conifers 120320 1

How much do you water them?

um, not very oten, I'm afraid: I seem to think that being outdoors they'd get all they need, forgetting that it don't rain every day. When I do water, I tend to give them a good drink; I can usually hear it running out of the bottom of the pots and dripping on to the tabletop.

But that's the prob: they don't retain enough water in the pot. I did try putting trough saucers on the tiers and standing the pots on those, but that just means that, when it rains, they're standing in water.

I did put cloth wicks in the bottom of most of the pots so that I could stand them on gravel and have the wicks in the water, but I don't know if these plastic tiers would be strong enough to take the weight of that much gravel: I'd done that for cat-litter grravel trays on the tabletop.

Overwatering is my favourite fatal mistake which I try to avoid, maybe by going to the other extreme - it's much easier to add water to a dry plant than to try to take water from a sodden one - after all, it takes longer to die of thirst than to drown.

I wasn't sure if it's overwatering, underwatering, or being pressed up against the tier behind them: they started browning on one side only, it was perhaps my turning them round that got to the other side as well.

It's definitely too late for Mr.Brown Bread there but the other one could pull through. I would suggest a bigger pot. That will hold moisture for longer. Also a bark chip (or equivalent, even cardboard) mulch would keep the dampness in. If I were to pull out a scoop of my mix from under the mulch it would be damp enough to stick slightly to my hand but crumbly. Also it's impossible for me to over water as the drainage is good and can't hold excess water. My mix is a version of a recommended container mix for conifers.

3/3/1 Fine bark mulch (B&Q or other) Perlite (B&Q or other, but I buy in bulk from a hydroponics supplier) Compost.

That's the jump, take out the minor compost component and it's an odd sounding mix, bark and perlite. But conifers don't need more. The compost adds some nutrition but fertiliser gives all they need.

For you if cost is a factor and with only one or two to do then I would recommend you buy a bag of fine bark only because you will need that for mulching. Instead of perlite you can use grit sand. 3/1/1 ratio should do it.

thanks Sev, dear. I have two sacks of bark chips, rough, but I suppose I could "fine" it with a bit of judicious pounding.

I'll check out Perlite - want some anyway for proto-hyertufa'ing. I did use to use Vermiculite, but heard that's not eco-friendly. just Googled Perlite to check that, seems to be better.

or there's water-retaining gel, got some somwhere, must be able to get more.

the main prob for me is getting sacks of fresh compost home; it's about time I rung the changes; even if it's only a top dressing. Then I'll be able to pot up this and the other evergreens I have; sure it'd be as good for them as for this one.

Sounds good. GQT always say that old compost is worthess never recycle, not sure if you were talking about re-using some. Maybe as top dressing they said. My mum gets one of those small bales of compost, I think most supermarkets do them.

I generally use the old compost in the bottom of pots, for ballast where the roots won't reach, so saving new compost for actually putting the plant into. what's left over gets chucked into the composter; it's either that or bin it - *s* and I hate binning stuff. I hadn't thought about using it for top-dressing: I always thought, or beleived, that fresh compost was needed all the way to the top - minus bark or other mulch, of course. but then, inert compost might count as mulch.

I've seen smaller bags of compost, but it's like any other shopping-for-one - I object to paying proportionately more for smaller quantities than I would if I got a larger one and saved the rest till later. And I've got about thirty plants, so smaller quantities would mean going out every other day to get more (that's the way I have to buy milk, sigh).

It does sound a struggle for you Fran. How about mail order with free delivery? It might be worth scouring the net for a company that wants business. Even local independent flower etc. shops may want the trade and will car it round.

I've seen delivery for bulk orders, but that's quite a bulk they want to shift! enough to build a ski slope.

I can get compost from my local hardware shop, or second closest, three bus stops down the road; the sacks are smaller than at Lidl, and cost more per, but if one doesn't count the cab fare from Lidl, they work out cheaper.

Of course, I could get "a man with a van" and do a bulk buy from B&Q - would cost for the transport but might work out cheaper overall. But then I've got to store that many bags when I've not really got room to swing a small kitten.

I have a new four-wheel trolley; if I can get that to the hardware shop I might be able to get four or so bags at one go - I'd only have to push the trolley rather than take half the weight of a 2-wheeler with even one bag.

lol don't mean to make it sound so hard, there's a way round it, but not a quick or easy one! *s*

It does sound hard, but you're resourceful so I have faith.

well, I could always give up the plants and start to build a swimming pool ... if I want to garden badly enough, I'll find a way.

err, correction: I already garden badly enough! I meant if i wanted badly enough to garden - more convoluted but less chance of misinterpretation

Fran - you need a friend with a car. I wish I lived nearer!
How about putting an ad in a local shop for a gardening buddy?? Just a suggestion Im sure there must be other people in your situation.

That's worth a try, Poppy, thanks - one would need to be a bit careful in the wording in case it was taken to have a "dubious" double meaning! and to let a stranger into one's home ...

there are garden charities, I've not got round to contacting them yet; don't know if they'd be able to offer practical help of this kind. Maybe if there were other people locallly we could do a bulk buy between us and split the transport costs if none of us had a car.