Preparing Soil for Plants

[Hayats]

I am little confused on how do we prepare the soil for planting paneri. This year I noticed that soil in some of the pots was very hard although the plants did well but Gody and watering was bit of a problem.

Do I need to mix sand to make the soil soft, if yes then in what proportion. Do I need to add fertilizer too?

In other words, what all has to be mixed to give your paneri a good start?

Thank you.

[Izhar]

For seasonal plants, what worked best for me is just to mix well rotted ojhri ki khaad with soil in 1:3 ratio water the mix for a week then plant the seedlings... once the seedlings start growing (say in 15 days after transplant) then give them light sprinkling of balanced NPK granules in every 15 days.. the plants will be healthy and vigorous.. for prolong and heavy blooming pinch the new growth earlier to make the plants bushy and when they are blooming regularly cut the spent blooms i.e. deadheading... for clay you have to mix the sand in 5:1 ratio..

[Hayats]

Thank you Izhar sab for the reply. I also noticed that you are 2 short of getting your 1000 replies, Keep the suggestions rolling

Excuse me for my ignorance but please let me know what is NPK? Let me see from where I can get the Ojhri Ki Khaad in Pindi.

By early pinching do you mean that even if I have Petunia, Antirrhinum, Celosia etc. I should cut the top to make them bushy?

I have not been removing the spent blooms previously so will start doing it.

[Izhar]

NPK is short form of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Kalium (potassium)... i use Engro Zarkhez NPK (17:17:17) it is a general purpose fertilizers which is suitable for most of the plants we grow...

in some plants the central inflorescence is the best like celosia cristata (kalgha), sunflower, dahlia. poppy etc so do not pinch these type of plants...

[haris.kabir]

Thank you Izhar sab for the reply. I also noticed that you are 2 short of getting your 1000 replies, Keep the suggestions rolling

Excuse me for my ignorance but please let me know what is NPK? Let me see from where I can get the Ojhri Ki Khaad in Pindi.

By early pinching do you mean that even if I have Petunia, Antirrhinum, Celosia etc. I should cut the top to make them bushy?

I have not been removing the spent blooms previously so will start doing it.

Kindly do share the location of shop/nursery if you manage to find 'ojhri ki khaad' in Pindi.
Most of the nurserymen whom I asked did not even know what Ojhri ki khaad is.

[Hayats]

I went to the Green Garden shop near Jhanda Chichi on airport road, I was able to get NPK @ Rs 100/kg but he also doesn't know what Ojri ki khaad is. I will now try at the Peshawar road nurseries.

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

ojdi ki khad is not available at Rawalpindi.you can get well rotted cow manure easily.

[Izhar]

It is not necessary to get the Ojhri ki khaad... any manure which is well rotted and odorless is good to use.. good manure has a faint odor of fresh grass clippings and dark color.. i have received my truck of ojhri ki khaad on Monday and despite huge quantity there is no smell whatsoever..

[haris.kabir]

I also got my NPK from More green, F-8 markaz, Islamabad for Rs.100 per kg.

[Hayats]

My Mali has observed that NPK is harming some of the plant. He showed me 3 pots of fern which has turned dry and another indoor plant which immediately after giving NPK started turning pale.

Anyone else with similar observations?