Earthbox Disaster!

peebee · June 22, 2017

My coworker who is doing an EB for the first time put in the wrong medium, I've learned. Instead of a potting mix (and I specified Promix), he went to Armstrong nursery where an employee there professed no knowledge of EBs but recommended a PLANTING mix which is recommended to be mixed into native soil in the ground

. So no wonder the soil in this EB is rock hard and the tomato looked ok at first and set a couple of fruit but is not doing so well now.
What can be done at this point? Anything?

Worth1 · June 22, 2017

Keep watering it and let the water run out the over flow hole.

Worth

AlittleSalt · June 22, 2017

I agree. Try to keep the soil mix from getting dry and hard.

dmforcier · June 22, 2017

Therein lies the rub. The stuff that will compact hard when dry will retain way too much moisture when watered heavily.

In a standard container the only real solution as far as I know is to transplant into a good medium. If the plant is large, though, it will have to be cut back to make this possible, as the root system will be handicapped for a while.

Now, aren't EBs self-watering? The top may be hard and dry, but what's going on below the soil line? Got a moisture meter?

Worth1 · June 22, 2017

I had to babble out something that might work so others would post to help.
The question sat around too long without answers.

I still think my idea would work at this time because it is hard to transplant while plants are stetting fruit.
Worth

dmforcier · June 22, 2017

You're right there, and some water probably won't hurt it right now.

I'm not all that clear on how EB's work. Don't they just wick up from a reservoir? If so, maybe the wick isn't set up right. Or maybe the plant is in need of some ferts. Hard to tell without a pic.

oakley · June 22, 2017

Yes, i think the wicking system has been compromised. No longer able to keep the
benefits of that system so top watering makes sense. Flooding? or getting those dry
roots some water and ferts right now might help. Prime time for food and moisture.

And some mulch to hold that moisture from drying out. They have an overflow so they
will not sit in wet soggy soil?

Rockporter · June 22, 2017

The only way to fix that would be to remove the plant and put in the correct mix. If it's a large plant it will have to be laid sideways in the box to get the roots going on it again and make it good and strong. There is absolutely no way that plant will survive in there, it's just too heavy a medium for anything to grow in there.

This person should follow the exact instructions from Earthbox to make sure the box will wick the water into the medium.

ScottinAtlanta · June 22, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockporter

The only way to fix that would be to remove the plant and put in the correct mix. If it's a large plant it will have to be laid sideways in the box to get the roots going on it again and make it good and strong. There is absolutely no way that plant will survive in there, it's just too heavy a medium for anything to grow in there.

This person should follow the exact instructions from Earthbox to make sure the box will wick the water into the medium.

Agreed. There is too much clay in the current mix to ever work well.

zipcode · June 23, 2017

I have grown in containers containing 100% actual soil, and not good one either. Like below average clay soil. Cherry tomatoes at least grow ok. Overall growth is slower and all but they have been doing well and producing all season long. I'm pretty sure that soil she got is way better than that.
This was with top watering. Maybe the soil is not wicking enough or too much, so no good for self watering. So either take the plants out and put new mix, or switch to top watering.

Nematode · June 23, 2017

Co-worker needs to RTFM.
Sometimes learning is painful.

My Foot Smells · June 23, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nematode

Co-worker needs to RTFM.
Sometimes learning is painful.

RTFM = Read The "Flipping" Manual?

Rockporter · June 23, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nematode

Co-worker needs to RTFM.
Sometimes learning is painful.

In the co-workers defense, said person was talked into what said person used. Earthboxes are quite confusing at first. I know I read and I read and I read about global buckets for a very long time. Then we made four of them and then I discovered Earthbox After that I discovered Raybo's Earthtainers. I've had them all. There is definite newbie confusion.

Father'sDaughter · June 23, 2017

I think the only mistake the co-worker made was putting their trust in someone who didn't RTFM, but made a recommendation anyway...

Nematode · June 23, 2017

Sometimes when I am trying to have fun, it can come across harsh.
Blame it on NY roots.

June 22, 2017	#1
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	Earthbox Disaster! My coworker who is doing an EB for the first time put in the wrong medium, I've learned. Instead of a potting mix (and I specified Promix), he went to Armstrong nursery where an employee there professed no knowledge of EBs but recommended a PLANTING mix which is recommended to be mixed into native soil in the ground . So no wonder the soil in this EB is rock hard and the tomato looked ok at first and set a couple of fruit but is not doing so well now. What can be done at this point? Anything?

June 22, 2017	#4
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	Therein lies the rub. The stuff that will compact hard when dry will retain way too much moisture when watered heavily. In a standard container the only real solution as far as I know is to transplant into a good medium. If the plant is large, though, it will have to be cut back to make this possible, as the root system will be handicapped for a while. Now, aren't EBs self-watering? The top may be hard and dry, but what's going on below the soil line? Got a moisture meter? __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

June 22, 2017	#6
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	You're right there, and some water probably won't hurt it right now. I'm not all that clear on how EB's work. Don't they just wick up from a reservoir? If so, maybe the wick isn't set up right. Or maybe the plant is in need of some ferts. Hard to tell without a pic. __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

June 22, 2017	#8
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	The only way to fix that would be to remove the plant and put in the correct mix. If it's a large plant it will have to be laid sideways in the box to get the roots going on it again and make it good and strong. There is absolutely no way that plant will survive in there, it's just too heavy a medium for anything to grow in there. This person should follow the exact instructions from Earthbox to make sure the box will wick the water into the medium. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

June 22, 2017	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Keep watering it and let the water run out the over flow hole. Worth

June 22, 2017	#3
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I agree. Try to keep the soil mix from getting dry and hard.

June 22, 2017	#7
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Yes, i think the wicking system has been compromised. No longer able to keep the benefits of that system so top watering makes sense. Flooding? or getting those dry roots some water and ferts right now might help. Prime time for food and moisture. And some mulch to hold that moisture from drying out. They have an overflow so they will not sit in wet soggy soil?

June 23, 2017	#10
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	I have grown in containers containing 100% actual soil, and not good one either. Like below average clay soil. Cherry tomatoes at least grow ok. Overall growth is slower and all but they have been doing well and producing all season long. I'm pretty sure that soil she got is way better than that. This was with top watering. Maybe the soil is not wicking enough or too much, so no good for self watering. So either take the plants out and put new mix, or switch to top watering.

June 23, 2017	#11
Nematode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: massachusetts Posts: 1,710	Co-worker needs to RTFM. Sometimes learning is painful.

June 23, 2017	#14
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I think the only mistake the co-worker made was putting their trust in someone who didn't RTFM, but made a recommendation anyway...