Please help with a question about a flower/soil/garden place?
March 10, 2010 by admin
Filed under Questions and Answers
Okay, so, I have my College science class on monday and my professor is all about soil samples, and blah blah blah. So, he’s taking us on a field trip to a local (Bob’s Market–Which is pretty huge here in the Ohio Valley) place that grows flowers and stuff like that for gardens.
I really don’t know how to explain it.. It’s like a whole Lawn and Garden place, except.. this isn’t the store we’re going to..we’re going to the plant!
Well, anyways my professor stated that we have to ask at least ONE ‘intelligent’ question or write a 3 page paper.
So, I’m picking the one question. haha. Although, the thing is.. I don’t know what kind of question to ask, and by Intelligent, I’m thinkin he means something that will be very hard to come up with haha.
So.. anyways, any help will be HIGHLY appreciated!
Thanks
I am a soil freak too. I live in Ga where everyone complains about how hard it is to grow in our clay. However, clay is the most vitamin rich soil, because it is colloidal (attracts water). It is this property that makes it bind together. So we break it up with organic material and sometimes sand.
Ask them if they use a grower’s mix for planting, or if they make their own mixture. If they mix their own, what do they combine and why?
Do they grow a variety of plants. Possibilities include annuals (plants that live one season and don’t come back unless reseeded), perennials (plants that go dormant, but the same plant comes back next year), vegetables or herbs, shrubs and trees. Do they use different soil mixtures for different plant types?
Do they grow plants from seed or liners? Liners are tiny seedlings usually about 1″ or 2″ tall. Some growers buy them, putting them straight into the pot they are sold in. Seeds are usually seeded up in a tray and then transplanted. If they start their own seeds, do they use a different soil mixture for seed starting than they use for potting in the sale pot?
Do they use a grower’s mix that includes fertilizer, or do they fertilize through the watering system?
Good luck, hope I helped.
It sounds like this question will involve the “soil samples and blah blah blah” part (the “blah blah blah” part maybe being the most important part?) So, I’m going to guess this is a nursery that makes their own potting soil, or that otherwise is growing something in their existing soil.
You could ask them what nutrients the native soil is lacking, and how much they need to add of what. You can be pretty sure nitrogen will be something they’re adding (all plants use nitrogen quickly), so you could ask if they prefer organic or inorganic forms of nitrogen in their potting soil mixes. Ask how they sterilize their potting soil mixes, or otherwise know that it doesn’t contain plant diseases or insect pests. Ask if they produce custom soil mixes, for various kinds of crops, or if one mix is used for everything. Ask what kinds of ingredients need to be brought in, versus what they can provide on-site. Ask if they compost any of their own materials, and if they do, how often do they turn their piles, how hot do they get, and how this compares nutritionally to their other soil amendments.
If I tell you anymore, I’m going to be writing you a 3 page report anyway. Maybe that’s what your teacher is really trying to accomplish here as well.
Given a generic plant that doesn’t need specific pH if you have only One growing medium to use for plants, which is most beneficial to the health and growth of the plant?