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Antique Roses Roses

Rose soil Additives

last month

last modified: last month

This is an update on the Super Thrive post. I did not yet find the article from the ARS website where it debated the benefits of Epson and Alfalfa. I know epson has long been debated but alfalfa has always been a spring addition for most of us.

I Found this article on ARS March 2020 that summarizes most of what we use. I enjoyed learning and reviewing these items, most of add to our roses. Maye you will also.

https://www.rose.org/single-post/nutrient-research-scientific-research-on-some-favorite-amendments

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BenT (9B Sunset 14)

last month

For those interestied in trying earthworm castings, Costco has a 10lb package for $11.49

Amazon also has the Wiggle Worm brand at 30lbs for about $31.

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Comments (12)

Bob Atchison - Pallasart - Hagia Sophia
last month
Thank you Austin!
Austin
Original Author
last month

this did not come over with post... it is a summery maybe it will work now or maybe Houzz does not like it. We shall see
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Comments (25)
You have to bury it, yes. Even a no-tiller like me ends up tilling a lot with burials (also of spent plants in the Fall), and also with the harvest of parsnips and other things. As a matter of fact I have not used road kill, but the byproduct of various traps. Without a doubt buried meat makes plants that are on steroids. The problem with compost, at least in clay soils, is that it is not balanced for vegetables, and one ends up with too much P and K. It is certainly my case, though if I were still gardening in sand things would be different. Half the nitrogen is lost to the atmosphere in composting, leaving an unbalanced residual. I minimize that by burying unfinished organic matter which contains N. This technique also stimulates worms which produce more tilling.
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yellow rose leaves, clay soil, please advise me, soil experts...
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Comments (15)
Lux again, after considering everything, I think the failure of Marachal Niel' to thrive, might be the clone. Because in the same bed, and c. 7-8 feet on- center from M.N. is a 'Mrs. B.R. Cant' that was given to me as a house present in January 2013, it arrived in a gallon pot and was c. 8 inches tall by nearly as wide, now it has grown to be c. 3 feet tall by nearly as wide in less than 7 months. I had planned to keep it in that bed for a couple years until it grew to be about 3 feet tall until I had cleared a strip of lawn to move it to, but it's grown three times faster than I thought it would have done. I'm still moving Marachal Niel' to a rosebed that gets a couple hours of afternoon shade, because two canes are sunburnt at the top of the plant, The yellowing leaves may be due to using Epson salts,this year and last, a tip I read in an English rose book. I should have understood that a method and means used in England may not be a good thing to use in California, because our soil and climate is so different. Thanks again, Lux.
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Comments (1)
I grow potatoes in "fabric" grow bags, and you will read different opinions on how to do things. Growing potatoes is very easy, and it is hard to totally screw them up. I don't bury new green growth, the plants need sun, and it's not like the taller stalks will be ruined. You can add more soil whenever it seems to be appropriate to you. They should be at some depth, but the idea that if you keep adding soil higher and higher endlessly it will make them much more productive is an exaggeration.
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Doesn't Bonsai Jack sell several different soil mixes? I have never been able to keep string of pearls alive. So I can't speak for them. But I grow string of turtles which is a peperomia (peperomia prostrata) and string of hearts in a chunky soil mix that is approximately 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 small orchid bark, 1/3 bit perlite.
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Austin
Original Author
last month
Wiggle Worms from Amazon 15 lbs. for $24.

Add 4 cups per established bush/ 4 c equals a pound. Just ordered some for my son and looked up how much per bush to see if the cost was worth it for his garden. I used lots in the pots of the roses I brought with me to Austin in Dec 2021, and I felt it made a significant difference. Nothing scientific if Paul is reading :)) just an observation.
Embothrium
last month
The contrarian rosarian–debunking rose mythology – The Garden Professors™
BenT (9B Sunset 14)
last month
Very informative article, thanks for sharing!
susan9santabarbara
last month
Thanks for sharing the article. Embothrium's "Contrarian Rosarian" article is also good reading.
Austin thanked susan9santabarbara
judijunebugarizonazn8
last month
Very interesting, Austin! I am always glad to learn more. Now if worm castings are so beneficial to the soil, I would think that earthworms living in my soil would be equal or even superior to adding castings to my soil? I was told when I moved here that we don’t have earthworms in our soil in this semi desert climate. Not true! I feed my soil lots of compost, horse manure and other Organics and I have lots of earthworms now after 4 years of gardening.
Austin
Original Author
last month
I spent 13 yrs nurturing my soil in Dallas. I swear a shovel full of dirt was 1/3 worms. All the birds made my garden their dining spot. The brave robins would look me in the eye while they ate not 2 feet away. I never added worm casting but always said I could grow rocks. Now I know why.
…. Although I did get pest not many and easily controlled (except for white flies a couple of years)
Austin
Original Author
last month
Hoping it will work as well in this temporary pot gardening….
librarian_gardner_8b_pnw
last month
Judi, I wonder at the experience of folks who told you that. I grew up gardening in Arizona and always had earthworms in my composted and mulched garden. 😅

Looks like I have the same approach to soil as Austin and Judi. Compost and mulch. And the birds love feasting n my garden too.
rosecanadian
last month
Really good info here. :)

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