Check this out Lucky …not a promising story

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23322322-5006301,00.html

Yep… made my day as nothing was found…. story of my life….LOL

Lucky1 said:

Yep… made my day as nothing was found…. story of my life….LOL

basically said more hot wether and a slight change next week.
Not a lot of cool weather around yet

All around we have floods,deluges and monsoonal downpours………..surely twenty to thirty mills in South Aus is not too much to ask,,,,,,,,,,,,,,is that too much to ask???…………………..AL

46150 said:

All around we have floods,deluges and monsoonal downpours………..surely twenty to thirty mills in South Aus is not too much to ask,,,,,,,,,,,,,,is that too much to ask???…………………..AL

We Al, myslef I think we’re okay if we ask for it……. just will anyone be listening.

I was having big troubles with my fuschias about a month ago,thought it was the heat,until i found that the b…….dy potting soil was allowing the water to cascade through the poor plants.Lost three but the rest are doing fine with the right potting soil.Goes to show,what you pay for is what you get………AL

46150 said:

I was having big troubles with my fuschias about a month ago,thought it was the heat,until i found that the b…….dy potting soil was allowing the water to cascade through the poor plants.Lost three but the rest are doing fine with the right potting soil.Goes to show,what you pay for is what you get………AL

Damn…. that’s a shame:(

46150 said:

All around we have floods,deluges and monsoonal downpours………..surely twenty to thirty mills in South Aus is not too much to ask,,,,,,,,,,,,,,is that too much to ask???…………………..AL

No it’s not too much to ask and we know where your coming from AL. We were there last year.

46150 said:

I was having big troubles with my fuschias about a month ago,thought it was the heat,until i found that the b…….dy potting soil was allowing the water to cascade through the poor plants.Lost three but the rest are doing fine with the right potting soil.Goes to show,what you pay for is what you get………AL

I find even good quality pot mix can do that. That’s why I dunk my pots in containers of water to completely submerge them. It forces the air out of the soil.

Good one Pomolo,the only problem after the initial dunking is if the “soil” is going to retain the water later.I dont know if I can mention commercial brands on this forum,but the good stuff could be shandied up with the rubbish,as the more expensive(marginal in price) was a bit over the top re. retention.IBottom line seems to be ‘try it sand see’? Would that create a problem with soil diseases etc?……………..AL

46150 said:

Good one Pomolo,the only problem after the initial dunking is if the “soil” is going to retain the water later.I dont know if I can mention commercial brands on this forum,but the good stuff could be shandied up with the rubbish,as the more expensive(marginal in price) was a bit over the top re. retention.IBottom line seems to be ‘try it sand see’? Would that create a problem with soil diseases etc?……………..AL

I use Searles Premium.

46150 said:

Good one Pomolo,the only problem after the initial dunking is if the “soil” is going to retain the water later.I dont know if I can mention commercial brands on this forum,but the good stuff could be shandied up with the rubbish,as the more expensive(marginal in price) was a bit over the top re. retention.IBottom line seems to be ‘try it sand see’? Would that create a problem with soil diseases etc?……………..AL

Adding water crystals will help with water retention but if watering is done regularly (so that the soil never gets to totally dry out) then you shouldn’t have any problems.Mulching the top of the pot will help retain dampness.
If worms get in the pot they can create tracks through the soil.

I have bought cheap pot mix and added my own goodies to it. It was fine. Don’t think I have ever had to deal with any soil disease.

I still recommend pot dunking. Specially for hanging baskets.

Thats what i was eluding to.I have two baskets that i have planted petunias in.They are still flowering ok,but as fast as the water goes in,it flows out.With the remaining fuschias,i mixed the good with the bad whilst still in the basket,and they seem to be doing extremely well.However,with the heat we are having and the forecast of the same for the next week,it will certainly try them out………….AL

46150 said:

Thats what i was eluding to.I have two baskets that i have planted petunias in.They are still flowering ok,but as fast as the water goes in,it flows out.With the remaining fuschias,i mixed the good with the bad whilst still in the basket,and they seem to be doing extremely well.However,with the heat we are having and the forecast of the same for the next week,it will certainly try them out………….AL

Al..

I’ve left the clip on saucer under the hanging pot to keep at least a bit of water available to the plant. I take them off during the cooler month’s.
A handfull of sand in the potting mix help’s to stop the potting mix turning into a hard clump when dried out and easier to re wet.

Another good idea Happy Potter,………….keep ‘em coming………….AL