Register  |   | 
 
Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Used Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix, Am I Wrong???
 
 


Reply
  Author   Comment  
mak15

Registered:
Posts: 23
Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Hi, I used Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix for my newly grow trees, I water it them everyday. after about 30 days, there are black dots on most of the leave. because of the mix hold moisture pretty, I think I should decrease the number of watering to like once every 3 days. I didn't water them for 3 days, the soil still looks moist. What do you guys think?

When it come to soil I don't have much to choose from coz I am only accessible to lowes and homedepot, I am always jealous that people who can mix their own soil/compost. What soil should I use for my fig trees / better for my fig trees? what is the best mix? I am willing to change to soil before it is too late.

Thanks for any inputs!
__________________
Zone 6B
Currently Have: Neri, Black Mission, Ischia, Chicago Hardy & Brown Turkey (They are all Baby)
satellitehead

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 3,687
Posted Reply with quote  #2 

Fill a pot with dry mix and do not wet.
Fill a pot with the same amount of mix and wet it.

Lift each pot after. 

Make a mental note of how heavy the wet pot is and how light the dry pot is.

Imagine what a pot would feel like if it the weight was halfway between these two weights.

Now, in the future, don't water your plants until they reach that middle weight (or less than the middle weight), and never water them if they are heavier than the middle weight OR do not water when they are close to being as heavy as the wet pot.
__________________
Jason
Atlanta/Grant Park area - z8
nypd5229

Registered:
Posts: 1,903
Posted Reply with quote  #3 
You have to be careful with over-watering, especially for young plants. 1 Year and younger have to be coddled. I am not very familiar with That MG product, but they should not still be saturated after 3 days. Cut down drastically. Your better off with smaller waterings more frequently. You are chancing getting root rot, which would be the end of the plant all together.

Some Lowes and HD carry Promix which is good. You could also get some fine mulch and mix in with the MG to make a little more draining. Water should not just sit on the roots.
__________________
Dominick
Zone 6a-MA
Italiangirl74

Registered:
Posts: 628
Posted Reply with quote  #4 

Miracle grow moisture control potting mix is what I recommend to everyone. I find it the best for figs trees. But,,,, I do NOT water every day. The good thing about this mix is it doesn't stay overly wet, it dries out quicker which is what you want for figs trees. They do not like to be saturated, ever. Even with my trees in pots I do not ever water every day. This soil IMO is the perfect for these trees the whole purpose is to not have to water and this soil does not stay waterlogged like many other heavy black pottings soils you will by. All my friends, family and I always recommend this to my customers provided you never over water. Cut back and water when the surface starts to look drier. You will not go wrong with this soil. Ciao
__________________
Maggie Maria zone 7
mak15

Registered:
Posts: 23
Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Thanks guys! I know I was doing something wrong with my baby fig trees.

Now I know the problem, do I have to cut the leave that have black dots on them?
__________________
Zone 6B
Currently Have: Neri, Black Mission, Ischia, Chicago Hardy & Brown Turkey (They are all Baby)
pitangadiego

Avatar / Picture

Moderator
Registered:
Posts: 5,447
Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Not necessarily the issue here, but potting mixes with fertilizer in them are not necessarily good for small plants or newly rooted cuttings. You can always fertilize a plant, but it is hard to subtract fertilizer when it is in the mix.
__________________
Encanto Farms Nursery
http://encantofarms.com
http://figs4fun.com
http://webebananas.com
"pitangadiego" everywhere
saramc

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 486
Posted Reply with quote  #7 

Hello Mike.....the other thing you may consider investing in, until you get more fig-time under your belt, is a "moisture meter".  I paid $5 for the same one on eBay that they carry in Lowe's and HD.  Actually, my $5 meter is a "moisture and pH" meter.   


__________________
~Sara~
Suburb near Louisville, KY//zone 5b-6b
Smokinqq

Registered:
Posts: 1
Posted Reply with quote  #8 

i am growing a plant right now using MG moisture control, and i see all these comments about wetness when my soil STAYS dry. The sun sucks the moisture right up.im guessing its cuz i dug a hole an put the soil in it.thts my best guess but any replys wuld be great
__________________
BrAiN DeAd
udaman

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 242
Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Make sure your pots have drainage holes on the bottom.  When I buy new pots, sometimes these holes are not punched out, and I have to open them with a nail.

Like others have mentioned, I water only when my soil is drying out.
__________________
Andrew Bacchi
z5A Vermont
http://sites.google.com/site/figosaurus/home
Karla

Registered:
Posts: 54
Posted Reply with quote  #10 

Hi,

I do not have experience with this mixture myself, but I had a fair amount of people complaining in the garden center about it. Most of the complains are: the soil holds too much water for too long and the plants rotted. I guess you must be very careful. It is a mix which should spare you some watering so treat it that way.

Karla

 
__________________
Greensboro, Nc
zone 7
satellitehead

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 3,687
Posted Reply with quote  #11 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokinqq
i am growing a plant right now using MG moisture control, and i see all these comments about wetness when my soil STAYS dry. The sun sucks the moisture right up.im guessing its cuz i dug a hole an put the soil in it.thts my best guess but any replys wuld be great


I'm pretty sure that MG moisture control is designed for and intended for use in pots, not in the ground.
__________________
Jason
Atlanta/Grant Park area - z8
Italiangirl74

Registered:
Posts: 628
Posted Reply with quote  #12 

I love the moisture control. I tell everyone about it. My fig trees have never been better as they can dry out much better with moisture control than with other more composted wet soils. You don't want too wet with fig trees. Thats it! especially young rooting cuttings. If moisture control is too soggy for people it is because they are watering it too much......
__________________
Maggie Maria zone 7
Previous Topic | Next Topic
Print
Reply