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Home > Archive > UK gardening > September 2005 > Poor drainage?
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| Robbie 2005-09-22, 1:21 pm |
| As a novice to gardening, I suspect that my potted plants on the patio are
victims of poor drainage I.e. the leaves have gone yellow from the ground
upwards after an initial spurt of growth. I understand that to cure this, one
should put broken terra cotta in the bottom of the pots (or something like
this) - anything else I need to do?
And is it worth saving the plants somehow (Russian Vine, Jasmine) or better
to start again? Oddly, the Ivy seems to be fine.
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| michael adams 2005-09-22, 2:21 pm |
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"Robbie" <the_erbert@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1d9ce44e66855c9598b495@news.ntlworld.com...
> As a novice to gardening, I suspect that my potted plants on the patio are
> victims of poor drainage I.e. the leaves have gone yellow from the ground
> upwards after an initial spurt of growth. I understand that to cure this,
one
> should put broken terra cotta in the bottom of the pots (or something like
> this) - anything else I need to do?
....
No need to worry about terra cotta, just any large stones that are
too large to fall through the drainage holes will do, providing
you don't block the holes up completely with single stones. That
and pieces of broken ceramic or terracotta tiles, etc. If it
wasn't for the fact you want the weight at the bottom, you could
use small pieces of expanded polystyrene, packing peanuts etc.
as well. It might be overdoing it a bit, but I personally crock the
bottom third of almost all my long term pots with stones from the
garden broken tiles etc.
There are claims that a good compost uncrocked, will drain just as
well as a well crocked pot, but old habits die hard maybe.
When repotting, maybe think off adding slightly more grit to
the compost as well to promote better drainage. Although not
all plants like a free draining soil ( as if you wouldn't guess.)
The only way you can be certain the plants are the victims of
poor drainage is by checking the roots. Tip out the pots onto
a sheet of newspaper and examine the rootball. If sections of
the roots are all dark brown and mushy then you'll need to cut
away those sections - if they don't fall away by themselves. Until
you're left with solid roots. If you don't need to remove too much root
you might be able to repot the plants as they are - otherwise you
might want to prune the top growth, to match the reduced root ball.
Assuming this is poor drainage, then apart from the plants getting
a good soaking in wet weather, it suggests you're overwatering them.
A good rule of thumb with most plants, if you're not sure (they all
have different needs in theory )is to only water a plant when the leaves
are starting to go slightly limp. If the leaves feel full and firm
then leave it be. Which isn't of much help with waxy leaved
plants, admittedly. The point being, that far more pot plants are
killed off by over-watering than by under-watering.
So tip them out, have a look at the roots, trim where necessary,
and the top to match, bottom third of the pots filled with largeish
stones broken tiles etc, grit in the compost, and water more
sparingly and protect from downpours if possible.
michael adams
>
> And is it worth saving the plants somehow (Russian Vine, Jasmine) or
better
> to start again? Oddly, the Ivy seems to be fine.
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| Sarah Dale 2005-09-22, 4:21 pm |
| Robbie wrote:
> As a novice to gardening, I suspect that my potted plants on the patio are
> victims of poor drainage I.e. the leaves have gone yellow from the ground
<snip>
> And is it worth saving the plants somehow (Russian Vine, Jasmine) or better
> to start again? Oddly, the Ivy seems to be fine.
And your other problem might well be what you are growing and the size
of pot you are growing it in.
Russian vine is a huge fast growing plant - it will need a massive pot
and lots of food to look any good and plenty of water.
Jasmine - do you know which one you are growing? Some are frost tender.
Again it could be related to lack of food / pot size rtaher than poor
drainage.
HTH
Sarah
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| Robbie 2005-09-23, 8:21 am |
| In article <3pg55rFacci5U1@individual.net>, michael adams graces us with a
reply...
<snipped>
> So tip them out, have a look at the roots, trim where necessary,
> and the top to match, bottom third of the pots filled with largeish
> stones broken tiles etc, grit in the compost, and water more
> sparingly and protect from downpours if possible.
