what can i plant in a 2.5" deep container?

[Two_Sheds]

also. if you pleases....what's the best way to sterlise the pots and stuff.

Hot water and Ecover washing up liquid. Job done.

[citygirl]

Why sterilise? Was there some sort of viral problem last year? Generally I just scrub pots at the kitchen sink or if I'm feeling really flamboyant I might consider putting a few in the dishwasher!

well that's it, see. i have no idea what's been in them previously, they're given to me. and there's a miriad of others that i've collected and just had out in the back yard with all sorts of unmentionables could be lurking in there, and it would be easier if the steamer was used, as it can be used in the yard rather than my rather impractical kitchen....which is miles away from the yard.

[TPeers]

Bucket of flash and remember to rinse would be my suggestion then but I doubt that you will have a problem, more problems are caused by using poor or old compost that by dirty pots. The main reason for washing them is to remove any old compost which could be harbouring virus or desease - not to do anything in particular to the plastic.

Does this help?

[citygirl]

thanks

so is growbag soil better than multipurpose then?

it's a minefield out there

[TPeers]

Depends what you want it for!

Seed compost is low in nutrients so as not to burn tender new roots from freshly germinating seeds its drawback is that the supply of nutrient is soon used up so...

General potting compost (the stuff that is generally on offer somewhere) is slightly richer and is what many people use when 'potting on' - transfering the seedings at a fairly early stage, say 2-4 true leaves, to individual cells or pots to grow on into small plants.

If you are looking to grow an acid loving plant like rododendron, camilia or heathers you need a compost that is suited to these types of plant - Ericaceous it the word to look for from Erica the latin name for heather.

If you want to plant trees or shrubs in pots their requirements are different again and there are composts designed to suit their needs.

So basically all the different composts are seperated by what type and what quantity of fertialiser they contain and by how acid or otherwise they are and what additives (water retaining gels etc) they contain. It is fairly important to be at least peripherally aware of this as trying to germinate a California Poppy (suited to thin poor soils with good drainage) in a John Innes No 3 with swell gel (rich and moisture retentive) is just not going to work well!

Hope this makes sense!

Terry

[citygirl]

yes. thankyou


i shall gives it a go once i work out what i can put in what!