I'm not disputing anyone's experience; I'm interested in the process of why certain plants seem to thrive on going up one pot size. Thanks for your insights.
I haven't heard of compost 'souring' in a pot before. I will go and investigate my pots when it stops snowing. Are there any accessible books you'd recommend on the science of horticulture - the ins and outs of plant sex, mycelium, water tables etc? Ideas very welcome. Happy snow.
"Over time, soil pH is naturally lowered for a variety of reasons. Rainfall naturally leaches Calcium out of the soil, lowering the pH, and increasing the soil acidity. This is especially true with acid rain, particularly in the Midwest and Northeastern United States, because the acid rain adds Hydrogen to the soil, lowering soil pH, and increasing soil acidity.
Soil acidity is also increased from fertilizer applications. Though it might sound strange, the main ingredients in fertilizer are acidic by nature, and can aid in lowering soil pH.
Even without rain or fertilizer applications, soil acidity naturally increases over time due to the decomposition of organic matter. Because soil is a living environment, it is constantly breaking down organic matter, naturally adding acid to the soil. So, whether you’ve got the most beautiful lawn on the block, or you’ve let your front yard become a field, unless you live in the desert, your soil is becoming more acidic all the time.
Btw, the acid from decomposing organic matter is humic acid, which causes a big drop in pH especially in potting soil, which is often mostly comprised of organic matter. So even if your garden is on a chalk bed, and isn't likely to go sour, the soil in your pots may still drop in pH...."
Firefly - a very good book on the science of gardening is Chris Beardshaw’s “how does your garden grow”. Can’t remember if it deals with your potting on question, but it is a fascinating read 😀📚📚📚. Its also publshed as “the secret life of a garden” -same book
Hi Firefly Most plants will thrive by potting on to the next size pot. As I stated in my last comment, any plants that is pot bound and showing growth outside the pot will always benefit from being re-potted on. By doing this, when you feed and water the plant its is confining that to the size of the pot the plant is in. Based on this , if you planted the same plant in a much bigger pot then you would be overwatering and feeding the plant in that situation
I was wondering the same thing, Firefly, having recently bought Salvia and Agastache plants in 10x10x11cm pots, my first attempt at ‘growing on’. I repotted into 14x14x14.5cm pots (all I had) in a gritty compost, read up about it afterwards and panicked that my pots were too big! The plants had a really good root system but only a tiny mound of green showing. After two weeks, the Salvias are now a good 10cm high, bushy and healthy looking. The Agastache are smaller, about 2-5cm, but getting there. Would this pot size jump generally be considered too big? Will the compost go sour before they are big enough to plant out? Will report back in a months time if they are surviving or if I am experiencing a false dawn!
I am also obsessively watching my Crocosmia corms for signs of life (none yet) planted a few weeks ago, one to a 9cm pot, about halfway down; worried I am overwatering but don’t want the top of the pots to dry out...
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Update - today two Crocosmia shoots are peeking up and all the other things I planted in probably-too-big-pots are thriving too, I’m thrilled nature is overcoming my fumbling attempts at growing stuff!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Good to know Dove, thanks. I do feel as if I am fumbling around I the dark much of the time but I guess I will get more chilled as experience develops. I hope 🤞
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Posts
I haven't heard of compost 'souring' in a pot before. I will go and investigate my pots when it stops snowing. Are there any accessible books you'd recommend on the science of horticulture - the ins and outs of plant sex, mycelium, water tables etc? Ideas very welcome. Happy snow.
Btw, the acid from decomposing organic matter is humic acid, which causes a big drop in pH especially in potting soil, which is often mostly comprised of organic matter. So even if your garden is on a chalk bed, and isn't likely to go sour, the soil in your pots may still drop in pH...."
... the above is an extract from here https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/13753/what-do-people-mean-when-they-talk-about-soil-going-sour
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Most plants will thrive by potting on to the next size pot. As I stated in my last comment, any plants that is pot bound and showing growth outside the pot will always benefit from being re-potted on. By doing this, when you feed and water the plant its is confining that to the size of the pot the plant is in. Based on this , if you planted the same plant in a much bigger pot then you would be overwatering and feeding the plant in that situation
I am also obsessively watching my Crocosmia corms for signs of life (none yet) planted a few weeks ago, one to a 9cm pot, about halfway down; worried I am overwatering but don’t want the top of the pots to dry out...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.