>
> michael adams
Thanks very much for your reply. It's of great help.
| |
| Robbie 2005-09-23, 8:21 am |
| In article <ukab03-dr3.ln1@mattfoster.homelinux.net>, Sarah Dale graces us
with a reply...
> Robbie wrote:
> <snip>
>
> And your other problem might well be what you are growing and the size
> of pot you are growing it in.
>
> Russian vine is a huge fast growing plant - it will need a massive pot
> and lots of food to look any good and plenty of water.
>
> Jasmine - do you know which one you are growing? Some are frost tender.
> Again it could be related to lack of food / pot size rtaher than poor
> drainage.
Thanks for your comments. I think I will increase pot size at your
suggestion.
Jasminum Officinale.
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| mike_lincs@yahoo.co.uk 2005-09-23, 3:21 pm |
| Russian vine is NOT suitable growing in a pot, it is far too vigorous
and you just couldn't keep it watered enough or fed for that matter.
Jasmine officinalis, if that is what it is, is also probably too much
for a pot.
Mike
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| Robbie 2005-09-26, 4:21 pm |
| In article <1127496771.008605.281840@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
mike_lincs@yahoo.co.uk graces us with a reply...
> Russian vine is NOT suitable growing in a pot, it is far too vigorous
> and you just couldn't keep it watered enough or fed for that matter.
> Jasmine officinalis, if that is what it is, is also probably too much
> for a pot.
Thanks. What about any varieties of Ivy?
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| Mike Lyle 2005-09-26, 8:21 pm |
| Robbie wrote:
> In article <1127496771.008605.281840@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
> mike_lincs@yahoo.co.uk graces us with a reply...
vigorous[color=darkred]
matter.[color=darkred]
much[color=darkred]
>
> Thanks. What about any varieties of Ivy?
Ivies can stand up to all sorts of conditions, so I wouldn't worry
much. Be careful if it's near the house, of course -- you don't want
it taking a fancy to your woodwork.
--
Mike.
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| marika 2005-09-26, 9:21 pm |
|
Robbie wrote:
>
> Thanks.
interesting
>What about any varieties of Ivy?
interesting tangent
mk5000
"I was lucky I came to New York at the right time. my shop coincided
with the greening of the city"--renny reynolds
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| In article <3prcekFbq3qsU1@individual.net>, Mike Lyle <mike_lyle_uk@REMO
VETHISyahoo.co.uk> writes
>
>Ivies can stand up to all sorts of conditions, so I wouldn't worry
>much. Be careful if it's near the house, of course -- you don't want
>it taking a fancy to your woodwork.
>
Why is it of especial problem to woodwork? (as compared to stonework,
say?)
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"
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| Mike Lyle 2005-09-27, 11:21 am |
| Kay wrote:
> In article <3prcekFbq3qsU1@individual.net>, Mike Lyle
> <mike_lyle_uk@REMO VETHISyahoo.co.uk> writes
want[color=darkred]
> Why is it of especial problem to woodwork? (as compared to
stonework,
> say?)
Well, it won't do much -- if any -- damage to sound stonework or
brickwork, but I've seen it wiggle its way into the joints and
between the pieces of window-frames and barge-boards. The clinging
roots seem to be hard on paintwork in themselves, as well as being a
nuisance to scrape down for repainting. A good clump may also
restrict air-circulation and help rot to get going.
On a bungalow, it can get between the slates, too: when I stupidly
let this happen, I got it out before the stems could grow thick
enough to loosen the slates, but I was undeservedly lucky.
--
Mike.
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| Jaques d'Alltrades 2005-09-27, 4:21 pm |
| The message <3pt2hoFbskccU1@individual.net>
from "Mike Lyle" <mike_lyle_uk@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> contains these words:
> On a bungalow, it can get between the slates, too: when I stupidly
> let this happen, I got it out before the stems could grow thick
> enough to loosen the slates, but I was undeservedly lucky.
Hmmmm. I can do better than that.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/hsefront.jpg
The ivy was attacking the tiles near the ridge before I removed it.
There's a Black Humbug now - pics next year - and some grapes, if I'm
lucky.
--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
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