Peat Problems

[brian]

Here's a perfect example of the problem with using too much peat moss in container soil. This tree was last repotted before I switched to a better mix. It has been outside exposed to the elements all summer, so even rainfall hasn't saturated the soil. I'm surprised it is as healthy as it is considering only the top third of the container has any water. It hasn't grown much compared to my greenhouse trees, though.



This is a Nordmann seedless nagami kumquat

[david]

One must be cautious with container mixes. A clue......when water does not run from the weep holes at a good rate...or it runs out of them immediately when you water....there is a problem. Looks like you have found yours.😀

[david]

I have only limes in containers. Everything else is in the ground. When I water them. I put ice on the top of the soil.....keep adding till it has melted and runs from the weep holes.....good slow soaking water. Gives the tree lots of time to get a drink.

[millet]

Simple solution is just soak the entire root ball in a large container. I soak my container trees about once every 2 or 3 months.  I normally but the tree in the container towards the end of the day, and take it out the next morning.

[Laaz]

I have been using a huge steam pot, mix my Bayer Advanced in it & let my container trees soak for a few minutes in it.

[zap]

Soil is prob' too acidic? 

Counterfeit Peat Moss.   Huge Peat problem I discovered, when I killed 2/3 of my potted plants 2 years ago & the giant company selling it don't care!

I bought "Peat" from a large discount merchant named W###...... (liability issues).
(It's not Canadian/Wisconsin Sphagnum Peat "Moss" that forms up in the arctic to sub arctic, over thousands of years!!)  "Peat" can merely be bark that pulls off trees, as they are dragged in to saw mills in the Louisiana Bayou, + wood & sawdust. LA "Peat" is saturated with anaerobic bacteria - bad bad bad for container plants.  Perhaps useful but not Peat-moss.

You must READ THE LABEL WELL if you are in the USA region.  Look for source addresses in the sub-arctic if possible.  And Look for words like Sphagnum, Moss, Canada, Wisconsin, and avoid source addresses in the warm parts of the globe.

Apologies to any Swamp residents out there!
This applies to everyone, counterfeiters are all over the world -not just in the USA!

[millet]

Wall Mart had a potting soil outside mixing plant  about 10 miles from me.  They had semi-truck loads brought in and dumped on the ground of 4 or 5 different ingredients.  It was mixed there, but bagged elsewhere, however it laid on the ground for months.  I don't know how good or bad the final product was as I never never never buy anything from Wal-Mart.

[david]

I do buy Expert brand potting and garden soil from Walmart. I find it as good or better than Miracle Grow. I mix the Expert Potting soil with light weight agregate and compost and it works fine for my limes....only thing I have in containers.

[brian]

Soaking would definitely fix this, but I have far too many trees to soak them all one by one.

[Laaz]

Get a kiddie pool & you can do multiple pots at a time.

[bklyncitrus]

I grow in containers so I\m a 5-1-1 reptibark variant mix guy. I often reuse old potting soil as a one part when I buy a tree in a new potup. I also use spent 5-1-1 as a one part in new mixes, and will use cactus soil as a one part on occasion, but I never buy peat.

[bklyncitrus]

Hows the Nordmann habit and taste BTW?

[millet]

Nordmann kumquat grows and taste just like the Nagami Kumquat. Nordmann is just a seedless Nagami. If you like the taste of Nagami then you like the Nordmann, probably a little better because there is no seeds. Personally I don't like the taste of Nagami, so I tossed that tree out long ago..