soil amendments
Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2006
by Longy on September 08, 2006 04:23 PM
Crikey zizzix. All you need to do is buy a premium quality potting mix and plant into it. A weekly feed with an organic liquid fert and you are there. You can always mix the compost and worm castings with the potting mix but i reckon that'd be enough. You're making it all too hard IMHO. BTW, Just plain old dirt is not a good base for container plants.
* * * *
The secret is the soil.
* * * *
The secret is the soil.
by tkhooper on September 08, 2006 09:58 PM
It probably would have been cheaper just to go with the potting soil instead of buying all the amendments. I feel for you big time. What are you trying to put in the pots? Different plants need different conditions. Like my chinese lanterns. They like an alkaline soil so they are in 100% compost with lime (oyster shells) added to increase the pH of the soil.
And that's the place to start with your garden soil. Do a soil test and check the pH. Then amend as necessary for the plant you wish to grow. But remember some amendments take as much as 6 months to change the soil.
Good luck with your containers.
BTW I found that my clay soil was extremely low in nitrogen. So I added alphalpha pellets. I really get good results adding them to the planting holes.
* * * *
And that's the place to start with your garden soil. Do a soil test and check the pH. Then amend as necessary for the plant you wish to grow. But remember some amendments take as much as 6 months to change the soil.
Good luck with your containers.
BTW I found that my clay soil was extremely low in nitrogen. So I added alphalpha pellets. I really get good results adding them to the planting holes.
* * * *
by zizzix on September 09, 2006 05:19 AM
thank you Longy and tkhooper. i tho't that what i did would be seen as extreme and probaly was. i have been down the ptting soil only road many times and used all kinds of fertilizers. the plants start out good but don't last as they do in the ground and also are develop diseases more readily. sooo we'll see what i have wrot. thanks again
by patches1414 on September 09, 2006 12:12 PM
Zizzix, I usually buy the packaged potting mix now, but I have made my own in the past. For my containers, I would use 3 parts sifted compost, 1 part sphagnum peat moss, and 1 part perlite. I found this mix worked extremely well and gave me excellent results. ![[thumb]](im/graemlins/thumb.gif)
Now, it just seems easier to buy it already mixed and I don't have to mess around with mixing it. ![[Wink]](im/wink.gif)
* * * *
"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen!"
Now, it just seems easier to buy it already mixed and I don't have to mess around with mixing it. * * * *
"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen!"
by Longy on September 10, 2006 07:18 AM
"the plants start out good but don't last as they do in the ground and also are develop diseases more readily."
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah i know what you mean, tho i reckon that's the lack of organic matter so adding compost and worm castings helps to overcome this. Also the liquid organic ferts. However, it's an interesting experiment you have embarked on and i'd be interested to know how it goes.
* * * *
The secret is the soil.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah i know what you mean, tho i reckon that's the lack of organic matter so adding compost and worm castings helps to overcome this. Also the liquid organic ferts. However, it's an interesting experiment you have embarked on and i'd be interested to know how it goes.
* * * *
The secret is the soil.
by patches1414 on September 10, 2006 10:38 AM
quote:Geesh, Zizzix, I'm not sure what could be causing your problem with planting in the containers.
i have been down the ptting soil only road many times and used all kinds of fertilizers. the plants start out good but don't last as they do in the ground and also are develop diseases more readily.
![[dunno]](im/graemlins/dunno.gif)
It seems I've always had my greatest success whenever I was planting in containers with potting mix. I figured it was because I could keep a better eye on them and control what was happening with them. * * * *
"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen!"
Search The Garden Helper:
71/2 Gal just plain old dirt
2 C Gypsum
5 Gal Super Soil
2 Qt. Worm Castings
1 Gal Compost
5 T Super Phosphate
7 T Sul-Pro-Mag
2 C Blood Meal
1 T Citrus Growers Mix
thank you for your time