"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...-tales-gardens
or http://gu.com/p/2yyd7 This was the one that shocked me: Crocks in pots improve drainage ... False: a drainage layer in the bottom of pots reduces the volume of soil available to plant roots. Don't add gravel or crocks, but ensure pots have drainage holes. |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On Jan 11, 8:39*pm, Adam Funk wrote:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...wives-tales-ga... orhttp://gu.com/p/2yyd7 This was the one that shocked me: * Crocks in pots improve drainage * ... * False: a drainage layer in the bottom of pots reduces the volume of * soil available to plant roots. Don't add gravel or crocks, but * ensure pots have drainage holes. This was what we were taught when pots were made from fired clay and had just one hole in the bottom, by placing crocks over the hole you reduced the risk of the hole becoming blocked by lumps in the compost which was made chiefly of seived loamwith added sand, later peat was added esp when the John Innes Institute came up with their recipe for seed, and potting composts. With the introduction of plastic post you started to get 4 holes, and gradualy the number and size has increased and a small intermitent rim was introduced to stop the pot forming a seal on flat surfaces. There are times when I still put coarse peat or bark chippings in the bottom of large pots that are going to be sitting on the ground as I believe it helps to prevent water being syphoned into the pot and causing waterloging and thus stagnant compost. David Hill |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On 12/01/2011 08:03, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:39:14 +0000, Adam wrote: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...-tales-gardens or http://gu.com/p/2yyd7 This was the one that shocked me: Crocks in pots improve drainage ... False: a drainage layer in the bottom of pots reduces the volume of soil available to plant roots. Don't add gravel or crocks, but ensure pots have drainage holes. I always generously crock big clay pots with a layer of broken bits, but never bother with plastic pots as they have multiple holes and often a 'castellated' base. AS I find that compost tends to get washed out through the holes I simply line the bottom of my pots with bit of kitchen roll, stolen from my wife's kitchen. ;-0 Works for me. -- Residing on low ground in North Staffordshire |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
"Moonraker" wrote in message ... On 12/01/2011 08:03, Chris Hogg wrote: On Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:39:14 +0000, Adam wrote: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...-tales-gardens or http://gu.com/p/2yyd7 This was the one that shocked me: Crocks in pots improve drainage ... False: a drainage layer in the bottom of pots reduces the volume of soil available to plant roots. Don't add gravel or crocks, but ensure pots have drainage holes. I always generously crock big clay pots with a layer of broken bits, but never bother with plastic pots as they have multiple holes and often a 'castellated' base. AS I find that compost tends to get washed out through the holes I simply line the bottom of my pots with bit of kitchen roll, stolen from my wife's kitchen. ;-0 Works for me. -- Residing on low ground in North Staffordshire When you empty the paper from the Office Shredder onto the compost heap, fill something such as an empty loaf bag with some of the shredded paper and keep in the greenhouse / potting shed to put into the bottom of the pots :-)) (Save nicking the Kitchen Roll from her indoors) Mike -- .................................... Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive .................................... |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On 12/01/2011 08:03, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:39:14 +0000, Adam I always generously crock big clay pots with a layer of broken bits, but never bother with plastic pots as they have multiple holes and often a 'castellated' base. If there is a problem with plastic pots, it's that they are vey light and a tall plant blows over too easily. A few crocks help add weight. Recently I've tried "blocking" all the drainage holes with thin slices of Oasis (sometimes adding crocks above simply to add weight). The reason for doing this is to dissuade ants from entering the pots and forming nests, and eventually removing much of the soil. As I grow many plants in very sandy soil, this is a serious problem. So far it looks successful, but I'd be interested to see the results if anyone else wanted to try it. By the way, it doesn't seem to affect drainage as water simply runs through the Oasis. -- Jeff |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
