Re: Observations on growing plants in bogs

From: "Kathy Kempf" wont_read101 at hotmail.com> on 2002.06.25 at 23:45:13(9001) Thanks for all your suggestions. Unfortunately, when I planted these iris and marsh marigolds and other things, I did not anticipate that they would be completely unindated by the torrential downpours we had all spring. I potted them in a fairly well-draining potting soil mix and sank the pots into the ground, with the surface about an inch above the surrounding soil level. The water level in the whole area was about 3" above that for 2 months. I tried a few times to lift the pots out and couldn't. They must have weighed 80 lbs (I am crippled and unable to carry much). When they were noticably failing in health, I managed to get the plants out of the pots, bareroot, and they have survived so far. Now that the water level has fallen in that area, I have examined the soil in my pots; no stench of "rotting" from the soil mix; but hard to tell with all the other rotting soil surrounding it. Lost a large number of plants from all the unnatural spring rains. The calla and calocadium I planted (no growth) just as the rains were starting have thrived. They came up much faster than expected in all that saturated soil; the bulbs have multiplied much faster. Could all the rotting soil be a great fertilizer for them? Something for me to investigate further. +More >From: "Julius Boos" >Reply-To: aroid-l@mobot.org >To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L >Subject: Re: Observations on growing plants in bogs >Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 17:27:02 -0500 (CDT) > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Paul Tyerman >To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L >Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2002 12:55 PM >Subject: Re: Observations on growing plants in bogs > > > > > >I have not had the same experience with my yellow flags (Iris pseudacorus >or > >my blue flags (Iris versicolor). They were in the same situation: water > >rose to above their crowns (growing points) during the spring, and rot >set > >in quickly. If I had not lifted them they would undoubtedly have died, >even > >though they did have "water roots". The difference seems to be whether >or > >not they have developed "water crowns". The water level rose to about 2" > >above their emerged stalks. They had been in normal soil, then flooded >in > >the spring, and the water kept rising. > > > > >>Howdy Kathy, > >Actually I'd be more hazarding that the soil components rotted, thereby >taking out the roots. There is a definite difference between happily >potted water plants and rotting soil. The only water irises I have ever >lost stank when removed... whether this was themselves or the soil I do not >know.<< > >Dear Friends, > >Now THIS was my exactly experience when I tried growing the neo-tropical >aquatic aroid genus Urospatha in pots full of soil but with the lower 2 - 3 >inches of the pot with the soil under the water surface, the SOIL rotted, >stank, and the plants all died! By putting about 3 - 4 inches of larva >rock or ANY rock, broken crock, etc. in the pots' bottom and soil w/ plant >above this, then standing this set-up in a saucer with no more than 2 - 3" >of water, and then watering from above till the roots grew out of the pots >drain holes I have avoided any further deaths, and the plants thrived! >Occasional treatments w/ a fungicide drench and WEAK fert., plus changing >the saucer`s water regularly, and your plants will be wonderfuil!! > > >>I have pots of Iris pseudacorus and I 'Gerald Darby' completely >submersed >in water as well as plants from teh same stock growing in a normal garden. >One was grown first of each (the pseudacorus was originally a garden plant >whereas the 'Gerald Darby' was originally a water plant) and then offsets >were used in the alternative conditions. Plants such as Iris laevagata >will grow in either situation (I have a number of them that are fully >submerged.... I have been told they prefer that) yet their relatives the >Iris kaempheri (syn I. ensata) tend to rot if fully submerged. BUT, I pot >with a high sand content when potting water plants, which is very different >to my main soil, so perhaps that is the problem when your garden plants >were inundated.<< > >Exactly my experience, VERY little or NO soil when potting for growth under >water!! >This 'soil' mix is highly organic, and willl quickly rot and kill the >plants >when submerged under water!!! > >And.... I just got the Deni Bown "AROIDS: Plants of teh Arum Family" >book..... WOW. So cool! So much to learn from that, and I had no idea of >the variety within the "warmer" varieties of Aroid, having rarely seen many >of the things shown. Some of the broad, longer strap-like leaves on some >of the Anthuriums are just amazing. And I never realised that a couple of >things were actually Aroids (Syngonium, Dieffenbachia for example) so the >indoor plants I was going to purchase when I clean up my office have just >made a right-turn in planning . From first look it is a VERY cool >book.<< > >It is THE aroid book! There are growers on the list that sometimes offer >seed of some of these sps of Anthuriums, maybe you can obtain some seed >through the mail and grow these treasures in Australia! Some of your >mates in Australia already have some species, and perhaps they could guide >you in the direction of obtaining a few! >Good luck and CHEERS! >Julius > > > >>Cheers. > >Paul Tyerman >Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9 >mailto:ptyerman@ozemail.com.au > > > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.

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