Airport have a SAR of less than 0.
7. Most of Conway has a liquid limit of less than 0%. The same slightly alkaline areas around Lake Mann have a higher liquid limit between 8.3% and 10.3%.
8. The area east of Orlando National Airport, Lake Eola Heights, and Rowena Gardens has an available water supply from 0 to 4.78 cm.

*All information sourced from the USDA.