Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
Well I finally plucked up the courage to plant her in the ground, I guess I was spurred into it by all this fine weather
I dug a big hole, and sat her on a few inches of 10mm grit, then filled in the hole with decent compost and a whole bundle of perlite, making sure to spread a couple of thicker longer roots into the surrounding sandy soil as they had begun to circle round the pot it was in. covered over the top with a layer of that weed prevention fabric and topped it off with more grit.
Soooooo, did I do right by it? If I should have done it differently please do tell me so I can fix it before it gets too bedded in as it is!
I dug a big hole, and sat her on a few inches of 10mm grit, then filled in the hole with decent compost and a whole bundle of perlite, making sure to spread a couple of thicker longer roots into the surrounding sandy soil as they had begun to circle round the pot it was in. covered over the top with a layer of that weed prevention fabric and topped it off with more grit.
Soooooo, did I do right by it? If I should have done it differently please do tell me so I can fix it before it gets too bedded in as it is!
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
Sounds good Kerinsian,
Over to weather holding out, and the palm bedding in which it has weeks yet.
Its said they survive best in the ground, root wise...good luck!!
Just don't decide to move it when it flushes.
Over to weather holding out, and the palm bedding in which it has weeks yet.
Its said they survive best in the ground, root wise...good luck!!
Just don't decide to move it when it flushes.
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
I did think that if I was going to do it at all then it should be done now, so it has the whole summer to establish. It seemed logical anyway! and no way am I moving it again unless someone tells me I've mucked it up and need to redo the planting!
how is your banana yellow cycas doing Kata, has it improved at all or is it still headed for the dustbin?
how is your banana yellow cycas doing Kata, has it improved at all or is it still headed for the dustbin?
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
Its gone...... It was aweful K,
When I see those zinc planters with a nice caudex like Shanks has, and like yours with loads of new green leaves it makes me want another...
All the leaves just pulled in spring. Currently doing ok with Ensetes.
When I see those zinc planters with a nice caudex like Shanks has, and like yours with loads of new green leaves it makes me want another...
All the leaves just pulled in spring. Currently doing ok with Ensetes.
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
Those are last years leaves! I was hoping that it may put out some more this year, but I expect it won't now that it has to establish itself in the ground
I don't have any of those, apart from my cycas I'm only really just starting with more tropical plants after years of trying to fill up a garden with what I could grow from cuttings/seeds, and what I could buy in the pound shop packetskata wrote: Currently doing ok with Ensetes.
Last edited by Kerinsian on Sun May 27, 2012 5:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
Not so K,
From what I learned. They don't flush every year but you can emulate a tropical storm by drowning them or sitting them in water but those planted can't be dunked only poured on I would think.
Just leave as is, if its going to flush it will soon enough.
From what I learned. They don't flush every year but you can emulate a tropical storm by drowning them or sitting them in water but those planted can't be dunked only poured on I would think.
Just leave as is, if its going to flush it will soon enough.
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
I've been flooding it every day for the last week since reading here about monsoons and such, plus it had a drenching after I planted it, so you never kow, it might *hopes*
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
Aye I know, I just thought I'd start hoping early in case the power of accumulated wishful thinking might influence it
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
a very nice cycas!
not sure if the weed fabric is a good idea though .... I've read bad reports about the stuff and some claiming that it kills all life in the soil, and that earthworms move elsewhere aswell
may be better to use a good quality mulch instead?
not sure if the weed fabric is a good idea though .... I've read bad reports about the stuff and some claiming that it kills all life in the soil, and that earthworms move elsewhere aswell
may be better to use a good quality mulch instead?
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
I'm in two minds too ... I'm covering all the beds with a couple of inches of well rotted manure (the animals are bedded on wood chippings, rather than straw, which perhaps makes it more suited to mulch than soil improvement) and apart from still having to weed the beds (but the weeds do come out of the mulch SO easily by comparison to my clay soil) I think I'm improving the soil much more than if I used weed suppressing membrane and fertilizers [only]Dim wrote:not sure if the weed fabric is a good idea though .... I've read bad reports about the stuff and some claiming that it kills all life in the soil, and that earthworms move elsewhere aswell
In Another Place (where Vegetables are grown and talked about !!) folk talk about "feeding the soil" as much as feeding the plant for permanent crops such as Raspberries. I think its only the Farmers who use the soil purely to "support" the plant, and then do everything else artificially ...
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
I'm all about feeding the soil and not the plant, even with potted plants. Plants really can look after themselves, and in more ways than most people imagine. They secrete organic chemicals (citric acid for example, which breaks down immobile P) which raise and lower the pH of the rhizosphere in order to attract certain types of soil microbe depending upon their needs at the time.
Modern intensive farming is a terrible thing but it really doesn't have to be that way. Organic yields for certain crops are only 5% lower, it is with the grains that there is the biggest difference in yield. The problem is (mainly) a lack of nitrogen.
Modern intensive farming is a terrible thing but it really doesn't have to be that way. Organic yields for certain crops are only 5% lower, it is with the grains that there is the biggest difference in yield. The problem is (mainly) a lack of nitrogen.
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
Needs leaf & stem growth plant food, i.e. Chempak 2 at every watering since the end of winter.Kerinsian wrote:I've been flooding it every day for the last week since reading here about monsoons and such, plus it had a drenching after I planted it, so you never know, it might *hopes*
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
I'm trying the 'High Brix' gardening methods now ... and so far so good ... (lots of info on youtube and google)Kristen wrote:I'm in two minds too ... I'm covering all the beds with a couple of inches of well rotted manure (the animals are bedded on wood chippings, rather than straw, which perhaps makes it more suited to mulch than soil improvement) and apart from still having to weed the beds (but the weeds do come out of the mulch SO easily by comparison to my clay soil) I think I'm improving the soil much more than if I used weed suppressing membrane and fertilizers [only]Dim wrote:not sure if the weed fabric is a good idea though .... I've read bad reports about the stuff and some claiming that it kills all life in the soil, and that earthworms move elsewhere aswell
In Another Place (where Vegetables are grown and talked about !!) folk talk about "feeding the soil" as much as feeding the plant for permanent crops such as Raspberries. I think its only the Farmers who use the soil purely to "support" the plant, and then do everything else artificially ...
I have tested the same species of plants using normal fertilizers such as miracle grow vs adding actively aerated compost teas, seaweed/fish foliar feeds etc and I can see huge differences so far ...
I still have lots to learn though
Re: Planted my cycas out, did I make any mistakes?
Good point Dim, the people in tipi valley move the tipis and yurts every 6 months to avoid making the soil underneath sour, So I pulled it out earlier this morning!Dim wrote: not sure if the weed fabric is a good idea though .... I've read bad reports about the stuff and some claiming that it kills all life in the soil, and that earthworms move elsewhere aswell
Thanks for the tip Steph, I put blood fish and bone into the planting hole but I'll make sure to feed it as you suggest, One question though, Chempak 2 has a ratio of 25 15 15. I already have a liquid organic fert with a ratio of 5 3 3. As it's a measurement of ratio and not quantity that should be the same as the chempak 2 shouldn't it?Steph wrote: Needs leaf & stem growth plant food, i.e. Chempak 2 at every watering since the end of winter.