I am first in line for a signed copy!! The knowledge and advice you've offered freely on this forum has been more valuable than any other single source I've run across. More importantly, the scientific approach you offer and the numerous discussions that follow has allowed me to think conceptually and independently when it comes to container gardening. This knowledge is priceless.

No brainer chapters to include: Fertilization and Root pruning. I am sure you are looking for constructive criticism and suggestions, and I definitely will chime in as this tread developes.

How about writing about the four season of window boxes. I can provide you with great pictures from the (I Love My Summer Window Box( Contest.

Here is a link that might be useful: I Love My Summer Window Box- Contest

Thanks, but no thanks. I was actually looking for honest suggestions and feedback, not commercials.

Al

I would like to see a chapter discussing the relative importance of water/nutrient retention in the media and aeration for different plant types.

There is no question that all plant types, assuming the grower can keep up with watering, will benefit from super fast draining soils, but what about those growers who simply can't water more than every 2 or 3 days? What plants will be most and least forgiving of the less aerated, but more water retentive mixes?

I think this is an important discussion because so many growers are looking for mixes with various 'gimmicks' to lengthen the watering interval. There is an obvious demand in other words.

I have to agree with justaguy. I imagine the vast audience will not be as dedicated to daily watering as some on this forum. Despite the disclaimers I'm sure you will be mindful to include, I can already picture the hate mail griping about dead plants when the reader forgets to water the ultra fast mix for a few days.

The watering chapter must include automatic watering systems as an option for people like me who are often gone for weeks at a time.

Hi Al,
I just joined this site recently and really enjoyed your old threads on potting soil. And the newer ones too, esp. about stuffing a lot of plants into one container. I ordered too many bulbs and just jammed everything in after reading one of your posts. And of course, I used your potting soil recipe, mixed two days ago.

Please start with your philosophy about soil and how container gardening is different. I had read in prior internet searches about window boxes to use potting soil. However, no one in these searches answered why. So I cluelessly bought 4 cubic feet without knowing why. I'll be returning it now because I know better after reading your words on it. I also know why all those little things I tried to keep alive in yogurt cups did not have the will to live. The philosophy opens the door for everything else.

If your audience is a newbie like me, they might like the first part of the book to be really practical. There are parts of the threads where things get more complicated or into the science, and I would like that in the later chapters, it's a bit intimidating for someone who hadn't heard of "perlite" before. However, it's definitely stuff I want to read and understand after I have enough information to start potting. That information might include simple things like picking a container, including unconventional containers that are usually not mentioned in other articles. But please don't go off on how one might prefer the nice painted glaze on a ceramic container for the light to bounce off of in late afternoon-no fluff.

And instead of the same information from another gardening article, you have both your philosophy and hands-on knowledge. You more or less said that you just jam as much as you can into the container, as long as you fertilize enough the container will be fine. I had no clue why the my bulb directions said 6" apart or what awful damage would occur by jamming them together. I now know that I will need to fertilize a lot after how I didn't follow the directions.

For the later chapters, I'd like to learn about amending soil and the science behind it. What's the difference between dolomite and gypsum and when to use which. How to work the soil under my pine trees so I could be the only one in the neighborhood to grow grass instead of moss. I ask the NY Times a couple of years ago, the answer was to leave the moss alone (I understand that there may be a word limit there). I would really like the science to get deeper towards the end. That way, the book will be good for more than one reading. I can't give an example here, because I do not know what deeper into the science actually is yet, but I want to learn. I think the indispensable part isn't how to do any one thing but why and how it's done.

And some Q&A format throughout would be great. Real life problems (yours or others) and the solutions. It's great when there is real application of the knowledge. How to approach problems with your soil philosophy, you are teaching a way of thinking along with the information. And some of the chapters could be dedicated to potted trees, container farming and a discussion of organic vs. chemical fertilizing.

I hope this was the type of answer you were looking for. I really appreciate how you share your knowledge and time with everyone here. I found a wealth of knowledge from reading your posts and am trying to practice them when it is convenient for me :) Thank you.

Marian

Hey Al. Different types of containers "pros/cons". How to make your own soil, down to the bark fines.

wetting agents pros/cons

Light.

over wintering.

how to move large heavy containers

how to make your own containers

watering

feeding

pests

if your plant is lacking some nutrient "how to tell"

Hope this helps. :) filix

Oh wow! This is great - just the kind of stuff I was looking for (Wantonfly, JaG, Ivysaur, Filix). I'll want to comment more, but I'm on my way to work.

I DID want to caution Ivysaur about 'jamming' too many bulbs in a container. They are different from rooted plants in that you need to make sure they are not touching each other, or they are very likely to rot, especially if you're preparing containers to stratify over winter for spring displays. How about adding your zone & state to your user info?

Thanks, you guys. I'm already indebted ..... ;o)

Al

Hi Al,

I am at work but I have to reply you, but not spending too much time.

