More about the pepper in Al's mix (substituted)

haxuan

15 years ago

The pepper plant is growing healthily and has produced many fruits (?). Here're two photos update.

Sure love the mix!

Xuan

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Comments (2)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
15 years ago
Lolol - when I saw the post title I thought (PEPPER?! There's no PEPPER in the soils I use/suggest. I wonder if she's using it to keep pests away?!" Duhh!

Nice job, (((((Grandma))))) - strong work! The plants really do look beautiful.

Al
haxuan
Original Author
15 years ago
Hahaha, I startled you, didn't I, Al? Maybe it's my poor English, huh?

Anyway, I really love looking at this plant: the leaves shining in green, the fruits (do you call them "fruit"?) so plump and bright red... it is indeed very beautiful. And boy, the pepper is really hot, which is all the more better!

These days it is raining cats and dogs but I have no worries for the drainage of this plant. So wonderful! Thank you, Al.

Oh, by the way, the goldfish plant in my other garden is growing, too. It has produced two branches and been blooming ever since the last time I posted a photo. But the blooms are scarce, only one or two at a time. Is that normal, Al, that we don't have a shower of blooms on goldfish plants?

Xuan
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511 for dummies...simple question about Al's mix
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When you use a ratio of 5:1 potting soil and perlite, you'll get exactly the same amount of wicking and aeration as if you were using only the potting soil. It's only when you start getting up around a 60% perlite component that you would notice any significant change. Perlite reduces the o/a VOLUME of water the soil is capable of holding, but that is of no value in containers with an unlimited water supply because it doesn't change the wicking potential until you increase the particle size of the predominant ingredient(s). Does that make sense to you, or should I illustrate further? Al
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That's a pretty large size for bark you'll depend on to wick moisture upward to keep the soil moist. Partially composted bark with almost all the pieces under .75 cm is best. The ratio depends on the size of the bark, but if you have the right stuff, 5:2-3:1, bark fines:peat:perlite is good for SWCs. Al
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Welcome back Al, questions about Al's mix and gritty mix
Q
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"Did you later start using the gritty mix and abandon the basic mix?" No. I use the gritty mix for plants that will be in the same soil for more than a single growth cycle. I use the 5:1:1 mix for all my veggies and display containers for the decks & gardens. I usually turn the 5:1:1 mix into the gardens, beds, or the compost pile at the end of the season. You got the gritty mix right, but The 5:1:1 mix is 5 parts partially composted pine bark fines 1 part sphagnum peat 1 part perlite garden lime The granite for the gritty mix is usually found at rural elevators/feed stores under the name "Gran-I-Grit" (grower size) or Cherry Stone (#2 size). Al
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Update on Al's mix with substitutes
Q
Comments (5)
Hi sankri, me too, I am glad to have someone near Vietnam! Well, the "peat" was substituted with "rice husk" in the "recipe". All in all, this is what I have in my mix: - garden soil - rice husk (= the outter skin of the rice, after grinding, still raw) - crushed charcoal (mixed sizes: small & medium) - coco chips (as I explained above) - cow/goat composted manure in the ratio of 0.2-1-1-1-0.8. If I cannot get good garden soil, I skip it all together, then I increase the cow manure. I don't add the other stuffs you mentioned because I don't have them. I apply fertilizer once a month, alternating between organic and in-organic for the required minerals. Xuan
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More about the pepper in Al's mix (substituted)

Comments (2)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

haxuan
Original Author

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More about the pepper in Al's mix (substituted)

Comments (2)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

haxuanOriginal Author

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haxuan
Original Author