Janet Baraclough wrote:
I disagree. Both alpines, and plants in a flower bed, have all their
roots (not just the tips of roots) in a proper growing medium *beneath*
their grit or bark mulch. The mulch is not their growing medium.

I totally agree with your disagreement tee hee Rich1234, you felt
that there was something perhaps not entirely right by just putting the
plants in the soil only half way. Plants needs moisture, nutrients and
oxygen to grow and soil to enchor their roots. The mulch is to keep
moisture in, surpress weeds but is not a growing medium in itself. Your
plant will dry very rapidily.