To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] shot gravel as an ingredient in growing medium for pots and containers
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 22:15:35 -0500
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Alan S. wrote:
> On account of a suggestion by a local nurseryman(based I guess on purely
> theoretical grounds because he hasn't used it himself) this fall I used a
> mixture of shot gravel, humus and peat moss in a 1:1:2 volume ratio
> respectively
[snip]
> I have no
> observations yet to report but would be very interested to hear if anyone
> has used this or similar material in their growing media.
This is not unlike a Bonsai potting mixture, except Bonsai soil would
probably be 50% grit/gravel. Some Bonsai folks would eschew peat for
fine bark, too. Anyhow, it works, but you have to stay on top of the
moisture content. Bonsai are cultivated under very different
conditions, so the comparison is limited.