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Mulch is good to keep moisture in container

According to some forums, people suggested to put a layer of mulch on top of the soil in container to keep moisture. What kind of mulch will you suggest to put ? Is bark mulch good to put or not ?
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Bark mulch should work fine. The only mulch I wouldn't recommend is pine mulch, as it can throw the soil pH out of balance. 
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home depot was selling last season 2 cubic feet mulch for only .88 cents not sure if its the same in your area but might be worth checking out
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Originally Posted by jaylyne
home depot was selling last season 2 cubic feet mulch for only .88 cents not sure if its the same in your area but might be worth checking out


Can you please tell me what kind of mulch (the name) so I can go to Home Depot to buy
with many thanks.
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Originally Posted by Figglet
Bark mulch should work fine. The only mulch I wouldn't recommend is pine mulch, as it can throw the soil pH out of balance. 


Well pine straw would maybe in about 15 years. I only use pine straw as mulch in containers for every plant. Awesome stuff! Plus figs like it acidic too, well at least according to many sources. Some say 5.5-6.0. A pH of 5.5 is 15 times more acidic than neutral.

UGA suggeste 5.5-6.0 (that is darn acidic!)
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=C945

Purdue says between 6.0 and 6.5.
https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/fig.html

If you add lime, and use tap water you are really throwing the pH out of balance!
It's difficult to maintain a low pH in containers, you have to work at it.


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Originally Posted by drew51
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Originally Posted by Figglet
Bark mulch should work fine. The only mulch I wouldn't recommend is pine mulch, as it can throw the soil pH out of balance. 


Well pine straw would maybe in about 15 years. I only use pine straw as mulch in containers for every plant. Awesome stuff! Plus figs like it acidic too, well at least according to many sources. Some say 5.5-6.0. A pH of 5.5 is 15 times more acidic than neutral.

UGA suggeste 5.5-6.0 (that is darn acidic!)
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=C945

Purdue says between 6.0 and 6.5.
https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/fig.html

If you add lime, and use tap water you are really throwing the pH out of balance!
It's difficult to maintain a low pH in containers, you have to work at it.




Hi Drew51 : Thanks for the information. Great help !!!
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  • elin
  • · Edited

I am using all the waste from the garden as mulch as well as kitchen scrap. 
Banana peels
Yuka plant leafs-great mulch when dry
Fig leafs
Citrus peels
pomegranates peels

Everything organic... But i always chop it to fine pieces that it decomposes fast and is not too condensed (aerated).
The worms in the pots eat everything.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drew51
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figglet
Bark mulch should work fine. The only mulch I wouldn't recommend is pine mulch, as it can throw the soil pH out of balance. 


Well pine straw would maybe in about 15 years. I only use pine straw as mulch in containers for every plant. Awesome stuff! Plus figs like it acidic too, well at least according to many sources. Some say 5.5-6.0. A pH of 5.5 is 15 times more acidic than neutral.

UGA suggeste 5.5-6.0 (that is darn acidic!)
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=C945

Purdue says between 6.0 and 6.5.
https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/fig.html

If you add lime, and use tap water you are really throwing the pH out of balance!
It's difficult to maintain a low pH in containers, you have to work at it.




Drew wouldn't a pH of 5.5 be 50 times more acidic than neutral, since the pH scale is exponential? 6 is 10 times more acidic than 7, 5 is 100 times more acidic than 7 etc.
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Thanks to all for the great informations and recommendations
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