Green Patch: Selecting the Best Garden Containers and Garden Soils
(Page 2 of 3)
June/July 2009
By Kris Wetherbee
Here are some general guidelines:
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• Avoid planting a permanent herbal display in a plastic pot, which will deteriorate quickly.
• Avoid planting a moisture-loving herb in a clay pot, which will dry out quickly.
• Avoid planting a tender herb that needs to overwinter indoors in a large or heavy stone container, which will be difficult to move.
Q. Can I use garden soil to fill the pots? If not, what kind of soil mixture do you recommend?
A. The type of soil you put in your container can make the difference between a plant that thrives or fails. Soil straight from the garden is usually too heavy and dense to provide adequate aeration and drainage. It lacks the porosity needed to grow a healthy plant. As the soil compacts, plant roots are deprived of oxygen, leading to a plant’s demise.
For lush, healthy container plantings, you need quality potting mix. Commercial potting mixes incorporate organic ingredients for a porous medium that drains well, yet retains adequate moisture and nutrients for plant growth. A good potting mix usually contains peat moss and perlite or pumice, and sometimes other ingredients, such as vermiculite (similar to mica in appearance), compost or finely shredded bark. Packages labeled “potting soil” usually contain some garden loam or topsoil, as well as shredded or composted bark, manure and other ingredients. You can use a quality commercial potting mix or potting soil straight from the bag.
To give your potted plants an even better environment, you can fortify a commercial mix with compost and other ingredients. Compost provides additional nutrients and improves drainage, while releasing moisture gradually, as plants require it. Perlite helps prevent compaction, allowing air to reach roots. All of these materials are available at your local garden center.
Garden Soil Recipes
Mix Up an Easy Potting Blend
• 3 parts commercial potting mix
• 1 part compost
• 1 part perlite
Mix Up an Easy Potting Soil
• 4 parts commercial potting soil
• 2 parts peat moss
• 2 parts compost
• 2 parts perlite