Plants in Pots - Page 2 - El Natural

angc84 · 10-27-2009, 07:18 AM

Aww... Well, potting is sort of fun...haha. =)

Thanks! *whines more*

zer0zax · 10-28-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwalstad

I dig up dirt (top soil) from my property for the pots. I don't think that you'll find real soil in a store. Because of where I live, the soil here is a clay type (Piedmont Clay). However, I have used desert soil (sandy texture) from Arizona for one of my experiments. Plants grew very well in it.

The point is to use real soil, which is mostly mineral particles (mix of sand, clay, silt) and usually contains less than 5% organic matter. The "soils" sold in garden centers are usually more than 50% organic matter and easily go anaerobic when confined in a pot. Unless the plant is very healthy, it will have trouble keeping its roots safely oxygenated. And don't use subsoils; they're too acidic.

Would adding clay and mineralizing cheap top soil from big box stores work fine for pots? In Oregon several of us have had problems finding anything resembling soil, all we have is bags of pine bark

... Miraclegrow OC has worked very well for my tanks substrate, but I have to agree its horrible for pots (unless growing plants emersed). I would like to dig up my own dirt, but the ground is polluted and fertilized around my apartments.

angc84 · 10-31-2009, 04:00 PM

Sorry to bother everyone with this topic again.

I went to Home Depot and Ace to look for "high soil content, clay-based soil" and all I got was funny looks. They said that clay is what people try to "avoid", and I cannot find that on the label.

I decided to go with EarthGro Top Soil, supposingly a Home Depot generic brand. Will this be good for potting? The label says NOTHING about the content...

Thank you in advance! The plants I am potting are Water Onion, Amazon Sword, and Water Wisteria, if that matters at all!

EDIT: One more question...I have no idea if this top soil has high CEC...Should I look into adding bone meal or vermiculite?

1aqumfish · 11-01-2009, 10:43 AM

Diana;
I use pots to grow out plants for club auction. I put A small layer of Florite gravel to cover but not totaly block the water movement. Then put the soil in and then cap with florite. I have been using ADA soil to use for this but I would expect it to work the same with a natural soil.
Tony

dwalstad · 11-01-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angc84

I have no idea if this top soil has high CEC...Should I look into adding bone meal or vermiculite?

Vermiculite no, a little bone meal fertilizer yes. The problem for potted plants is not CEC. It is highly organic soils that become severely anaerobic.