RE: CULT - Pot culture
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: RE: CULT - Pot culture
- From: "* M* <M*@fin.gc.ca>
- Date: Thu, 18 Sep 1997 07:44:28 -0600 (MDT)
I agree. The best way to improve drainage is to incorporate materials
into the soil - anything gritty will do.
Broken crockery does improve drainage in a sense. We want to improve
drainage in pots because roots suffocate when they remain wet for long
periods of time. Crockery at the bottom improves air flow to the bottom
roots that tend to be soggy for longer periods of time.
Other reasons to use broken crockery at the bottom is for plants that
grow best root-bound. Azalea and African violets are generally grown in
shallower pots for this reason, but you can use regular pots and mimic
the situation by shortening the pot with crockery at the bottom.
Maureen Mark
Ottawa, Canada
-----Original Message-----
From: John I Jones [SMTP:jijones@ix.netcom.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 1997 6:51 PM
To: Mark, Maureen; Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: CULT - Pot culture
IMHO I think the point generally of putting rock, broken
shards of pots etc. in the bottom of a pot is to provide a space for the
water to drain into, so the soil at the bottom is not soggy and does not
suffocate the roots, as well as keeping the soil from washing out.
If you want good flow thru, you need to add material to
the soil that keeps it from compacting as the water flows thru and
washes the smaller particles into the crevices.
John | "There be dragons here"
| Annotation used by
ancient cartographers
| to indicate the edge
of the known world.
John Jones, jijones@ix.netcom.com Fremont CA, USDA zone
8/9 (coastal, bay) Max high 95F/35C, Min Low 28F/-2C average 10 days
each Heavy clay base for my raised beds.
