Re: In-ground Planting Mix
- Subject: Re: In-ground Planting Mix
- From: G* Y*
- Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 13:29:48 -0500 (CDT)
Dan,
If your clay does not drain, then you will effectively be forming a bowl of
soup upon watering. You will only be able to grow swamp plants in it. It
may be better to make a raised bed.
George Yao <gcyao@netasia.net>
Metro-Manila, Philippines
At 10:07 PM 7/16/01, you wrote:
>I've dug out a modest area inside my greenhouse for an in-ground
>planting area. After placing a 4 - 5" [10-12 cm] layer of drain rock in
>the bottom of this pit, I'll be topping up with another 18 - 20" [45-50 cm]
>worth of planting mix; as the native soil here in the San Francisco area
>is essentially clay.
>
>My intent is to grow a mixed collection of tropicals in this bed.
> >From Araceae: Amorphophallus, Anchomanes, Anthurium, Alocasia, Dieff.,
>Philo's, etc. etc.; some Heliconia, various Zingiberaceae, Bromeliads, Palms,
>Cycads... the usual suspects!
>
>Does anybody out there have any experience/ words of advice concerning
>conservatory (in-ground) soil mixes or specific materials to either use or
>avoid?
>I'm considering a mix comprised of locally available components which I'm
>blending at the approximate ratio of
>- 40% coir (in lieu of peat moss)
>- 30% red lava gravel (graded 1/4" size [6.5 mm], clean)
>- 20 % fir bark (also graded 1/4", clean)
>- 10% horticultural sand
>
>My sample of the above looks great- but I'm really concerned what it'll turn
>into 5 years from now. Especially since my preference is to not dig out the
>entire bed and replace the contents much before 2010, if at all possible.
>
>What do the under-glass botanical gardens do?
>Anything special used for the beds inside MOBOT's Climatron for example?
>
>Thanks,
> -Dan
