A big fat oops. Imagine my grumble being filled with many profanities. I didn't notice until after I repotted ten pepper plants with garden soil that is not supposed to be used in pots.
Sigh
I'm a little ticked off right now. So how can I deal with this? Have I actually killed these plants slowly grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
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applestar
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Wow that's a lot of pots to undo. 
But yes, better to fix it now, especially with peppers which are very susceptible to root rot due to soggy soil that doesn't drain well. You can remove the plant, dump the contents of the pot and thoroughly mix in 1/4-1/3 perlite or mixture of sand/gravel or pumice gravel. (Perlite will keep the mix less heavy as in weight to pick up and move the container, but the sand/gravel would weigh them down and help from falling over if the plant grows big and tends to become top-heavy).
Depending on how dense the potting soil is, you could also mix 1/3 shredded coir (or peat moss if you have to, but if you do, then you'll need to add a little lime to balance the pH).
But yes, better to fix it now, especially with peppers which are very susceptible to root rot due to soggy soil that doesn't drain well. You can remove the plant, dump the contents of the pot and thoroughly mix in 1/4-1/3 perlite or mixture of sand/gravel or pumice gravel. (Perlite will keep the mix less heavy as in weight to pick up and move the container, but the sand/gravel would weigh them down and help from falling over if the plant grows big and tends to become top-heavy).
Depending on how dense the potting soil is, you could also mix 1/3 shredded coir (or peat moss if you have to, but if you do, then you'll need to add a little lime to balance the pH).
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applestar
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Hm... Maybe I didn't say it right -- what I mean is use the "garden soil" you used, but mix with those other ingredients I mentioned. You need to make up a mixture that is less dense and less likely to compact, hold too much moisture, etc. -- a well draining mix.
If by black earth you mean the potting mix, then sure you can mix with it, but I would still add another 1/5-1/4 of something for drainage. Maybe 2 parts soil, 2 parts potting mix, and 1 part sand/gravel mix or perlite.
If by black earth you mean the potting mix, then sure you can mix with it, but I would still add another 1/5-1/4 of something for drainage. Maybe 2 parts soil, 2 parts potting mix, and 1 part sand/gravel mix or perlite.
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rainbowgardener
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) whether it is from your ground or from a bag is NOT good for pots. To heavy and moisture holding, over time will compact in the pot and turn in to a brick.It is easy to mix up the bags. I did that too and got garden soil instead of potting soil. The bags looked alike so you have to really read the label. I noticed it because the garden soil did not have the perlite in it and it was heavier. Luckily, I noticed the difference in the texture so many (*T&*%&%($ later, I went back to the store and got potting soil instead.
Garden soil isn't even a planting mix, it is supposed to be mixed in as an amendment.
Garden soil isn't even a planting mix, it is supposed to be mixed in as an amendment.