Anyone ever use Black Gold potting soil?
highalttransplant
17 years ago
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highalttransplant
17 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Warning!Has anyone ever tried the MG soil for citrus?
Comments (1)MG potting mixes are all peat based. This means they are not suitable for plants that require sharp drainage regardless of what the label says. Unless, like you say, a person lives in a hot, arid climate where nothing retains moisture for long....See MoreToms in Smart Pots with Black Gold Soil.Should I add some Coir?
Comments (19)I understand what you are saying John. I have been in the nursery business for over 50 years now and I know how things have changed over those decades. Sadly I also know how very outdated much of that info one can read online is. Add to that the need they feel they have to try to cover all points within a brief page length (so some will read it) and one finds all sorts of issues hidden between the lines. In the article you linked for example they skim lightly over the issues of "free of pathogens and seed-free", of "density and disease concerns", "hold nutrients well", etc. assuming the reader will know how to prevent all those issues - issues that kill more container plants than all other issues combined and so easily avoided by simply using a bagged already sterile mix. They make no mention of the size of containers and even imply these "mixes" will work in any container. They don't discuss how one is supposed to evaluate "density" or recognize what is good or bad density. They don't address HOW one is supposed to retain nutrients when daily watering is often needed. I could go on but but as I mentioned above all this is discussed and debated in infinite detail on the Container Gardening forum as it is only indirectly related to Growing Tomatoes. Bottom line - the choice of what to use is yours. I have tried them all over many years and IMO container mixes that incorporate coarse sand (except for succulents), top soil in any of its various forms, much less garden soil and even compost pose far more problems for plants grown in containers than any potential benefits they might have. Dave...See MoreAnyone put alfalfa in the soil of thier potted roses?
Comments (12)I tried this for years with inconclusive results. I used to mix in a cup of alfalfa pellets in every seven gallon pot. To answer Jim's question, as you water your potted roses, the pellets dissolve rather quickly. If you were to dig through the pot after a few weeks you would find pockets of dissolved alfalfa. The problem I found was that it tended to create pockets where things just rotted, and that didn't help the roots. I think that what ever beneficial chemical reaction occurs with the use of alfalfa, it must take place during the fermentation process. Unfortunately, the fermentation process is not good for plants. For basal breaks I would also try diluting SolPoMag/Epson Salts....See MoreBumper Crop? Anyone ever used or heard of it?
Comments (31)Any idea what the ingredients are? People do grow in 100% compost so it's not unheard of. Depending on the composition, it can cause problems like crusting (which sheds water). And it will shrink as it continues to decompose. I would add topsoil either now or next year to replace the shrinkage, and that will help create a balanced mix. You could always do an experiment: add soil now to one bed and not to another and compare how they do....See Morebjs496
17 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
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8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoGibson Zone 9 (Central Valley, CA)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
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8 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)