One chapter or a sub-chapter of fertilization would be:
Why growing in containers Organically is difficult? The principles behind it.
You root prunding will be a start chapter as well.
If you could also include a DVD showing the procedures and ingredients, that would be awesome. I will buy it separately.

Good luck.

YT

I think putting your thoughts on container cultivation into a book form would be worthwhile and salable enterprise. My only caution is that you limit the topic to CONTAINERS. I regularly teach classes in soils, GARDEN soils NOT container soils and have to very careful not to mention containers and thus avoid a lot of confusion with mixed messages. I know you could do an excellent job on both subjects, but would avoid doing both in one book, how about two books? I am asked to do classes on containers but have refused because the average gardener is not willing to commit to the watering regimen required for best results, and like most people I don't want to be blamed for the resulting failures. Al

Al,

I say "Go For It"!! Everything that you have written here and shared with us is a wealth of information that is very valuable and most importantly works for the average gardener.I will leave it to others to add suggestions/criticisms, as I don't have any to offer. Just save a signed copy for me too...

Good luck!

Sorry to stray off topic, I think I'm in zone 6b-7a or the Seattle area. And I don't think the bulbs are touching, just very cozy. I had to start with a couple of pots while waiting for the rest of the shipment. I think I have 500-600 bulbs in the garage, some perennials to re-organize, soil to amend, and bulbs to dig up so I am trying to start early. I also want to clear out the garage for my car before it gets too cold. I'm keeping the potted bulbs in the garage. It's 1.5 gallon pots for 12 flower record daffodils or 10 bulbs and their offsets. Tight but not touching.

Al, my containers have greatly benefited from your soilless mix recipe. Some things I would appreciate in a book form would include :-

Classifying different mix types for different categories of plants and how to tweak the soilless mix recipe for each type.
Comparing root types and appropriate growing media.
Comparison of different container types (material,size etc)
Watering and fertilization techniques.
Temporary and long term plantings.
Troubleshooting plant growth problems (soil/pest related).
Plant rejuvenation techniques
A chapter on some difficult to grow plants and success strategies.
Common myths/fallacies about container culture.

I was going to add my 2 cents, but everyone else seems to have covered everything I'd like to see in a book on practical gardening.

Personally, I think you have tons to offer the gardening world in book form... your experience, your recipes for mediums, your knowledge of the science of growing, and most importantly for gardeners like me, your way of turning hard-to-understand language into terms I can grasp easily.

Even if you decided to write and publish a series of short books, each dedicated to a separate section of gardening, I'd jostle for front position in line to buy them!

There's nothing wrong with profiting a little from your shared knowledge, you know... I think you deserve to see a little income from your hard work and experience!

My husband and myself are just beginning to reap the rewards of over 25 years experience with dog nutrition... we've devised a supplement that I'm proud to put my name on... because I have really seen positive results from feeding it to my own dogs. For years, we just fed our dogs, and helped others we know feed their dogs properly. It never really occurred to us that we could sell it.

My point is... it's wonderful to share what you know, what you've taken your own time to learn and experience, but there's no shame in asking for a return. It's not like you're running a scam! You truly have a gift, Al... you have taken a mountain of scientific gardening information, and broken it down into easy to understand language, and put it to practical use. And after following your instructions, and using your medium recommendations, I'm seeing positive results in my own container grown plants! So, I know what you have to say is worth listening to, and worth paying for!

Thank you all for your thoughtful input and encouragement. If I did write a book, it really wouldn't have anything at all to do with financial gain. I'm sure I'd be quite happy to realize some sort of profit, but there's no real incentive in the $ for me.

The only reason I spend time here at GW is because I enjoy the feeling that I might be helping. Well, that's not entirely true - I've also made some pretty good friends here & it's nice to be nearer them by hanging out here. ;o) In addition to the 'helping thing' there's also the idea that I would be taking on a pretty good size personal challenge. There would be lots of research involved; I'd want to be sure everything is scientifically accurate. Then there's getting it published. Actually writing it is one of the easiest parts of the whole process. I've gone as far as defining about 15 chapters and started an outline, but I really need to be sure I'm ready to commit 2-3 years of my spare time to writing something, because I know that I would never be able to let go of it once started in earnest.

Thanks again, guys. ;o)

Al

Perched water table! The light bulb went on when you said container gardening is closer to hydroponics than in-ground. DVD/CD showing root pruning! Yessssssssssssssssss

Too many gardening books provide anecdotal evidence for their contentions; many "standard" books in the industry contradict one another. Experience is a great teacher, but peer-reviewed study is KING.

Whenever possible, I would like to see reference to actual peer-reviewed papers that supports advice given. Furthermore, I would like those studies to provide PRACTICAL significance to their results, rather than merely STATISTICAL significance; the two are not necessarily the same!

Count me in as someone who would love to have your book. I would like to see self-watering containers discussed as well. I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but differences for semi-permanent plantings vs. annuals would be helpful.

Hi Al-

That 'perched water table' concept blew me away when I read about it in one of your posts. Ditto root pruning and weakly fertilizing each time you water. Anyway, that's my 2 cents :).