Drainage in pots. (Butia eriospatha)

[karl66]

I have white limestone chippings 3 or 4 inches deep in some of my big containers to help with drainage. Then followed with soil compost and perlite. I have this for free as i'm a roofing contractor!!. Is this alright under palms in pots?. karl.

[Scott Radford]

http://www.junglemusic.net/palmadvice/p ... -palms.htm

That should give you some good info

[Dave Brown]

I have white limestone chippings 3 or 4 inches deep in some of my big containers to help with drainage. Then followed with soil compost and perlite. I have this for free as i'm a roofing contractor!!. Is this alright under palms in pots?. karl.

It really depends on the Palm, Karl. Chamaerops grow on Limestone mountains so will be quite happy, but many palms, including Trachycarpus grow better in slightly acid soil (pH 6 to 6.5). In theory, the chippings being at the bottom would mean any calcified water would drain out, but palms tend to be deep rooted, so would head straight for the bottom of the pot. I'd reduce the chippings to 1 inch as it is only to stop water accumulating at the bottom. The perlite will be the main drainage.

[karl66]

I have white limestone chippings 3 or 4 inches deep in some of my big containers to help with drainage. Then followed with soil compost and perlite. I have this for free as i'm a roofing contractor!!. Is this alright under palms in pots?. karl.

It really depends on the Palm, Karl. Chamaerops grow on Limestone mountains so will be quite happy, but many palms, including Trachycarpus grow better in slightly acid soil (pH 6 to 6.5). In theory, the chippings being at the bottom would mean any calcified water would drain out, but palms tend to be deep rooted, so would head straight for the bottom of the pot. I'd reduce the chippings to 1 inch as it is only to stop water accumulating at the bottom. The perlite will be the main drainage.

Dave,the palm is a Butia Eriospatha trunk height aprox 18inchs high and 40 inch girth at bottom and sitting in a massive half barrell. karl.

[grub]

I have this for free as i'm a roofing contractor!!. karl.

Don't your roof need doing Dave?

[Conifers]

I have this for free as i'm a roofing contractor!!. karl.

Limestone chippings for a roof? I'd rather have slates, they keep the rain out better

Actually, bits of old roof slate is what I put in the bottom of pots for drainage - they're thin, so it allows more space for soil

[Nigel Fear]

I use the crocks from broken pots, there alway's seems to be a good supply around after winter, that or polystyrene, which is a lot lighter.