Re: Re: CULT: potting mix question

In a message dated 9/6/2007 6:16:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,  
lmann@lock-net.com writes:

<< So had the bright idea of using a great big container  (i.e., abandoned 
skunk flat).  It has a roofing tin bottom, with .22  bullet holes for drainage, 
plus slow leaks 
around all the  edges.


Go for it, Linda. 

<<The rhizomes are in the mix, have been  there for about a week, with 
crushed dolomitic limestone added, and are  starting to grow.  Only 
question remaining was how much, timing, type  of fertilizer to add.
 
I think I'd give them one half strength dose of  something balanced and 
soluable now, and let it go at that. Possibly I  might scratch in some Bulb Booster 
or something similar if it was looking like  a long fall growing season. But 
I would be wary  of stimulating more growth than is coming on naturally.This  
time of year I only add alfalfa and Plant tone to established beds. The  jury 
is still out on that B1 stuff but I use it--Upstart--for transplated  
seedlings and cuttings, and I don't see any harm. When the snow--or ice--  comes 
later, you can toss some superphosphate onto it, and let the melt carry  it in. 
Watch out for heaving and swaying in that light medium. A few  rocks set about 
hither and yon in the bed helps. They can get their roots  up under them. I do 
this. 
 
<<Anner, this mix seems to hold moisture very well in a large heap,  tho I 
can see it might be hard to keep steady moisture supply in a small  pot.
 
The stuff I was talking about has some wetting agent and moisture holding  
stuff--not those crystals that turn into boogers when you add water--but some  
chemical with a good deal of water holding capability. The stuff from the  bag 
I had never dried out and soil in pots grew a coat of pond  scum on the top. I 
have not had any unusual water experiences with the  regular stuff, which 
comes pre-moistened. 
 
<<Why did I chose this particular product?  Because I'd seen  it used <for 
irises> at a local club member's house with great  success.  She used it 
because she didn't know any better, but had  such good success, I thought 
I'd try it myself.
 
As I said, go for it, and best wishes for your success. When I pot irises  up 
at any age beyond the most infant, and I do it a lot, I use a wholly  organic 
planting mix, heavier than potting soil. Fines, peanut shells, etc. It  is 
great for pots, but even amended heavily in the bed I  mentioned, it is still 
too light for growing the larger irises. Oh,  they love it, but they have a hard 
time keeping purchase on the earth so  I sometimes have to stake them, 
through no fault of their own. I'd like to  heavy that bed up but I don't know what 
to do. At least it does not have any  soil borne pathogens at all, which is 
worth something.   

Cordially,
 
Anner Whitehead
Richmond VA USA






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