"Jeff Layman" wrote ... Chris Hogg wrote: Adam Funk I always generously crock big clay pots with a layer of broken bits, but never bother with plastic pots as they have multiple holes and often a 'castellated' base. If there is a problem with plastic pots, it's that they are vey light and a tall plant blows over too easily. A few crocks help add weight. Recently I've tried "blocking" all the drainage holes with thin slices of Oasis (sometimes adding crocks above simply to add weight). The reason for doing this is to dissuade ants from entering the pots and forming nests, and eventually removing much of the soil. As I grow many plants in very sandy soil, this is a serious problem. So far it looks successful, but I'd be interested to see the results if anyone else wanted to try it. By the way, it doesn't seem to affect drainage as water simply runs through the Oasis. You can buy sheets of plastic insect proof netting (or was it shade cloth?), green in colour, and I've used a piece of that cut to shape to fit the bottom of the pot in the past to stop ants using the pots as a nest. Worked for me. -- Regards Bob Hobden W.of London. UK |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
"Bob Hobden" wrote in message ... "Jeff Layman" wrote ... Chris Hogg wrote: Adam Funk I always generously crock big clay pots with a layer of broken bits, but never bother with plastic pots as they have multiple holes and often a 'castellated' base. If there is a problem with plastic pots, it's that they are vey light and a tall plant blows over too easily. A few crocks help add weight. Recently I've tried "blocking" all the drainage holes with thin slices of Oasis (sometimes adding crocks above simply to add weight). The reason for doing this is to dissuade ants from entering the pots and forming nests, and eventually removing much of the soil. As I grow many plants in very sandy soil, this is a serious problem. So far it looks successful, but I'd be interested to see the results if anyone else wanted to try it. By the way, it doesn't seem to affect drainage as water simply runs through the Oasis. You can buy sheets of plastic insect proof netting (or was it shade cloth?), green in colour, and I've used a piece of that cut to shape to fit the bottom of the pot in the past to stop ants using the pots as a nest. Worked for me. -- Regards Bob Hobden W.of London. UK Bob I know it has been drummed into everybodies head time and time again that I am not a gardener, but DARE I suggest that Ants nesting in a pot 'could' possibly mean that they are tooooooooo dry and need watering? I know that is a fact in the compost heap, something of which I am an expert, shock horror ;-))) Mike -- .................................... Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive .................................... |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On 12/01/2011 17:26, Bob Hobden wrote:
"Jeff Layman" wrote ... Recently I've tried "blocking" all the drainage holes with thin slices of Oasis (sometimes adding crocks above simply to add weight). The reason for doing this is to dissuade ants from entering the pots and forming nests, and eventually removing much of the soil. As I grow many plants in very sandy soil, this is a serious problem. So far it looks successful, but I'd be interested to see the results if anyone else wanted to try it. By the way, it doesn't seem to affect drainage as water simply runs through the Oasis. You can buy sheets of plastic insect proof netting (or was it shade cloth?), green in colour, and I've used a piece of that cut to shape to fit the bottom of the pot in the past to stop ants using the pots as a nest. Worked for me. I've also used that, but I ran out of it, and the Oasis was at hand. I'm pretty certain that weed-proof membrane would work too, as that lets water through. -- Jeff |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On 12/01/2011 17:33, 'Mike' wrote:
Bob I know it has been drummed into everybodies head time and time again that I am not a gardener, but DARE I suggest that Ants nesting in a pot 'could' possibly mean that they are tooooooooo dry and need watering? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerophyte -- Jeff |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message ... On 12/01/2011 17:33, 'Mike' wrote: Bob I know it has been drummed into everybodies head time and time again that I am not a gardener, but DARE I suggest that Ants nesting in a pot 'could' possibly mean that they are tooooooooo dry and need watering? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerophyte -- Jeff Now come off it Jeff, that looks very techy. Must go to my nearest Garden Centre next Saturday and ask one of the young assistants to explain it to me. Now don't try to baffle me again. You have been told enough times on this newsgroup, I am not a gardener ;-)) Happy New Year. Off now to Direct a play at one of the local Theatres :-)) http://www.shanklintheatre.com/event...r/details.aspx Rather ironic considering my parents had an hotel and I was 'reared' in the surroundings ;-) Mike -- .................................... Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive .................................... |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message ... On 12/01/2011 08:03, Chris Hogg wrote: On Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:39:14 +0000, Adam I always generously crock big clay pots with a layer of broken bits, but never bother with plastic pots as they have multiple holes and often a 'castellated' base. If there is a problem with plastic pots, it's that they are vey light and a tall plant blows over too easily. A few crocks help add weight. Recently I've tried "blocking" all the drainage holes with thin slices of Oasis (sometimes adding crocks above simply to add weight). The reason for doing this is to dissuade ants from entering the pots and forming nests, and eventually removing much of the soil. As I grow many plants in very sandy soil, this is a serious problem. So far it looks successful, but I'd be interested to see the results if anyone else wanted to try it. By the way, it doesn't seem to affect drainage as water simply runs through the Oasis. -- Jeff I have used the black weed proof stuff in the bottom of pots between drainage grit/gravel and soil to enable reuse , seems to work. I have also stabilised light plastic pots by using garden cane or tent pegs passed thro the drainage holes and into soil or through the gaps in paving. Alan |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
Adam Funk writes:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...d-wives-tales- gardens or http://gu.com/p/2yyd7 This was the one that shocked me: Crocks in pots improve drainage ... False: a drainage layer in the bottom of pots reduces the volume of soil available to plant roots. Don't add gravel or crocks, but ensure pots have drainage holes. I always feel silly when on all the TV shows they say to add grit to compost whenever you re-plant anything for drainage, but garden centres don't sell bags of grit in their compost section, so what are you meant to do?? Big bags of grit from the aggregate section in B&Q? How coarse should the stones be? Wish they'd answer these questions for the noobs like me :) kate xx |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
kate wrote:
Adam Funk writes: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...d-wives-tales- gardens or http://gu.com/p/2yyd7 This was the one that shocked me: Crocks in pots improve drainage ... False: a drainage layer in the bottom of pots reduces the volume of soil available to plant roots. Don't add gravel or crocks, but ensure pots have drainage holes. I always feel silly when on all the TV shows they say to add grit to compost whenever you re-plant anything for drainage, but garden centres don't sell bags of grit in their compost section, so what are you meant to do?? Big bags of grit from the aggregate section in B&Q? How coarse should the stones be? Wish they'd answer these questions for the noobs like me :) kate xx Gather these items; an empty tin can, a trowel, a kitchen sieve. Go out in the garden on a nice sunny day, and scoop some dry soil into the seive. Shake the sieve to remove the soil, leaving only grit. Transfer grit from the sieve to the tin can, Buy a new sieve. |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On 11/01/2011 20:39, Adam Funk wrote:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...-tales-gardens or http://gu.com/p/2yyd7 This was the one that shocked me: I was shocked by the theoretical treatment of the urine question. Basically that you don't need to add nitrogen. Good case for a controlled experiment methinks. Then in a question on coffee grounds they say "add to the compost heap as they are high in nitrogen" -- CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames |
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"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
In article , Bob Hobden
writes ou can buy sheets of plastic insect proof netting (or was it shade cloth?), green in colour, and I've used a piece of that cut to shape to fit the bottom of the pot in the past to stop ants using the pots as a nest. Worked for me. J cloths are good for that too. -- Janet Tweedy Dalmatian Telegraph http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On 2011-01-13, Paul Luton wrote:
On 11/01/2011 20:39, Adam Funk wrote: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...-tales-gardens or http://gu.com/p/2yyd7 This was the one that shocked me: I was shocked by the theoretical treatment of the urine question. Basically that you don't need to add nitrogen. Good case for a controlled experiment methinks. Then in a question on coffee grounds they say "add to the compost heap as they are high in nitrogen" Interesting point. |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
In article , Charlie
