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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Oct 14, 2006 8:39:13 GMT
Hlo Everybodypeeps.
I was just having a shufty on the beeb board where one of the members has commented on the fact that when planting up pots it isn't really necessary to pop in a bit of broken pot in the bottom (like they always tell you to do on gardening progs) As this chap is somebody who knows what he's talking about I wondered why we're always advised to do this? Apparently if a plant needs good drainage this applies to the compost itself, a bit of netting, wire mesh or someone suggested a J cloth would be adequate! If I had a penny for the number of times I've grubbed about looking for broken pots...aaaurgh.
Did everyone already know this? is it just me? I TRIED to get on the MB to thank this chap for his advice but of course IT'S CLOSED.
I'm sorry if this sort of thing has been discussed before...are there any other gardening myths that I'm adhering to that are a complete waste of time!?
cheers
CPBxxx
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Post by andy on Oct 14, 2006 9:37:04 GMT
It was basically used back in the days before plastic pots and peat based compost. The idea being that a crock at the bottom placed over the drainage hole and slightly concave will form a small void incase of any blockage....caused either by compaction of the soil, too many roots or pests getting in.
This void will allow any water to escape and stop the plant from being overwatered.
Personally, i would always use a crock/layer of crocks when using either clay pots or loam based soil such as John Innes.
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Post by toonia on Oct 14, 2006 10:21:51 GMT
I've always used crocks -I manage to break quite a lot of pots so always have some!! As I think Obs said, they help weigh down a container and we often have strong winds, and they save on compost a bit! I use polystyrene in pots I don't want to be too heavy.
As for myths, that's all you get when you ask one of the locals for gardening advice here! For example, you should never plant out in spring until after the Saint Glaces...these are three saints who have their saints' days in May but no-one can actually say which saints they are!
If you plant on St Catherine's day everything will take root -that's in November sometime.
I suppose these sayings helped people to remember when to do things in the past but they haven't taken account of global warming and the random climate changes we're now having!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2006 11:10:36 GMT
I use crocks too, specially in plastic pots and glazed ones. The old terracotta pots allowed water to evapotate through the pot itself as they are pourous, hence the tendency to overwatering is slightly helped by this.
If a plant needs excellent drainage I still use a terracotta pot and crocks. Most alpines benefit from this too, but the plants will still need grit mixed in with the compost to open the soil up.
It really depends on what you are growing, and I would totally disagree with the Beeb poster on some counts.
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 14, 2006 12:22:38 GMT
I'm afraid I have disagreed with many of the views of those particular posters and nothing has changed with the crocks question. I think crocks are a good idea for several reasons: they do help the drainage, they add weight and ballast to bigger pots, they take up a bit of space so you save compost and they are a handy way to use broken clay pots! I would never put a j cloth in instead as I would be worried about mould and fungal infections - no scientific basis for this, just a thought!
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Post by Dr Bill on Oct 14, 2006 16:44:18 GMT
I too always use a crock or a stone. I find the compost tends to clog up the drainage holes otherwise
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Oct 14, 2006 18:35:23 GMT
Oh well...I was quite looking forward to just using mesh or gauze over the drainage hole. BUT the majority of people here and at the 2 GCs I visited today all think crocks are a good idea so I spose I'd better stick to using them. Most of my pots are terracotta and I've used stones in the bottom (clean ones) usually...I shall stick with that. However I am tempted to try the mesh I use for the bonsai tree with a couple of pots...just to see how they fare...
Thank you for your advice, appreciated as always. ;D
CPBx
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Post by sleepysunday on Oct 14, 2006 21:32:09 GMT
I ususally use a bit of crock, but have used a used teabag. After all they are free-draining. I find that works very well.
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 15, 2006 4:44:13 GMT
CPB, sorry meant to mention this in my email but was too busy ranting! There's no reason why mesh wouldn't work perfectly well - I think anyway. It would serve exactly the same purpose as crocks. If you haven't got any broken pots, you have to be creative! I just don't think a softer material would be wise because of the possibility of harbouring bugs and nasties. Alright, angelcake?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2006 7:40:04 GMT
4P A message at 5.44am. Don't you sleep woman ? ;D
I sometimes use crocks and sometimes I don't. Depends on whether or not I can find any bits of broken pot etc. In my experience, I doesn't actually make that much difference to be honest. Things I've planted with a crock in the pot can do just as well or badly as those that don't have.
