Bigglesaquatics from Bolton, Great Britain
An ideal growing medium for containers is usually referred to as soil-less, because it does not actually contain any soil. Regular soil is heavy. When used in containers, it can trap water and prevent air from reaching a plant's roots. It also makes containers hard to lift. A loose, porous growing medium allows water and food to move quickly to a plant's roots. It is also lighter, which makes it easier to move containers around the garden.
In North America, many soil-less mixes are sold in garden centers and nurseries as "container mix" or "premium potting mix". Many gardeners prefer to make their own container mix so they can customize it according to the needs of specific plants.
There are many container mix recipes floating around out there. Nearly all of them consist of a blend of peat moss, vermiculite or perlite, well-rotted manure or compost, and sand. Some mixes also contain sulfur (to lower the pH) or lime (to raise it). Others contain some type of slow release organic fertilizer.
Here is a basic recipe:
Container plants need to be fertilized regularly because nutrients leach out of the pots every time you water. Use a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks or add two cups of a pelleted slow-release organic fertilizer to your soil-less mixture.
Good luck with your new garden!
Ellen
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have put in a raised garden. I gathered cow manure in December, added food scraps to it, and let it cook for about 5 months. Before I put the soil in the boxes I mixed it with 1/3 vermerculite, 1/3 potting soil and 1/3 aged manure. Now my plants have turned yellow and are not growing What have I done wrong? What do I do to get a nice green garden?
Hardiness Zone: 6a
By Sue from OH
Here is a website. Most often it's overwatering or low iron. Good Luck
www.almadenvalleynursery.com/