Pridham writes If you want to acheive the same effect without the weight use perlite instead of grit. I like vermiculite, not had much success with Perlite. I sprinkle it on top of seeds as well it's never too heavy for very small seeds. Good for getting drainage when doing cuttings. Best stuff i ever sued when first potting up cuttings was a block which first had to be soaked and swelled to about 8 times it's size but when used in the pots and with a tiny bit of slow release added gave me absolutely stupendous root growth on all the cuttings. Not so food for second potting on but for the first it seems to encourage really good root growth and you don't want to burn bay roots with strong fertiliser anyway. Think i got the coir brick as a freeby from Wiggly Wiggler's when first bought a wormery. Not seen them much since. Must look for it again. i had forgotten my success :) Janet -- Janet Tweedy Amersham Gardening Association http://www.amersham-gardening.net |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:55:47 +0000, Janet Tweedy
wrote: In article , Charlie Pridham writes If you want to acheive the same effect without the weight use perlite instead of grit. I like vermiculite, not had much success with Perlite. I sprinkle it on top of seeds as well it's never too heavy for very small seeds. Good for getting drainage when doing cuttings. Best stuff i ever sued when first potting up cuttings was a block which first had to be soaked and swelled to about 8 times it's size but when used in the pots and with a tiny bit of slow release added gave me absolutely stupendous root growth on all the cuttings. Not so food for second potting on but for the first it seems to encourage really good root growth and you don't want to burn bay roots with strong fertiliser anyway. Think i got the coir brick as a freeby from Wiggly Wiggler's when first bought a wormery. Not seen them much since. Must look for it again. i had forgotten my success :) Janet I've been using coir exclusively for 3 years to grow on seedlings and plug plants and get much better results than the days when I used "ordinary" composts. For sowing seed I mix coir with John Innes No. 1 on a roughly 50-50 basis. My feeding regime is now very much "QVC" - I use Richard Jackson's Flower Power range as, again, I find I get much better results with it than with Phostrogen, Miracle Grow and the like. I don't feed any more than I would were I using ordinary compost. When planting up my baskets and wall planters I use a mix of about 25% compost and 75% coir with some added "Rain Gel" (combined water retaining granules and controlled release feed) for good measure. I don't use coir in tubs though. I get the large "bricks" that make about 70 litres when you water them (I use the wheelbarrow for this) - I bought a "job lot" last year from a local garden store which worked out only about 25p a brick more than equivalent bags of compost. I notice that Ferndale Lodge are selling this size for about £19 for three. "The Garden" January edition has an article on peat free compost, including coir. Incidentally, where I need to line a basket, I use the similar blocks of dried, compressed moss. Much more fun to do than just stick in a pre-made liner, looks a lot better and often lasts for a couple of years befoire going on the compost heap. And a lot cheaper than bags of moss in the garden centre. Jake |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
In article , Jake
writes I get the large "bricks" that make about 70 litres when you water them (I use the wheelbarrow for this) - I bought a "job lot" last year from a local garden store which worked out only about 25p a brick more than equivalent bags of compost. I notice that Ferndale Lodge are selling this size for about £19 for three. Any names or makes I could Google Jake? I thought it was brilliant and so easy to store and to carry about until you wanted to expand it. Roots seem to love it and it didn't become overdry or overwet. -- Janet Tweedy Dalmatian Telegraph http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:02:21 +0000, Janet Tweedy
wrote: In article , Jake writes I get the large "bricks" that make about 70 litres when you water them (I use the wheelbarrow for this) - I bought a "job lot" last year from a local garden store which worked out only about 25p a brick more than equivalent bags of compost. I notice that Ferndale Lodge are selling this size for about £19 for three. Any names or makes I could Google Jake? I thought it was brilliant and so easy to store and to carry about until you wanted to expand it. Roots seem to love it and it didn't become overdry or overwet. Hi Janet. I don't use Google but in Bing I've just searched on "coir bricks" and got a lengthy listing. Try that. Jake |
"Gardens: Old wives' tales" from Saturday's Guardian
On Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:39:07 +0000, kay
wrote: 'Paul Luton[_2_ Wrote: [...] Then in a question on coffee grounds they say "add to the compost heap as they are high in nitrogen" giggle I didn't spot that one!! But are they actually high in nitrogen? This is a genuine request for information, not a challenge. I thought it was leaves that held most of the nitrogen in a plant, not the seeds. -- Mike. |
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