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"Kay" wrote in message ... In article , Franz Heymann notfranz. writes "Kay" wrote in message news In article , Franz Heymann notfranz. writes That is an urban legend. If there were any truth in it, all plants planted in the open ground, which is an infinite sized pot for practical purposes, should fail. Up to a point, Open ground is much fuller with invertebrates, roots of other plants etc True, but how would the absence of these components affect the relative wellbeing of plants in "correctly sized" pots and those which are "overpotted"? Most soil is getting continually churned over by earthworms etc. It keeps the structure open and allows air in, and there seems to be a general consensus that air in the soil is a Good Thing as far as plants are concerned. Absence of invertebrates means soil that just sits there getting compacted - unless it has roots pushing their way through it. This is not scientific. It's my rationale for something I feel I have observed - that the soil around the edge of a pot which hasn't been filled by its occupant is 'stale' and just Not Nice. I have pots which have been in use with the same potting compost for many years. I have never noticed any undue compaction or bad smells. The pots which I use for growing half hardy plants like pelargoniums usually just have the top quarter of the compost renewed each year. My displays are no worse than those of my neighbour, who replaces all his compost every year Yeah, but those pots are fairly well stuffed, no? I reuse compost in the same way. If it's getting regularly disturbed by roots or humans there's no problem. Maybe that is how our experiences can be reconciled. Franz |
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