Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Alpines => Topic started by: John85 on April 22, 2013, 06:48:06 PM

Title: Saxifragas growing mixture
Post by: John85 on April 22, 2013, 06:48:06 PM
What do you think of the mixture recommended on tv program gardener's world:half compost,half grit.
Is that not too water retentive?
I thought that they needed a much leaner mixture .
Planting a strong grower like sedum acre next to them seems also a bit strange.
Title: Re: Saxifragas growing mixture
Post by: Maggi Young on April 22, 2013, 07:37:10 PM
That sounds too rich to me- we use at least twice as much grit to soil in any mix we would use for Saxifrages.

TV gardening programmes are a law unto themselves though, John, so it is no surprise to see such strange advice - they are seldom very accurate- mostly repeating  old "canards" without proper attention or experience.  :'( :'(
Title: Re: Saxifragas growing mixture
Post by: Helen Johnstone on April 22, 2013, 08:58:39 PM
Oh good I'm glad you thought it was rich.  I sat there tutting and then told myself I knew nothing as I was new to alpines but I know that I used lots of grit, JI No 3 as well as gritty sand which I cant remember the name of.  He also said it didnt matter what compost you used which I also tutted at and he crammed far to many in the pan.  The sedums alone will fill the pan in a year. 
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