I'm ready for a change after about five year, anyway!
Reusing potting mixes
Hi everyone!
Pirl,
ewww, squeezy! That'd get my attention, too. Slugs would be better than my first thought, actually.
Honestly, I don't think I've ever washed my hands in clorox. But, I wear gloves almost always, anyway.
Revclaus,
Thanks for the info. I'm relieved to hear it does break down eventually.
Gymgirl,
Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't had a chance to check out the polymer Q&A faq yet. I've been (imagine!) working in the garden all day. We're putting in two new raised beds and rebuilding the compost pile, among other things, and I'm very tired tonight!
Pirl,
Thanks for the Clorox tip. I've developed a bad case of green fingernail beds, just from handling my maters! Who'd a thought It? And that dye is a booger to get rid of. In fact, I haven't. Will try the Clorox soonest!
Got a little different slant on containers---I have always considered them to be another form of raised beds----I use discarded cattle and horse watering tubs----smallest is 4 feet diameter---largest is 8 feet diameter---most 30 inches deep---farmers around here want you to haul off the leaky ones---hundreds available----use a cutting torch to cut big holes in the bottom---alot of holes----helps the earthworms find the moisture---I fill them with topsoil and feedlot compost----every year I cut in more compost-----after everything has sprouted I set up drip irrigation on timers---haven't had a problem with the soil conditions yet----I take a sample to the county agent once a year for analysis----the point is you might get out of the potting soil deal and try plain topsoil with compost mixed in----sure is nice to garden from a folding chair----love to pull weeds right after watering----feels good---phil
Phil,
That's a great idea. Totally "rocks."
Phil, if I had the kind of containers and ground to put them on that you do, that's exactly what I'd do. It's very little different from gardening in the ground. And you always want to improve the soil.
Imagine that, gardening in real SOIL! What a novel idea.....LOL
Think about getting good old fashioned dirt between your toes then think about getting potting mix with slimy moisture crystals between those toes. Yuck
I so envy those who have wonderful soil to use. I have to go the ProMix route myself and if I have to re-use I do add plenty of amendments and bark fines.
ardesia, what amendments do you add to your ProMix? I sometimes add perlite, but that's about all. I could use some advice.
Rev, If I am re-using the mix I would add compost - mushroom, cow, homemade, whatever is here at the time, some triple ground pine bark, a handful of plant tone, maybe some lime, depending on the plants it will be used for. I rarely add perlite as it is so hot here, day and night, that I do not need the extra drainage. The plants take up any extra moisture and I have not had any problems with overly wet soil.
When using fresh new ProMix I rarely add much of anything unless a plant has specific needs. I have pretty much used it straight for over 30 years and have always been satisfied with it.
I've used it that long too, but because of repeated watering the perlite allows the water to flow through without as much compacting. We've had so much rain this spring after more snow than we know what to do with around here that the soil is pretty compacted. Not much warmth either. Spring is hanging on way too long this year so the soil is saturated and cold.
What's plant tone?
Sorry to hear that you have had such a cold, damp spring. My son just moved to Boulder so I know I'll hear more about that.
Sadly, we have not had a drop of rain for several months and everything here is bone dry. My problem now is keeping things hydrated. I have just finished planting a lot of my container plants in the ground. This is the worst time for planting but I felt they would have a better chance if their roots could search for water in the soil. With our heat right now, I am watering containers twice a day.
Plant Tone is a fertilizer made by Espoma. They make Holly Tone and other all natural ferts, usually called whatever-Tone. It is very slow acting.
I know what you mean about watering twice a day. This is our first wet winter and spring after six years of drought. And you're probably right about planting things in the ground to search for water. It's exceedingly difficult to keep container plants alive, especially if you have to be away all day.
Hope your son likes it here. I have a son in Boulder, too.
Thanks for the info on Plant Tone. I'll see if I can find some. I've used Osmocote over the years, but I'm not entirely happy with it. I supplement using a liquid fertilizer about once a month or so.
The Espoma products are really slow acting, feed the soil type of fertilizers. I remember my parents using Holly Tone so I know they have been around for at least 50 years.
A lot of folks here on DG swear by Nutricote rather then Osmacote. Nutricote is only available to the commercial growers but supposedly the same formulation is available to home growers as Dynamite which you can get at Home Depot.
Hope you weather warms up soon. My son had been living in Breckenridge for a few years but the really cold days finally got to him as it was sometimes too cold to enjoy the snow. He loved it in the summer however; we'll see how he likes the heat now. LOL
Direct Hostas sent me a sample of Dynamite this spring and I put it in my new hostas. They seem to be doing fine. I'll be interested to see how they do over the summer. Glad to hear it's available at HD.
We were up in the mountains Sunday, and I was thinking that they have such short summers there. I could never wait that long to get started gardening. And, like your son, I wouldn't want to live there in the winter. That's why I left Minnesota! LOL
Their flowers are so beautiful when they do bloom however. Sort of makes up for the short season I think.
Rocky mountain folks probably never have to worry about reusing potting mix, theirs is never used for very long and probably has plenty of structure and nutrients left after a season. LOL
Right, ardesia! LOL