newbie at using soil-less potting soil - roses
rosecanadian
6 years ago
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rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years agorosecanadian
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRelated Discussions
Soil-less mixes and potting mixes- confused
Comments (10)Thanks to every one taking the time to try to educate me. tapla, If I have a large container that has a plant in it already, and I can't (physical limitations) repot it, would it be at least a second best if I punch holes in the dirt to aerate it? Or can I start putting something on top of the dirt that might eventually help improve the soil? (To clarify--- my physical limitations keep me from being able to stay bent over more than a few minutes at most. Or from lifting anything heavier than about 15 lbs. Woe to the healthy younger person who wanders by me. LOL It's kinda like being being drafted, only with some pay!) Thank you gardengal. I'll try to locate those suggestions. I did get my Sweet Potato Vine (Blackie), Oxalis (Sunset Velvet) and Silver Falls (something) planted yesterday in one pot. They're now hanging off the balcony railing and I'm waiting eagerly. My balcony looks like a very messy miniature botannical gardens. LOL But I love it....See Morebest mix for potting rose?
Comments (31)I use a mix of amend, compost, and either Mastery Nursery Gardeners choice or the Dr Earth one as it states it can be used for large outdoor containers. It also depends how much rain you get in winter and if you plan to keep them in pots permanently. Mine are permanent in pots. Miracle grow I have found can get quite compacted over time in my rainy zone so I have switched to the other two and every year I take out a third of the soil and add Vermonts Compost plus but you can use any compost. Here is a couple pics of my potted roses.Those are two Joseph's coat climbing roses and are only two years old in my garden. These are new this year and haven't bloomed yet as I cut both blue Girls buds off and potted them up to promote a bushier plant. Although Blue Girl doesn't have too many leaves naturally anyway. Closest to farthest is Blue for You, Blue Girl, Earth Angel, Blue Girl, and last is Heirloom. These are new eden climbing roses and I have one on either side of my archway but are training along the fence as my archway is covered with grapes and clematis. This is Earth Angel, also new and only came with three thin canes but all that shorter growth is new canes coming out from the roots. This photo is a little old as it's gotten bigger since this photo. I have many more but I don't want to bombard you with too many photos. Bonus: Sharifa Asma just opening. Not potted but still pretty....See MoreNewbie question about potting soil
Comments (8)I first WS'ed in '04. I had great results then and in '05 with 90+% germination, but when I planted them out (just started digging and putting whatever was big enough in the space) I was disappointed with placement, spacing, height variation. In '06 we were in the middle of moving in winter so I didn't get to WS anything, and this year we did so much traveling with dh's work, so I got to WS only half of what I wanted to sow and planted out half of that. So '08 I'd really like to have the garden I *really* want. Hence all the planning and organizing. I guess you could call me a newbie if you want :D -- hopelessly OC is more like it :D...See MorePotting soil using mostly soil conditioner mix?
Comments (9)I'd be less worried about pH and more concerned about the "fluff" that these companies include in the bag as a "conditioner". Forest products are in the forest for a reason and don't belong in a garden, yard, or in a planter. My answer is simple, pH will not be your problem. My question will most likely be more complex: what do the small bark nuggets and pine needle fines provide your pots that is useful? If you are interested in testing the soil, conditioner or the combined result, then let me know. I use an incredible lab based in the midwest that can help you find out for sure if your pH is an issue but its not going to be. Refocus on what nutrients your plants are being provided or not provided from soil microbes and the organic matter. Also, focus on creating an ideal texture for proper drainage and the health of your organic matter digesting microbes. The pH discussion is overdone all over the world to this day because a researcher found that sulphur helped high pH soils and calcium helped low pH soils. In reality, the improvement came from the increased availability and texture benefits of the calcium. Also, those soluble fertilizers are only providing your plant with N and burning up any beneficial compost and the corresponding microbes....See Morerina_Ontario,Canada 5a
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agorosecanadian
6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agorosecanadian
6 years agorosecanadian
6 years agorosecanadian
6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agorosecanadian
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agorosecanadian
6 years agoTraCami B
6 years agoa1an
6 years agorosecanadian
6 years agoa1an
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoTraCami B
6 years agorosecanadian
6 years agoReb Z6-KS
last year
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