dwalstad

Hello Folks,

Here's recent question about potting plants:

"I would like to try growing some of the plants in clay pots (just to make it easier to move them around in fry grow-out tanks). The pots I thought of using are 4" diameter and about 3" tall. They have 3 slits near the bottom for drainage. Since the soil is on the bottom, it may leak out of the pot, so I was thinking of adding a small layer of gravel first (up to the holes), then the soil then gravel cap. Do you think that would be ok, or would it be better to close off the holes completely first?"

You want to keep the soil in the pot as aerobic as you can. Therefore, don't close off the bottom holes. I use a small stone to cover hole and then a thin gravel layer, then the soil, then a thin gravel cover.

Also, I have often had bad results using an organic soil for potting plants. Miracle Grow Organic Choice Potting Mix is wonderful for a tank substrate. But not so good for potted plants. It is too anaerobic for the confined space of a pot. Moreover, it doesn't have the density/weight/CEC to best provide nutrients to plants. Therefore, I now only use my clay garden soil for growing plants in pots. Since I switched to garden soil only for my potted plants, I have consistently had better results.

OrangeCones

Thanks for the tips!

If going to a home-improvement center garden section, just look for something called 'clay garden soil' then? There should be no added fertilizers, 'moisture control' additives, etc.? Could you recommend a specific brand that might be available at a big-chain type of store? I don't want to mess this up!

nitasher

I was just thinking of this very thing today. If/when I get some goldies I was thinking I should set up a grow tank for plants. I would then place, pot and all, into the goldies tank. Then they could be switched out when half devoured. (Maybe work the grow tank into a plant filter for the goldies...)

How to El Natural in pots is great to know!

Anita

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.

OrangeCones

I'll explore options for friends with yards that could 'donate' some soil to me. I live in a house (renting) and the surrounding area is commercial auto repair type places, so I'd be worried about run-off from their properties. I know when it rains, the rain draining off my driveway has a lot of oils in it.

Thanks!

Diana K

Very smart to watch out for run off into the surrounding soil. Perhaps a trip to a more open area, fewer cars, would be in order.

OrangeCones

The hardware store has 'top-soil' listed as "less than 5% organic material"...wonder if that would work?

They say its for filling in spots in your yard to make things level, not having additives or fertilizers or other chemicals in it.

zer0zax

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

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?

dwalstad

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.