I HAVE 50 OR SO POTS FROM LARGE TO SMALL ALL FILLED WITH COMMERCIAL
POTTING MIX (SUPERSOIL OR MIRACLE GROW) THAT IS A MIXTURE OF FOREST
PRODUCTS, SAND, PERLITE, FERTILIZER, ETC. IT SEEMS LIKE I HAVE USED 50
BAGS OF COMMERCIAL MIX AT $6.00 PLUS FOR EACH BAG.
THE BIG QUESTION IS WHEN I WANT TO AMMEND MY POTTED SOIL, WHAT DO I
ADD TO IT BETWEEN PLANTING SO THAT IT RETAINS ITS INITIAL QUALITY? I
KNOW THE PERLITE AND SAND WON'T BREAK DOWN BUT ALL THE "GOOD STUFF"
DOES BREAK DOWN AS EVIDENCED BY THE SOIL IN THE POT DROPPING TO A
LOWER LEVEL. I'VE COME TO EXPECT THAT A POT WILL DROP 2 INCHES IN A
YEAR SO JUST ADDING FERTILIZER WON'T WORK. I'VE GOT ONE POT THAT IS 3
YEARS OLD THAT HAS DROPPED TO 50% OF ORIGINAL FILLING. THIS DROP IS
NOT ALL SOIL COMPACTION - SOME SMALL AMOUNT IS. THE SO CALLED
COMPOSTED FOREST PRODUCTS DISAPPEAR AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
IN OUR AREA AS A SEPARATE PRODUCT.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION? I WANT HIGH QUALITY SOIL
IN MY POTS BECAUSE I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND PLANTS ARE
EXTREMELY STRESSED BY HIGH SUMMER TEMPS. AND I DON'T WANT TO JUST
START SHOVELING UNKNOWN CRAP INTO MY POTS. AT THE SAME TIME I CANNOT
AFFORD TO DUMP THE POTS COMPLETELY OUT BETWEEN EVERY PLANTING AND
START WITH FRESH SMALL HOME DEPOT BAGS OF CONTAINER SOIL.
THANKS IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR HAVE PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED THIS
PROBLEM.
REGARDS - JIM