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RHS L2 Sarah - 1/2/3/4 > 2.Growing Media > Flashcards

2.Growing Media Flashcards

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1
Q

Explain considerations when growing plants in containers.

A
  • Restricted root volume
  • Water retention and supply
  • Drainage - Must have hole in pot
  • Nutrient availability - correct amounts must be added as roots can not go in search for them
  • Stability of compost – crumb structure needs to withstand constant wetting
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2
Q

Why is soil not suitable for use with pot plants?

A
  • The crumb structure will not allow for constant watering
  • Pore space collapse and oxygen supply is restricted
  • May contain weeds seeds/ pest and disease
  • Variable unknown amount of nutrients
  • Variable PH level
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3
Q

Peat alternatives?

A
  • Coir (coconut fibre)
  • Garden compost
  • Wood based – bark sawdust paper etc
  • Locally available materials such as straw wool etc
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4
Q

State the effects of growing acid-loving plants in alkaline soils.

A
  • Calcifuges
  • Stunted growth
  • Lime-induced chlorosis
  • Nutrient availability decreases which may result in deficiencies
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5
Q

Name a situation for each different type of compost.

A

Multi-purpose composts

  • Wide range of uses - low nutrient levels
  • Raising seed, container planting

Ericaceous

  • Lime free and suitable for Calcifuges
  • Planting of Rhododendron

Seed composts

  • First planting of seeds, low in nutrients as high levels would be harmful and could even prevent germination
  • Good aeration and good moisture retention

Cuttings composts

  • They require a high air-filled porosity
  • A good mix - 50% of organic material such as composted bark and 50% of an opening material to provide good drainage such as perlite, coarse sand or grit
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6
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of using peat?

A

Advantages –

  • Light, cleaner to handle and easy to store
  • Sterile - does not need sterilising
  • Consistent
  • Good open structure with good drainage/water retention capabilities
  • Weed, pest and disease free

Disadvantages –

  • Non renewable product, develops very slowly
  • As the compost is light the staking of tall, heavy plants can be problematic
  • It is often very difficult to re hydrate when dry
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7
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of loam-based compost?

A

Advantages:

  • Useful for plants that are to be in containers long term, such as shrubs, as it is very stable
  • They have a high level of buffering which means they avoid fluctuating water and nutrient content
  • Clay content of loam provides a longer supply of nutrients
  • The weight of the loam provides stability for the container. Therefore good for outdoors as less likely to be blown over.
  • Sterile loam used to prevent fungi and disease

Disadvantages:

  • It’s hard to get a good quality loam to use as a base
  • The weight does make the it difficult to move containers and not suitable for hanging baskets
  • Expensive - needs to be sterilised
  • Peat is often used - Non-renewable
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8
Q

Advantages of loamless compost?

A

Advantages:

  • Soilless - so do not need to be sterilised
  • Light weight
  • Cleaner to handle
  • Cheaper – no sterilising
  • Often no peat used
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9
Q

Describe the characteristics of 4 distinct named types of growing media (excluding garden soil) used for plants in containers.

A

Coir based

  • Lightweight
  • High water-holding capacity with good porosity and air content
  • pH neutral
  • Low nutrient content
  • Sustainable - waste product

Wood based

  • Excellent drainage
  • Low PH
  • Suitable for potting seeds and growing plants on

Local authority green waste

  • High nutrient content
  • High PH
  • Best used as a mulch

Composted bark based

  • Bark is non-clumping with an open, stable structure and is well aerated
  • Low water-holding capacity
  • Variable pH value
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10
Q

List 4 distinct problems associated with growing plants in containers.

A
  • Plants can become root bound
  • Containers can become difficult to move if they are large /blown over if the container is not heavy enough
  • Permanent plantings require top dressing or repotting
  • Plants need to be watered
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11
Q

Identify 2 situations where growing plants in containers is more suitable than growing them in open ground.

A
  • Tender plants can be placed in the correct situation for sunlight/shade, etc.
  • Ericaceous plants can be grown in a growing media with a suitable pH
  • Containers can be moved to avoid excess rainfall/frost etc
  • Application of nutrients can be controlled when feeding plants
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12
Q

What are the ingredients of loam-based seed compost?

A
  • 2 parts by bulk medium loam (partially sterilised)
  • 1 part bulk peat or peat substitute
  • 1 part by bulk sand
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13
Q

What are the ingredients of potting compost?

(for growing on)

A
  • 7 parts bulky medium loam (partially sterilised)
  • 3 part bulk peat or peat substitute
  • 2 part by bulk sand
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14
Q

What are the ingredients of ericaceous compost?

