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Why is Nothing Growing
It was nice to visit here, I will let you all know what (being positive)
grows. Kate "Jonno" wrote in message u... kathleen spencer wrote: All sounds wonderful Trish and if were not studying Horticulture, then you should have been. In answer to all who were kind enough to respond. There is plenty of sunshine, pots have good drainage, nothing is crowded and as the roots just don't grow there is no likelihood of that happening. I don't think I am over watering as there was a time when I could be relied upon to kill any plant in site by drowning it I now poke my finger in the soil to test for dryness. I did not buy anything today as I was pressed for time and I wanted to apply the advice you all gave before I choose my next victims, including tomatoes. My thanks to all Kind Regards Kate (Sydney, Australia) "Trish Brown" wrote in message ... Coming in late on this thread, but I can say I grew a lovely balcony garden when I was at Uni and I did it in K-Mart potting soil and cast-off greengrocer's styrofoam boxes. Tips I can sha If this is your first garden and you're watching it daily (as I did), resist the temptation to overwater. It's better to use some kind of mulch (I used shredded paper, but you could use straw or hay or even well-rotted leaves/grass clippings). The K-Mart soil is OK, but would benefit from the addition of some well-rotted horse-poo if you can get it. Lots of others prefer cow- or chook-poo, but I like horse because it contains so much fibrous material. It rots down to make really nice soil! (I got mine from the racecourse... the horse-poo, that is...) Are the containers getting enough sun? That might be a reason for your depressed shoot-growth and increased root-growth. You could try hanging baskets or standing containers up on something to expose them a bit more? Take note of what you're planting. Don't fill a trough with a huge, greedy planting of, say, cinerarias and then add little, vulnerable things like pansies. IIRC, I had a perfectly lovely show of stocks with pansies in front. Another pot had 'Bijou' sweet peas and a miniature rose. Yet another had cherry tomatoes (growing up a bit of old plastic lattice) and a pumpkin vine that spilled over the balcony and threatened those walking in the cloister below! LOLOLOLOL! Oh, and the strawberries were *great*! I carefully put sheets of paper (old essays) beneath the fruit as they ripened and the plants grew like mad! A hint for a pretty spilling-over balcony plant: White clover! It will riot over a balcony or out of a hanging basket, smells like honey and gives you a lovely bridal-veil of huge creamy flowers. Omit this if you're not big on bees, though. They'll come from miles around! Oh yes, and one more thing! Drainage! If your balcony is sunny, it could be that your soil will dry out very quickly. Using mulch is good, but it might also be an idea to line your pots or troughs with a thick layer of newspaper (into which you've punched a few big holes). This will help prevent water from running straight out. Hah! And the last thing (sorry to be so long-winded) is to ask your nursery supplier for some plant hormone powder. You don't want the rooting hormone (gibberellic acid), it's the other one (whose name I temporarily disremember) you're after. It will promote shoot growth to balance out what the roots are doing. HTH, -- Trish {|:-} Newcastle, NSW, Australia Ah sounds good. Victims! You dont test for dryness. You test for moisture. (youre either an optimist or pessimist)(grin!) The best gardeners look what grows, and picks the plants that are the best survivors, after a while you can mix in some of those which didnt make it last time. I found hoyas to be great too on balconies Morning sun only though. They faint with hi temp noon sun/wind. Try a few succulents too and graduate from there. Tomatoes, can grow well, as can cucumbers. You dont need containers, just cut the "5 tick" potting mix bag open, plant the tomatoes, and make sure you put some drain holes at the side and bottom (make sure the drain holes work too)Keep them Wet, you have to water regularly. I have found the very thin plastic tubing we used for craft years ago to be great for keeping water on plants. you need to play with height of supply to get nice slow drip but it works. Fill up the main container of water and add liquid fertiliser occasionally. Youve almost got a hydroponic system going. Er be carefull what you grow...Some things are 'ighly illegal...(grin)No hints... Good luck and most of all make it fascinating and observe. Its all great fun and relaxing... PS I worked with Pete C from the ABC and tought him how to work...B4 he became famous. He wasnt a garderner then. |
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