Decided to experiment with some organic soil additives

[hendi_alex]

Ran across this recipe, author claims great results. Decided to try it this year.

1 part bone meal or rock phosphate
1 part lime (dolomite)
1/2 part kelp meal
4 parts cotton seed meal (or other seed meal)

I'm also going to toss a little blood meal into the mix

Suggested application rate: 1 gallon per 100 square feet, plus a couple of handfulls under transplants or hills.

Also, I was quite pleased to find a local source for bulk perlite at $25 for a 4 cubic foot bag. Still expensive, but cheap compared to bying those 4 quart bags for three or four dollars. I think that the addition of perlite to my potting soil will help my container plants by opening the soil and keeping it from getting water logged in the bottom half of larger containers.

Anyone have any suggestions? Soil is very sandy, but has had compost and compost leaf mold mix added for years, so should have plenty of organic content at this point. Raised beds (not in contact with soil) are filled with a mix of compost, commercial potting soil, and aged horse manure. Have never added anything except slow release osmocote fertilizer.

[Gnome]

Alex,

I have seen elsewhere on this forum that you wrote that you had no interest in bonsai related topics, perhaps you might reconsider. If you do container gardening I'm sure that there is something to be gained from a study of bonsai culture. Bonsai is, obviously, a container practice and as such a lot of effort has been expended over the years in an effort to determine the optimum environment for containerized roots.

I think that the addition of perlite to my potting soil will help my container plants by opening the soil and keeping it from getting water logged in the bottom half of larger containers.

For instance the above quoted text brings up several issues that have been of interest in bonsai for years. This might not be as relevant if you primarily grow potted annuals where they are renewed each year but I have given up entirely on conventional potting soil even for houseplants. I understand if you have no interest in the artistic aspects of bonsai culture but don't overlook the importance of the horticultural side. Here are a few links that should address some of your concerns regarding container culture.

https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/soils.htm
https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/earthpot.htm
https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/soilage.htm

There is probably more at that site you would find useful but I won't belabor the point.

Norm

[hendi_alex]

I do grow many trees and woody vines in containers. On the deck, we have container grown Japanese maples of various sizes, three species of wisteria in six containers, two swamp bays trees and a few others. This year, in fact any day now, I'm going to have to pull two Japanese maples that have been in containers for 12-14 years. I'm going to prune the roots back and then repot them. So although I'm not so much into bonsai, my pottings are in fact large bonsai trees.

A friend of mine is very interested in bonsai and at one time had about thiry small trees growing on a semi shaded bench. Was very nice to see and easy to enjoy. But the constant level of care, always prevented me from taking an active interest in attempting to prune annd develop those very small specimens.

Thanks for your post and the links. Will visit the sites to gather info.

Alex

[hendi_alex]

Thanks again. Those are particularly useful links for anyone potting woody plants or for anyone potting perennials. The discussion of soil structure would seem to apply equally well to a pot of annuals.

Alex

[Gnome]

Alex,

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Thanks again. Those are particularly useful links for anyone potting woody plants of for anyone potting perennials.

You're welcome, I'm glad you found them helpful. Brent is well known in the bonsai community as one of the best bonsai nurserymen in the country. Take a look around the rest of the site, you may be surprised at how much is relevant to you. Fertilization, root pruning and overwintering may also be of interest, just to name a few.

Norm