Any recommendations for potting soil for Xanthosoma, Colocasia, and Alocasia?
I am going to bring some into the GH and some into the house.
Also, how often should I fertilize and with what?
Thanks, ROX
Best potting soil for EE.
I use pro-mix personally and I add time release osmacote to the plants after they are potted up. It works well drains fast and is usually what most my availible plants are in.
Brian-
Thanks. I really appreciate all the great advice you give everyone! I think it really helps to encourage those like me who are trying to grow these plants in an area where no one is.
It is a lot of work but I love when the neighbors stop by and the drivers in the cars slow down to take pictures. I've even had people ask for a tour. Others have asked to buy plants.
Plus it make me miss NC (my home) a little less.
ROX
Here's what not to do.
I recently potted up a bunch of my Allocasia Mac. Var. with a mix of miracle grow potting soil, small soft pine bark mulch and perlite which i thought was a pretty well draining mix mix. As you can see with the non stop rain we've had here and very little sun in weeks there all turning to mush. They were all doing so well before the storm. Not enough drainage I think.
It kind of feels like a rain forest down here at the moment. Frogs snails and mosquitos everywhere. My EEs in the ground are thriving but my potted plants are suffering , maybe I should try to get my hands on some Pro Mix too.
In a couple of months it will be the opposite, I wont be able to keep the garden wet enough and my pots will be very happy.
Celt-
I hope your EE recover well!
I really need good drainage too as I have a tendency to overwater.
ROX
I pot both Alos and Colos in Mir-Gro, but it isn't always mixed the same in the bag, so I will add more perlite if it seems lacking. Sometimes the wood chip content is too low. Sometimes a bag seems to be mostly peat. Sheesh. But usually it's OK.
I try different additives on occasion, like vermiculite, wood chips or even orchid mix depending on the cultivar and size of the pot to improve drainage.
Robert.
I used Mir-Gro last year. It was OK for everything except the Xanthosoma. But then again, I find that Xanths much pickier than the Colocasia or Alocasia when they are inside.
I also noted the variability of the bags. Great idea to use the additives.
ROX
I have seen a potting soil that says it is especially for Tropicals. Has anyone used it, and if you have what was the results.