Science Forums 2

[Michaelangelica]

So here are some haphazard observations

!. My 2 year old parsley has been eaten by me, and eaten down to the nub by the bloody possum.
They are shooting again and I look like getting another crop.
This from a plant, that at best, is a biannual.
They were one of my first "experiments" I actually left one without char and two with "x" amount of car and 2 with "y" amount of char.
Of course I have forgotten which is which now.

2.Trying to save my half dead Hibscus near the pool with char and organic matter failed.
I think the problem is the soil around the pool contains salt

3.TP Pots seem easier to re-wet when they dry out.
This is a problem with nurseymen who often use automatically timed watering systems.
If a field of pots is not watered, and drys out, re-wetting can be a problem. just watering again does not cut it. A sort of 'meniscus' forms on top of the pot and the water runs down the inside of the pot and out the drainage holes at the bottom.
I am using a bit of grey water (only in some pots)so that adds another variable to the mix (soap)

4 The initial impact of putting too much char on acid loving plants can be a problem. So far lost 3 gardenias and 1 Aquilegia.
The aquiligias were interesting.
I had/have some beautiful looking aquilegias that don't seem to want to flower.. I put about 20-30g of rice hull char on each pot. they immediatly all slumped down and looked as if they were about to die. One did Within a few weeks the others all bounced back looking better than they did before. (which was very good). Still haven't flowered. I am about to speak to them sternly.

5. I think I am using too much char.
The Japanese research paper on Tea Trees used only 100g per tree, per square meter, per year.
After 4 years they have 30-40%? more growth.
They plan to carry on the experiment for 10 years.
So that will be worth watching and waiting for.

6 I grew a 2 metre fig tree, from a small cutting, with two figs, in 12 months, in a ground up BBQ char, home made, potting mix.
I am very proud of it
1& 1/2 figs for the bloody possum 1/2 fig for me.