Gardening Soil

[ferice]

I have several bell pepper plants. I water them daily, and they still look dead at the end of the day. What I'very realized is that after a few months, the soil is hardened and the water run on the side of the container and leaked out. I've always used 2/3 natures care organic soils and 1/3 natureso care organic compost. What can I do to improve my soil? What kind of soil, compost, and other combinations would one recommend?

 

[Chuck]

You are watering way too often. When you water, completely saturate the soil from the bottom to the top and then don't water again until the plants are wilted in the early AM. I would take them out of the container and put them into a larger one with more soil. Always water from the bottom up if you possibly can

 

[ferice]

The problem appears to be the soil hardened; as a result, the plants are not getting enough water. I woke up at 6 am to water them. When I get home in the evening, they looked terrible again.

 

[Chuck]

The problem appears to be the soil hardened; as a result, the plants are not getting enough water. I woke up at 6 am to water them. When I get home in the evening, they looked terrible again.

It sounds as if the entire container of soil is not being watered. If you have a wheelbarrow or a tub of some kind put your container in that and fill it up with water and come back in a few hours and take it out

 

[The Urban Farmer]

Perhaps your soil needs to be amended with some clay or soil thickeners. You shouldn't have to water your soil every day (unless you live in an extremely dry and hot environment). Watering 2-3 times a week should suffice. If you're finding that the soil is dry and water has leaked out, your soil may be too "loose". I wrote about soil composition on my blog. Feel free to check it out!

 

[ferice]

I lived in Florida, and it does get pretty hot here. I'll check out your blog.