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To Mulch the Gritty Mix or not
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Posted by yellowthumb 5a Ontario (My Page) on Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 14:14
| Hi,
I have been using Al's gritty mix on many of my plants with great results, but there is one problem which I am not able to find a solution.
The top two inches of the mix always dries out pretty fast, especially during a sunny and warm day. It seems that the drying is not because of plants absorbing the water, but because of the sun. The lower part stays relatively wet. The roots in the top two inches are kind of drying out too.
Can I mulch the gritty mix to slow down the drying of the upper two inches? If yes, what kind of mulching material to use?
Thanks
YT
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: To Mulch the Gritty Mix or not
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- Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 15:09
| As the plant grows, the roots in the top 2" of soil quickly become nonfunctional for anything other than anchoring the plant and serving as a pipeline to move water and nutrients up to the canopy and photosynthate and its associates from the canopy to roots, so it's not too important if the top layer of soil gets dry. Besides, just because it feels dry to you, doesn't mean it's dry to the plant. Plants extract water in vapor form, and can utilize water vapor in that part of the soil. Also, soils FEEL dry when moisture content drops to around 40-45%, but (most) plants can still extract moisture from soils until their moisture content drops below 30%. Al |
RE: To Mulch the Gritty Mix or not
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| Al, Thanks for the fast response. I guess most of the plants tends to stretch their roots deep, but given that most of my container are no deeper than 12 inches, and lots of shrubs that I am growing have a very shallow root system. They like to grow their roots around the ground surface. It seems to me that if I mulch the gritty mix, I might be able simulate that condition. In nature, where those shrubs thrive, the ground surface is always moist and mulched by fallen leaves. But I am not so sure in containers. The medium might just staying wet for too long. Thanks YT |
RE: To Mulch the Gritty Mix or not
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- Posted by jodik 5 Central IL (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 16:42
| Even though I grow my potted plants indoors, I still experience the same thing... the top inch or two becomes dry, while the rest of the medium feels moist. I am careful not to water until I'm certain the plant needs it, and I'm actually surprised at the amount of time the medium hangs onto that moisture... it's nice! I don't worry too much about that top inch or so of dryness... the majority of the roots are deeper... even in the 8" and 10" clay pots I use.
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RE: To Mulch the Gritty Mix or not
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- Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 16:56
| YT - there is nothing especially important stopping you from mulching if you want to, but plants that need watering more often, and that get watered as they need it, will probably be healthier in the end than the plants that get watered less frequently because of the mulch - and don't forget that thing I mentioned about water vapor and soils only FEELING dry. ;o). I actually grow in soils a little more open than those most of you grow in, and I TRY to design my soils around each planting so that when it's mature I need to water at least every other day. The plants just like that better, I find; but in the end, it's your call. Al |
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