Potting soil

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

I have started a long term experiment on potting soil

Pot No. 1, has coarse broken bricks (Kairi) only.
Pot No. 2, has 1-2mm size Kairi only.
Pot No. 3, has mixed Kairi 60% and Peat 40%.
Pot No. 4, has mixed Kairi 60% and Leaf Mold 40%.
Pot No. 5 has fine river sand 60% and leaf mold 40%.
Plant selected is young Amaryllis bulb (being forgiving).

They will be watered only with Grow More 20-20-20 soluble fertilizer, strength 200 PPM N.
Pot No. 1 flushed daily, Pot No. 2 flushed twice a week and others on as required bases.
They will be kept under dappled shade of Dhak tree.
Any suggestions
Arif

[Mustansir Billah]

You are conducting a Nice Experiment... It will greatly help container gardeners like me.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Later I would be doing the same on an Annual.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

An up date;
No. 1 pot on the left is progressing the best, the bulb had no leaves on planting.



Arif

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

There are so many container gardeners and so little response.
What in your opinion are the ideal characteristics of a potting soil?
Arif

[Hamad Ahmed Kisana]

sir i am using home made leaf mold and i am very happy with the results.these amaryllis are in leaf mold and leaves are above 3 feet high.






my recipe of leaf mold is as under.
1 part leaves of sheesham (شیشم) +sukhchain+few others
1 part wheat straw (tori)
1 part old manure at least one year old

after mixing these i sprinkle 1 kg urea on mixture and use it after one year.
leaf mold in progress...

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Dear members, my question is not what medium are you using in your containers (we will discuss it later) it is the basics, What in your opinion are the ideal characteristics of a potting soil?
Arif

[M Farooq]

Dear members, my question is not what medium are you using in your containers (we will discuss it later) it is the basics, What in your opinion are the ideal characteristics of a potting soil?
Arif

You questions are always thought provoking but general questions may have multiple correct or conflicting answers. If we are looking for ideal characteristics of potting soil, it might be good if we specify the plant(s) because different plant may flourish and thrive in different soils.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Dear members, my question is not what medium are you using in your containers (we will discuss it later) it is the basics, What in your opinion are the ideal characteristics of a potting soil?
Arif

You questions are always thought provoking but general questions may have multiple correct or conflicting answers. If we are looking for ideal characteristics of potting soil, it might be good if we specify the plant(s) because different plant may flourish and thrive in different soils.

There are only a few plants requiring specific soils, let us leave them aside.

[newton]

My potting mix usually is one part garden soil, one part coarse grit and sand. A handfull of wood charcoal. 3 parts leafmould which is composted with seaweed, old straw chicken bedding and a sprinkle of fish blood and bone.

The secret potency of this mix is the Auxins, Gibberellins and Cytokinins. These are plant growth hormones which are in abundance in the seaweed. They are readily taken up by growing plants. I adapt it by varying it with pine chippings for acid loving plants, lime for chalk loving plants andincrease the sand/grit content to 50% for cactus.

My seedlings and established plants always do really well. When I water the potted plants I tend to use my fish pond water as that contains fish waste nutrients in a readily available form.