A soil mix for Hosta, Caladiums, Ferns, Impatiens
nanapam02
13 years ago
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojojosplants
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Which Caladium is this?
Comments (2)For various reasons the color might not be developed enough, but I looked at the Florida Caladium website and the match to Florida Roselight looks pretty good....See MoreCaladium
Comments (34)I'm going to be trying Caladium bulbs for the first time. I'm glad I read these postings because there were some good tips. I have grown them before but purchased them as potted plants. They really like a warm temperature so I don't think I would put them outside in May. Mid or even late June would be better. Even up here (Alberta) they need to be in the shade. I planted mine in containers. I used to live in Coronation which has a similar climate to Edmonton, but quite drier. I now live in Strathmore and might be able to put them out sooner because of the warmer climate. I'm going to be very cautious though!...See Moremixed mesages on soil amending
Comments (12)In 1998, I dug up sod, only to discover clay and more clay. I dug and re-dug, amending with compost, humus, gypsum, expensive clay-breaking amenders, etc. After amending, there was still a ton of clay and for the next 5 years, it was still hard to dig and plant in that garden. Each time I re-planted an area, I amended some more in that area and mulched again. The plants that were the most successful, were the hostas...they grew big and seemed undaunted by the clay. Today, that garden is loamy and wonderful. The initial time plus years of mulching on top have finally paid dividends. The hostas still do well...I just redid that bed 10 days ago, it was a joy to work in the soil, remembering the frustration and back-breaking work in the beginning. Ironically, I think the hostas handled the early phases of the garden just as well as they handle it now. I'm not even sure that it was my initial labor that made it successful. Clay has a lot of minerals, and also holds moisture, so it's not the end of the world for hostas. Taking everything into account, Phil is from your area, by planting in what you have and top-dressing and mulching for years, you would be leaving the bed all the same and over the years, it should get more and more loamy if you keep adding more and more top-dressing. I found this thread about growing in clay soil in NC. Here is a link that might be useful: Clay Soil...See Moreastilbe, caladium questions
Comments (13)Cheryl, I wanted to say something about your comment on losing bare root plants, etc. You know, it's funny, but most of the time I lose those plants, too. However, the really odd thing is that sometimes they'll come up a year, 2 years, or 3 years later, after I thought they had died. This happened with my lily of the valley pips. I bought them cheap at HD and planted them about 4 years ago. Just last year, I got 2 LV sprouts! This year, I have 4! It's just amazing how these things really do want to survive so much that they surprise us like that. So, keep on the look out, you may see something one of these days, and have to dig back into the depths of your memory to recall what you planted many moons ago. Susan...See Morejodik_gw
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojojosplants
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojane__ny
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojodik_gw
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agomeyermike_1micha
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojodik_gw
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agomeyermike_1micha
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojojosplants
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojodik_gw
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agonanapam02
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojodik_gw
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agomeyermike_1micha
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojane__ny
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojojosplants
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojojosplants
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agojodik_gw
13 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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