Correction: The Nitrogen is 14% (not 0.14%)

My first guess would be the roots are too wet. I have not tried your mix but it sounds like it is staying too wet causing roots to fail because of lack of air. Al

I don't know about other plants but have some experience with basil and parsley. I think CA sun is too harsh for them. "Full sun" in oregon means different things in central CA. I'd move them to a shadier location so they get a few hours of sun but not all day right over the head. If you can, move some indoor to see if it's the sun or the soil that's causing the problems.

I used to grow basil and parsley in Seattle, and the "full sun" there was perfect for them. So instinctively I don't think they'd be too happy directly under the California sun. I also noticed the local nurseries here usually have those herbs under a shade.

I just got some basils and parsley 2 days ago and I'll see how they do once I plant them. They already don't look that happy after 2 sunny days. :(

mberry,

A couple of fundamental things. First, NEVER use Supersoil in a potting application. Always use Potting MIX. Your plants are likely suffocating, as Supersoil has poor aeration attributes.

Second, you need to make a "Combo Mix" even using Potting Mix. For standard containers, there are good 5:1:1 Mix recommendations on this Site. For SWC applications, I have found that a 3:2:1 Combo Mix of Potting Mix, Bark Fines, and Perlite provides aeration, along with the necessary upward wicking properties that are necessary in this type of growing system.

Raybo

Supersoil potting soil is a potting mix, not a garden soil, so I don't think that's the issue, sounds more like overwatering.

o/t: Raybo, thanks for posting the 'combo mix' - I've asked a few times on here for suggestions to amending an already-bought commercial potting soil to improve it and this is the first time someone's given a reasonable answer that didn't involve basically throwing away the commercial mix. So, thanks for that! :)

Cynna, I think that Raybo's mix is specifically for wicking or self watering containers - they need some smaller particles or wicking doesn't work well.

It seems to me that for regular containers, this mix doesn't resolve the perched water issue as it still has close to 50% small particles of peat. My guess is that many of us would like to have a solution that includes a commercial mix. Unfortunately because of the physical properties, unless you use less than 30% of it, you'll still end up with perched water whether it's 100% potting mix or 75% or 50% or 33%.

While I test mixes based on the products available to me, I'm using up my commercial mix by mixing less than 30% of it with the items in the gritty mix or other items such as perlite.

But, that's just my understanding.

Ahhh, thanks Lathyrus, that makes sense. I bought all my commercial stuff already this year and the more I read on this forum the more disheartened I feel about all my upcoming transplanting. I have to use these bags up this year, just would have been nice to do it with more optimism. :(

Cynna - don't be disheartened or discouraged and think that you can't grow attractive and productive plants in commercial potting soils - you can, and lots of people do. You can use the thread about container soils and water movement to better arm yourself so you can take steps to avoid excessive water in the soil and deal with it when it does occur.

While much of the chatter about bark-based soils is between people who are actively trying to get the most out of their growing experience by improving the foundation their plantings are built on (their soils), the information and an understanding of how soils work will take you a long way toward increased success. I'm not saying this in a boastful way because I wrote it - I'm saying it because after hearing it 100s of times from others, I'm more comfortable saying it in a matter-of-fact manner - because it's not just my opinion, but the opinion of hundreds after practical application.

If you bring your concerns/problems here, we'll help you work them out. It's possible you might have to deal with some suggestions to improve your soil or add pine bark, but if you start by setting the parameter, "This is what I'm using! Help me get the most from it", you'll get guidance with that thought in mind.

Al

I echo Al's advice and encouragement. I grew in commercial mixes for years. All my houseplants were in it. My grandfather's houseplants were in dirt from the garden! It worked.

What you do is learn how to read the soil better. It just takes a little more attention. Some of us learned it sort of automatically and we don't even think we're doing more than we have to.

I used conventional mix in my Earthboxes the first 2-3 years. It was them being too soggy all the time that sent me looking for an alternative. But all three years I harvested lots of goodies. I just knew it could be better and the plants happier.

So, plant away! Have lots of fun, learn, and join in the conversation. We're all here to help each other and grow as well as we can given where we live, what we have to grow in, etc.