FA x
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 15, 2006 11:07:41 GMT
Morning! I mowed the grass yesterday, FA ,so all night I was coughing and spluttering - got bored by 4am of trying to sleep so I got up, made myself a pot of coffe and have been busy ever since. I'd done the ironing by 6am and as much housework as I'm prepared to do on a Sunday. Full of plans for the rest of the day I nipped down the village for everyone's papers and the car made a horrid noise and stopped. Apparently the cam belt's snapped. So that's me scuppered......grrrr.........and now I intend to be tired and grumpy all day - ALRIGHT!
(Or I could go and shoot rats for a while. Or I may just eat a BIG bar of double dark chocolate instead.....) Hope you have a good day though!
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Post by magrich on Oct 16, 2006 22:42:45 GMT
On friday's GW they were potting up cuttings and divisions , and never put anything in the bottom of the pot!!! These are the people who keep telling us to use crocks for drainage.
couldn't find this thread earlier so added a new one, sorry!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2006 7:10:09 GMT
I used to put crock into the bottom of all my pots, but stopped doing so when I realised that slugs were using the bottom of the pots for living and breeding  I also found it really difficult and sometimes impossible to remove the crock from the roots of a pot bound plant when it needed potting on |
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Post by Plocket on Oct 17, 2006 7:17:23 GMT
I've been steering clear of this one because although I don't think crocks are absolutely necessary, they are useful - they stop all the soil falling out of the pot! Personally I use teabags in small pots (for seedlings and things that will need potting on) and then I use crocks. I always find I run out of crocks though and have to hunt around for a cracked pot that I can smash. One of our localish garden centres gives away crocks but the bin is always empty when I look!
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Post by sweetleaf on Oct 17, 2006 7:32:25 GMT
I frequently use polystyrene, thay use so much of it in packaging these days, and it does the job ....not so good if you need to weigh the pot down though, but just as re-usable as crocks. I worry about my eyes when I have to break up crocks, they fly off in unpredictable directions!  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2006 7:44:12 GMT
Sweetleaf - try putting the crock into a sack or old compost bag then break it up.  |
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Post by sweetleaf on Oct 17, 2006 7:57:04 GMT
Good Idea Rita!
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Post by Dutchy on Oct 17, 2006 8:20:06 GMT
As for myths, that's all you get when you ask one of the locals for gardening advice here! For example, you should never plant out in spring until after the Saint Glaces...these are three saints who have their saints' days in May but no-one can actually say which saints they are! Hi Toonia just saw this. They are Marmertius, Pancratius,Servatius and Bonifatius. Their days of celebration are in the middle of May when the nights are at their coldest. Beginning on May 14th. Mothers day in The Netherlands is the Sunday after so mum can plant all the nice new bedding she was given straight away. Dutchy |
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 17, 2006 10:54:26 GMT
On the pots question, I was the one on the beeb board who suggested j cloths. Except it wasn't j cloths - it was ordinary paper kitchen roll. I use this on all the cacti and succulents and it works perfectly. I picked up the idea from a guy in the States who also gave me the idea of how to use terracotta pots so that they don't dry out so quickley nor discolour. You varnish the inside of the pot. That works perfectly as well and they look so much better than plastic pots but still have the same properties.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2006 11:04:37 GMT
Gay Search suggested using J Cloths in a program I saw years ago.  |
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Post by sleepysunday on Oct 17, 2006 11:07:19 GMT
Interesting. However you may call me conservative, but I'm sticking to Google. |
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 17, 2006 11:08:46 GMT
You beat me to it ss!!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2006 11:12:29 GMT
Interesting. However you may call me conservative, but I'm sticking to Google. LOL ;D I did try googling her name SS - needless to say I wasn't surprised with the result |
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Post by Rosefriend on Oct 17, 2006 14:04:28 GMT
The Pankratius, Servatius and Bonifatius thing that Dutchy explained is very big here in Germany. Cold Sophie on the 15th May - well one should never plant out before then - how many times have I done it.
However one myth is true to my mind but I do not know what it is called - someone will have to help me.
24th June is Johannistrieb and if plants are cut back before that date they will come again and it is true. But what is it called in English?
Johannestrieb is also the name given to older men that have found their sexual yearning again. Thought I put that rather well - better than randy old devils isn't it!!!!!
Rosefriend
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Post by toonia on Oct 17, 2006 14:29:54 GMT
Just looked it up on a French calendar, they have it as St John the baptist's birthday!
Don't think he survived long enough to be revitalised!
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Post by obelixx on Oct 17, 2006 15:50:29 GMT
It's called the Chelsea chop - cut back plants the week after Chelsea Flower Show and they perform again or later depending on what they were.
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Post by Rosefriend on Oct 17, 2006 15:56:21 GMT
I really do find that interesting but I feel that is must have to do with a Saint of some sort - ..........when is the show by the way - perhaps the date would be right- although I always thought it was earlier.
Rosefriend
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