I'll top post on this one....

Thanks Dave, for making your recipe available..... can't wait to try it out
and see what happens... It probably is a little too involved for small batches
however, one large basic batch at the beginning of the season can be
stockpiled... and the 'add as necessary' ingredients can be added
before each particular application.


Zone 7.... Maryland.... Over the past 10 years, the temperature range
has been from -5 degrees below zero to high ninties in July and August.
Rainfall has ranged from two, multi-year droughts to average spring and fall rains with
little snowpack. My backyard is swarming with deer, rabbits, squirrels
racoons and groundhogs and unleased dogs (in violation of
local laws).

And yet, plants do somehow manage to survive and even thrive. I lose
a lot also, due to a lot of conditions.... and manage to trade a few.

So THIS is Eden ?? Could use a few more plants !!

Thx....

Peter






On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:19:56 -0800, "David E. Ross" wrote:

On 2/24/2009 12:34 PM, wrote:
Zone 7 - darn it's cold here in Maryland


I'm rooting several azalea's and need to transfer them to larger pots..... so
require a good potting mixture. Looking at filling 24 - 1 gallon containers.

The plants will be kept in these pots for another year or two, before
being planted in ground..

Am I better off buying a few bags (scotts) or is mixing this soil something
a gardner should know how to ?? What type of ingredients are necessary ??

I have plenty of composted soil and leaf mold on hand also some top soil
and acid based fertilizer ( there are several other acid based plants in the landscape).
Also might have some peat left over from last season.

See my do-it-yourself potting mix at
http://www.rossde.com/garden/garden_potting_mix.html. However, mixing
this might be more work than can be justified if you are going to plant
the azaleas in the ground.

So, would you buy, or would you make your own? What would be the
best mix if you mixed it yourself.

A thought just occurred to me. I have a border of concrete blocks circling
a tree. These blocks have holes in them..... would it be a good idea to
fill the holes with dirt and keep the plants in them ?? This would be something
that gets watered frequently, gets direct morning sun October to May and gets
shade from June to the October leaf fall. I think the concrete blocks would
wick away excess heat during the summer better than plastic pots would.
(If this is workable.... I have a lot of spare hosta's which would thrive under
those conditions... instead of the azalea's)

What is your climate? Where are you?

I'm concerned that the holes in the blocks might not be large enough for
azaleas, which have extensive surface roots. I have a similar
arrangement around a dwarf tangelo to create a raised bed. I planted
wax-leaf begonias in the holes.