Containers: some info

[Ed of Somis]

I posted this in "general discussion"....but I thought it should be put here as well....
J...growing in containers has some challenges that is much different than in-ground growing. There is a "container" forum on the garden web that is really good. Several of those people are really experts on this! Be careful on whose advice you follow. I think all mean well...Container size is important. I know people can grow in 5 gal containers. Generally, the bigger the better. My 15 gal nursery pots work well for tomatoes. I am going a bit bigger next year. Many commercial slow-draining potting soils/mixes are a real problem. Have you ever noticed the bottom 3-4 inches of muck in your pots when you dump them? Without spending an hour going into the science of why this is...let me simplify. Water continues downward because of two forces: gravity and cohesion. At the bottom of the pot you lose the cohesion factor. This is why drain holes alone are not enough. A wick (simply put) "fakes the medium out"...and allows the water to be "pulled out"...even on the bottom of the pot. Never use a container that has no drainage. Aeration in soil is a must! Without it...plants die from lack of water/nutrients. Yes, it is true. Plants suffocate, and can no longer pull these nutrients/water in. Finally, container growing (not self-watering) need constant attention. Daily watering during summer (until run-out) and constant low-dose feeding is necessary. I apologize for the long thread....but if I can help others avoid trouble...that is a good thing. Ed