This year I decided to try my hand at growing peppers. I kinda just dove head first into pepper growing and I've made some terrible choices with my soil and fertz for the 20 odd plants I currently have in pots. To a greater or lesser extent my peppers are in either of the following soil mixes:
1. Premium potting mix - with the pre-packed fertz
2. Premium potting mix cut with water retention "soil improver" and a few scoops of added fertz balls
3. Cheap potting mix with no pre-packed fertz included or any added.
4. Some hybrid of the 1-2 haphazardly mixed together.
Needless to say I have over fertilized and my plants don't seem to be very happy. I cant flush them as the damn fertz balls are still in there and I really compacted the soil too to make matters worse. The only plants that are doing OK are in soil mix 3, the cheap as chips potting mix. They are a little slow to grow but at least they are growing strong and not dropping leaves, getting fertz burn and fingers crossed they will hold their flowers and pod up (unlike my others).
Now that I'm more 'aware' of what I'm doing (thanks to reading this forum and asking this great community for tips), I'm going to make a new soil mix and re-pot them.
I have 26 gallons (100 litres) of perlite, 26 gallons of cheap potting mix (nothing added) and 10 gallons (40 litres) of premium potting mix to have a second attempt at a decent soil mix.
It might be a closely guarded secret for all I know, but if anyone can recommend a good mix from what I have to fill a series of 4-5 gallon (16-20 litre) pots I would be very grateful. Lastly, any re-potting tips to reduce the stress to the plants would also be gratefully received.
Rainman
1. Premium potting mix - with the pre-packed fertz
2. Premium potting mix cut with water retention "soil improver" and a few scoops of added fertz balls
3. Cheap potting mix with no pre-packed fertz included or any added.
4. Some hybrid of the 1-2 haphazardly mixed together.
Needless to say I have over fertilized and my plants don't seem to be very happy. I cant flush them as the damn fertz balls are still in there and I really compacted the soil too to make matters worse. The only plants that are doing OK are in soil mix 3, the cheap as chips potting mix. They are a little slow to grow but at least they are growing strong and not dropping leaves, getting fertz burn and fingers crossed they will hold their flowers and pod up (unlike my others).
Now that I'm more 'aware' of what I'm doing (thanks to reading this forum and asking this great community for tips), I'm going to make a new soil mix and re-pot them.
I have 26 gallons (100 litres) of perlite, 26 gallons of cheap potting mix (nothing added) and 10 gallons (40 litres) of premium potting mix to have a second attempt at a decent soil mix.
It might be a closely guarded secret for all I know, but if anyone can recommend a good mix from what I have to fill a series of 4-5 gallon (16-20 litre) pots I would be very grateful. Lastly, any re-potting tips to reduce the stress to the plants would also be gratefully received.
Rainman