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What kind of soil do you prefer?

7 years ago

Do you guys buy a certain kind of soil, or amend your own? How much moisture do you like it to hold? As an experiment, I planted two stargazer bulbs in regular potting mix and two in palm and cactus mix because it drains fast and is rather sandy. The ones planted in the palm and cactus mix sprouted, while the others have not. And sorry about all the noob questions. Just rather curious.

Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
Are you growing these in the ground or in containers? The answers will be quite different :-))

Since you are talking about potting soils, I am going to make the assumption that these are currently in containers. A fast draining and only moderately water retentive potting soil is preferred. In fact, that is about the only thing that potted lilies and inground lilies will have in common - both will require a fast draining soil. Regular bagged potting mix tends to be overly moisture retentive and often doesn't have the same sort of fast drainage a more mineral based soil (like the cactus mix) would offer. Depending on your watering regime, the soil may be soggy and the lily bulbs could rot.
The Frost
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks!

Yeah both are in containers. My water regime isn't set yet. Its only been 2 weeks and two days since they were planted. I haven't watered since then, the soil an inch to an inch and a half down is still moist, sort of on the drier end. Not wet by any means on either, but more moist then I expected for that time period. But I have been taking them inside before it hits 90 degrees. So the cooler temps could be keeping the soil moist longer. Even so I think its time to water again. lol good idea or wait a bit longer?
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PrairieMoon2, I have a seed starting mix from Gardens Alive! (I got it free) that is very nice. The fluffy stuff in it is coir based, I don't recall what else is in it, but Gardens Alive! is online and easy to find. I just use that for starting seeds, though. For regular plants in pots I mix ordinary soil and compost, or ordinary soil and aged horse manure. I grew a few tomatoes and peppers in containers last year (just to avoid having to weed part of the garden to plant them.) They were in a soil/manure mix. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to do that, so they grew really well! :-) I have always used some real soil in my pots, I have a few houseplants that are almost 30 years old, so I would have to say it does work. For my rosemary plant I mixed soil with sand about 50/50, as rosemary has specific drainage and growth requirements. But normally I just use what I have, which is soil, compost, and horse manure. I age/compost horse manure in large containers so that I usually have some old stuff that is safe to work with. Marcia
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I have been starting my own seedlings for over 30 years and have tried many , many products but over the last 10 years or so I have found that my seedlings do much better with FAFARD seed starting mix . I don't have the damping off and I don't lose a lot of plants , sometimes I will add some extra perlite though .I start well over 2400 plants a year and can't afford to lose a lot of them . If you live in the Denver Metro area , O'tooles Garden Centers sell this product . I believe the bales are close to 4 cf . It can be over 30 bucks a bale but believe me It is well worth It . The Pro Mix was ok but I like the Fafard more . You should never start seedlings with a lot of fertilizers in the mix . A good fertilizer I use after the seedlings are up about 2-3 weeks is 'Age old grow' formula, diluted . I hope this helps some of you make a choice . Happy Gardening Everyone and hope you have beautiful gardens in 2016 , Jerry
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Where in the world you are can be of tremendous assistance to some of us, although my soil is sand while my sisters soil (6 miles west of me) is clay. Usually sand atop a clay base indicates that someone dumped some sand there in an attempt to have a soil kind of easier to cultivate then the clay would be. The clay, under that sand, will keep that sand from draining properly, two different soil types with vastly different drainage capabilities. I would talk with the people at your local office of your state universities Cooperative Extension Service to find out what your soil type shoulld be.
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The real question is, what kind of soil do you have NOW? Bananas aren't terribly picky about soil but will do best in a soil that well-drained and stays neither too wet nor too dry, and has lots of organic matter in it. Probably the worst is soil that is sandy and/or low in nutrients. I wouldn't recommend trying them in 100% compost but I can't think of any soil--sand, clay, or anything in between--where bananas wouldn't benefit from the addition of lots of organic matter. Maybe a peat bog, but I suspect that's not what you have in Texas! Aside from soil, what bananas need to grow big and fast are lots of sun, lots of water (but NOT waterlogged soil!) and lots of fertilizer, especially nitrogen and potassium.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
Why are you bringing them inside? Lilies are very tolerant of heat (at least before they set flower buds - flowers tend to fade quickly in high heat conditions). And the heat will stimulate growth as well (2 weeks is not a very long period, so some patience is appropriate :-)).

I would water again when the pots feel light or the soil is dry down to the second knuckle if you stick you finger in.
The Frost
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Lol thats bad? I literally just sprouted them and thought heat would be bad for the sprouts since they are supposed to be planted in feb/march here. I figured it would be best to mimic conditions they should have seen earlier on in the season if I had got them earlier. Is above 100 degrees bad for them though? And hmmm ok thanks!

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