Re: seedling mulch

Thanks Jim,
Sorry, I'm just not up to chewing on it.  But I will see about popping them
out of the flat and potting up.  The reason I use Osmocote is because I know
I will forget to fertilize if it is done weekly.
I use a 9 month Osmocote with minors.  I had always thought that salt
buildup on the surface was from water soluble fertilizers; didn't think it
would be an issue with osmocote, especially as it's not on the surface.  Do
salts rise to the surface from the osmocote?

Kitty

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James R. Fisher" <garrideb@well.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 6:33 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] seedling mulch


> Kitty wrote:
> > Jim,
> >
> > Potting mix:  about a 1:1:1 mix of:
> > nursery mix (canadian peat and composted forest products)
> > bulk soil (topsoil/peat/sand mix )
> > Perlite
> >
> > Crust: thick dark layer, somewhat difficult to break
> >
> >
> >>If it might be dried algae, then you
> >>need to water with an algaecide maybe ?
> >
> > I  couldn't tell about that.  Have watered with either tap water or rain
> > water when needed.
> >
> > Fertilizer:  I used time release, osmocote mixed into the soil.
> >
> > Repot?:  They've been in these cells since (I'm guessing) early June.
Cells
> > measure 2.5 by 2.5 by 3.5 inches deep.  They aren't too heavily rooted
for
> > that size, but some do have roots coming out the bottom.
> >
> > Jim, do you think I should repot now?  I suppose I should soon anyway to
> > prepare them for winter.  Let me know what you think.  This is sort of
new
> > to me.
> >
> > Kitty
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> If you've got roots coming out the bottom, then _I_ would repot.
> Can you break off a chunk of the crust and bring yourself to chew on it ?
> If so, and if it tastes a bit salty/mineral-tasting, then it could well be
> fertilizer evaporation product.
> I agree with Ray about topping with chicken grit or coarse sand. And I'd
> punt on the Osmocote at this time of year and go with a soluble
fertilizer,
> weakly, weekly. I've adoped Algoflash (6-6-6) +minor/trace elements; it's
> a French-origin product (!); seems to work very well. Kept several
planters
> of Dianthus in full flowering throughout last (rainy) year from spring
'til
> frost.
> -jrf
>
> -- 
> Jim Fisher
> Vienna, Virginia USA
> 38.9 N 77.2 W
> USDA Zone 7
> Max. 105 F [40 C], Min. 5 F [-15 C]
>
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