4
votes
Accepted
What would be the non-organic part in this vegetal compost mixture?
The numbers are confusing if you don't understand how they were measured, because the quoted "dry matter organic content" of 40%-50% does not account for all the organic material in the ...
3
votes
Spotty looking perilla plant
Perilla is an annual herb and can be subject to rust which shows as rust coloured spots.
As the spots on the leaves in the picture are light coloured it looks like aphids or spider mites which suck ...
3
votes
Can I use cat litter in potting mix? Has anyone tried it?
Sepiolite is a clay that's non-toxic (it's used in animal feed) but unlike vermiculite and perlite actually hurts, rather than helps, drainage. According to this source, it can absorb its weight in ...
2
votes
A material that holds little water suitable for potting mix for interior plants?
A cheap ingredient that is available at feed stores is chicken grit. What is available near you may vary but common sources are granite, calcium, flint or oyster shell.
It is sold as tiny sharp edged ...
2
votes
A material that holds little water suitable for potting mix for interior plants?
It depends on what plants you have .For my orchids, which need good=fast drainage and air circulation , I use small gravel, porous rock ( lava stone ,very similar to tufa but cheaper ) , chunks of ...
2
votes
Is it true that you can't add too much natural fertiliser such as Fermented Plant Juice to a potting mix as opposed to synthetic fertiliser?
You answered my question asking for details on how your potting soil is failing with the following (bullet points mine):
Tall spindly [stems]
Crumpled and twisted leaves
Slight necrosis,
Pale leaves ...
2
votes
Is there anything else besides lack of sunlight or excess nitrogen could cause a plant to become leggy?
Your strawberries look like the ones I have left in my yard where the former strawberry patch gets morning and afternoon sun till about 2 pm. There are lots of strawberry farmers close to me and ...
1
vote
Is it true that you can't add too much natural fertiliser such as Fermented Plant Juice to a potting mix as opposed to synthetic fertiliser?
It's easier to accidentally over-fertilize with synthetic fertilizers because they are so much more concentrated, but you can over-do anything. Healthy soil is a balance.
Some fertilizers are added ...
1
vote
A material that holds little water suitable for potting mix for interior plants?
Typical ingredients depend on the plant and soil needs.
Little water holding requries good drainage. That's done with Sands or lava rocks, perlite.
1
vote
Peat moss substrate for Cactus and Lemons
For your lemons and strawberries this will probably do (use pots with drainage holes though), but for cacti it is advisable to use something else (with better drainage capacity, and less peat). You ...
1
vote
Accepted
Garden Soil Mix
From a science-based approach, here are three sources from Dr Linda Chalker-Scott from Washington State University Extension that will give you more information. Note that she's approaching these ...
1
vote
Accepted
What exactly is a gritty mix for succulents?
Many succulents/desert type plants are expecting their water and nutrient in short sharp bursts; some get most of their water and food from being either drip/rained on, or absorbed through water ...
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