Growing in a Bag of Top Soil

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RE: Growing in a Bag of Top Soil

Yes, I have done this several times with impatiens and petunias.
You need to have a green bag, cut 4 x along the front of the bag and insert your plant in each x. Leave the bag to sit for about 3 - 4 weeks in early spring so the roots can grow. Then hang up. Look beautiful.

Jane, Kenton OH

Post By Jane (Guest Post)

RE: Growing in a Bag of Top Soil

If you had drainage holes, and not growth, was there enough light? Impatiens come in two varieties, one takes moderate watering and med. light, the other takes LOTS of water and more shade. Do you know what you had? Also, you are correct that the topsoil had no significant nutrients. It's intended mostly to fill in bare spots in the lawn, and adding Osmocote might have been too slow in "melting" for the impatiens. I'd go with Miracle Grow potting soil for outdoor flowers, if you can afford it, and I'd use only a half bag for impatiens-sized plants, if planting from the top. I'd suggest planting from the back or front and lay it down. Those roots can grow sideways as well as down. They aren't deep rooted annuals. If you go to this much trouble, why not look for some perinnials for your region that will not need replanting but should return each year?

I have a short story to tell you. I transplanted a Texas silver sage into a medium Mexican clay pot one Fall, with the intentions of letting it winter over
and planting it somewhere the following Spring.
To protect it from the ice, I set the pot and all into a
thick cotton pillowcase, then wrapped the whole pot
in an old sheet. It cracked with the winter ice and
yet the sage has grown to five feet, lived for five years longer so far, in almost no pot, little soil, food or water, and utter neglect hidden in my wild herb garden overgrowth, blooming it's heart out for me each Spring,beneath a plum tree that's beneath a huge Mulberry, and practically no direct
sun, which is unheard of for a Sage, patiently waiting until I find a place somewhere for it. lol. Only in Texas! God is good . God bless you. : )

Post By Lynda (Guest Post)

RE: Growing in a Bag of Top Soil

Well, they're just annuals. Better luck next year.
See if you can rip a hole in the bottom for the roots and surplus water to exit.
Actually, I just just use the 'plant in the bag' method for starting seedlings.
I suppose if you stood a bag on its short end and put a plant in the top, the roots would have plenty of space.
Around here it's too windy to do that. The bag would be all over the sidewalk in a matter of days.
And, the bag might leave a stain if you propped it up on wood or paint. Propping it on a decorative lawn rock would be ok.

Post by cookwie

RE: Growing in a Bag of Top Soil

Although I've never heard of this, they should be fine in topsoil. Afterall, most people's gardens are filled with topsoil, not potting soil.

Post by Lynn

RE: Growing in a Bag of Top Soil

Did you make drainage holes in the bottom of the bag? You might also have better results if you remove the top of the bag completely before ferytilizing and planting. Try googling " instant raised planting bed construction" for more information.

Post By jean (Guest Post)

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