Re: Mixing up a new batch of potting 'soil'
- To:
- Subject: Re: Mixing up a new batch of potting 'soil'
- From: M* T*
- Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 04:47:05 -0400
Dale, if it's thoroughly black and rotted and actively growing you a
nice crop of weeds, go ahead and use it. I'd add some granite grit,
myself, to ensure good drainage, as all organic material tends to
compact down in pots. I'd also add some bagged cow manure.
You will have to fertilize your pots. Someone recommended Ozmacote
and I find it works pretty well to supplement my home made potting
soil which consists of screened compost and rotted woodchip humus,
basically...with added grit and manure....sometimes leaf mould, if
I've got it. The other good thing about Ozmacote - for those of us
whose minds are failing - is that you add it once and it lasts for
however many months the particular formulation is designed for.
My potted plants all seem to love this and the spent soil makes great
additions to borders or fill for raised beds. I do notice that it
tends to be quite neutral in composition (as most thoroughly
composted organic matter seems to be), so those plants who prefer
more acid soils need a bit of peat or pine bark fines or something
acidic to do well.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Dale <raydale@amtelecom.net>
> Date: Saturday, April 15, 2000 11:18 AM
(snip)
> Experiments do continue and this year I propose to use my old path
mulch.
> The paths in our veggie garden have been mulched with sawdust for
the past
> 5 or 6 years. It works great at keeping the weeds down and is quite
nice to
> walk on. Over time this mulch breaks down and needs to be
replenished or
> replaced. It becomes hospitable to worms and weeds alike.
> So ... I'm planning to use this 'composted' mulch as my potting
'soil'.
> Using a very coarse method of measurement it appears to have a pH
of 6.9 -
> 7.0 and when wet remains quite friable.
>
> Can any of you think of reasons why this might not work. OR .. have
any of
> you tried this particular brand of 'potting soil'?
>
> Before I get to many things potted up I'd really like a few other
opinions.
> Thanks,
> Dale
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