Re: Potting mixes
Tony & Moira Ryan wrote:
> Janet B wrote:
> >
> > Hi Moira
> >
> > Its interesting that over the years we have come to both using an identical
> > potting mix. I too use a quality JI type, mixed with the best peat based I
> > can buy, and top dress as it sinks with some home made compost, organic
> > fertlisers etc. I tried using soil from our 'horafi' (small veg field) but
> > found it contained too many weed seeds and pests.
> >
> Hi Janet
> I think you have confused two posts. It was Dave Poole who was using the
> JI formula. These mixes are scarcely used or known in NZ nowadays and I
> use my a home-made mix of my own compost and various sands. I don't use
> any soil except for large outdoor pots, My vegetable garden soil which I
> use for this seems very pest-free (though teeming with worms) but does
> have something of a weed problem. I prefer not to use any form of peat,
> as it is a scarcely renewable natural resource and in some countries
> its removal is destroying valuable ecosystems.
>
> Moira
>
> --
> Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
> Wainuiomata,
> New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
The John Innis mix was never used in California. We, instead, made up a version
of what was called the University of California mix. It was simply 2 parts
organic mix to 1 Part inorganic mix. Different commercial companies made
different versions.
Old Container Gardening teachers made up their own.
1 part coarse sand
1/2 part peat moss
1/2 part compost ( whatever bagged product I could find that was close)
1 part ground redwood
To this we added a product produced here called Gro-Power, at 2 Tbsp. to a
2-gal bucket.
I've grown up too, and no longer use peat moss and commercial products derived
from sewerage sludge. Still use the 2 to 1 ratio; but now instead of sand, I've
found a very coarse product at feed stores called granite grit (used for
poultry). The compost part is hard if students don't make their own, they must
buy something as close as they can. The ground wood can be any partly composted
ground wood used for top mulching.
Thanks to Moira, I've also gone to using kelp meal as an additive for trace and
potassium. It's expensive here, boxed in its little 1 pound boxes, but I think
it's worth it. I also add a fish-meal product available her, called Bio-Grow.
I agree with everyone here that the home-made concoction is better than the
light fluff sold as commercal potting mix.
Using a dollop of good garden soil (vegetable quality) for trees, shrubs and
vines in large containers is wonderful advice. Thanks so much to both Moira in
N.Z. and Glenn in S.A.
--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jan Smithen, gardening teacher
California Arboretum Foundation
jansmithen@earthlink.net
Sunset zone : 19
USDA zone : 10
Visit the California Arboretum homepage at :
http://www.arboretum.org/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
