Re: [SG] acanthus + sand bed

Kay,

No, mine isn't a wet sand bed...that's one I'm gonna try one of these days.
 Mine is "dry"...well, actually not "dry" as I water it occasionally as
does Mother Nature when she deigns to send rain here.   Even plants who
prefer dry conditions need some water in my climate.  I'm beginning to
think that when a plant is supposed to prefer "dry" conditions, what it
really prefers is sharp drainage...cacti, etc. excepted, of course.

I more or less followed various advice from Alpine-L posts and it seems to
be working thus far.

Over the existing lousy subsoil, which I lightly forked over, I put about 2
or 3 inches of compost.  Over that I put about 8" of coarse builder's sand
and topped that up with a couple of inches of pea gravel, which helps keep
the sand from drying out and caking.  Theory being that if any residents
got hungry, they could send their roots down into the compost.  Otherwise,
what I was mainly trying for was extremely sharp drainage so that the
plants that tend to rot over winter for me wouldn't do so...and they
didn't, except, of course the one I really wanted - the Dorycnium...sigh...

Plus, plants that tend to rot out in summer seem happier there...anything
that wants really sharp drainage is a candidate for a sand bed, esp. for
hot, humid climates, like mine.

I'm rather hooked on sand beds now...want to add some more if I can figure
out where.

I think you've pin-pointed why my A. mollis does not bloom - it is just not
getting enough sun!  Rats!

I agree with you and Clyde - experiment!  Nothing ventured, nothing gained
in the plant world and while zone designations are sometimes helpful, they
do not tell all of the story.  I say if you like it, try it...if it dies,
try it again...never give up on a plant until you've killed it at least 3
times!

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: Kay Dye <Kdye1@AOL.COM>
> Date: Saturday, June 05, 1999 9:37 PM
>
> Marge,
> Is your sand bed a wet one?  I can't believe how many of the plants
you've
> tried that I have also...and lost.  Tell us more.
> Kay Dye, Zone 5
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