A
  • 2 parts by bulk loam (partially sterilised)
  • 1 part by bulk peat or peat substitute
  • 1 part by bulk sand
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15
Q

List the benefits of adding organic matter to a soil

A
  • Increased activity of micro organisms
  • Hummus is added - Soil structure improved (aeration/drainage)
  • Water holding capacity improved
  • Nutrients in soil are gradually increased
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16
Q

List the Limitations of adding organic matter to a soil

A
  • May be a source of plant pests - Larvee/eggs
  • May contain plant disease - Fungi/Spores
  • Manure may contain urea and ammonia which scorches plant roots
17
Q

State the difference between ‘green’ and ‘brown’ material

A

Green material

  • Break down quickly
  • Grasses, leaves, herbaceous plants, vegetable matter
  • High nutrient content

Brown material

  • Break down slowly
  • Branches, stems, woody areas, cardboard, wood chippings
  • Generally contain lignin - hard material
  • Low nutrient content
  • Have a good impact on soil structure
18
Q

List key examples of the types of compost

A
  • Farmyard manure
  • Garden compost
  • Spent mushroom compost
  • Local authority compost (green waste)
19
Q

List key examples of the types of mulch used

A

Organic - Generally improves plant growth, over time will add nutrients into soil

  • Chipped/shredded bark (Often laid ontop of weed suppressant, prevents evaporation)
  • Leaf mold (rotted leaves of deciduous tree’s- slow)
  • Composted straw (Used as a mulch, prevents slugs and snails)
  • Local authority compost
  • Spent mushroom compost
  • Green manure (Green leafy plants are grown as crop and then incorporated into soil)

Inorganic - Does not add nutrients but can improve temp/suppress weed growth

  • Pebbles or gravel
  • Slate
  • Stone chippings
  • Recycled glass
  • Geo textile sheets
20
Q

Describe the process of composting to include; Site, Construction, Materials, Care

A

Site

  • Compost bin should be away from main garden
  • Sheltered area away from wind/ extreme temp
  • Easy access for wheel barrow
  • Either plastic container or slated wooden box

Construction

  • 1 cubic meter is ideal
  • Stand on soil to allow access for organisms
  • Lid/cover is needed for warmth and to keep rain off

Materials

  • A mixture of green:woody 1:2
  • Only small amounts of grass cuttings
  • Avoid perennial roots/ plants with disease or pests

Care

  • Turned once a month to spread heat throughout and aid aeration
  • Add water if it becomes dry
21
Q

List key methods of composting

A
  • Composting bin/box
  • Tumbler (small amounts only)
  • Hot bed (good for tropical plants/fruits)
  • Worm composting (highly fertile)
22
Q

Describe the term Humus and how it is made

A
  • Jelly like substance, sticky and black
  • Coats the soil particles
  • It is what gives top soil it’s darker colour
  • It is created by worms and other micro organisms breaking down organic matter
23
Q

State the key benefits of Humus

A
  • Helps improve soil structure
  • In a light sandy soil it helps bind particles together
  • In a clay soil it helps to break down larger lumps creating a better crumb
  • It has a ‘buffering’ effect and carries a small electrical charge, holding onto plant nutrients and preventing them from being leeched out of the soil
  • Helps the soil to heat up quicker due to dark colour
24
Q

What is Farm yard manure and what are it’s uses and restrictions

A
  • Most traditional method of composting
  • A mixture of cow/horse faeces, urine and bedding material such as straw or woodchip
  • Used as a soil conditioner to improve structure
  • Can be used as a mulch if well rotted
  • It has high levels of ammonia so if not broken down it can scorch plant roots
  • Should be stored for a year before use - by this time it should be dark, crumbly and odorless
  • Nutrient level is usually low but can vary drastically depending on a number of factors
25
Q

What is Garden compost and what are it’s uses and restrictions

A
  • Most effective way of recycling kitchen waste
  • Breakdown of organic matter as a result of worms or soil organisms
  • A mixture garden and kitchen waste
  • Used as a soil conditioner to improve soil structure
  • Can be added to other materials to make potting compost
  • Often contains weed seeds so (unless heated to a high temperature) it is not ideal for mulching
26
Q

What is Spent mushroom compost and what are it’s uses and restrictions

A
  • Not generally available to the public - bi-product of mushroom industry
  • Almost entirely made from straw with some chalk mixed in
  • Used as a soil conditioner
  • Can be used as a mulch
  • Can be used as a replacement for lime when increasing soil PH
  • It has high levels of PH so if not broken down it can scorch plant roots
27
Q

What is Local authority compost and what are it’s uses and restrictions

A
  • Often refereed to as ‘Green waste’
  • Locally produced and often free
  • Essentially the same as garden waste but it is heated to a high enough level to kill of weed seeds/disease
  • Used as a soil conditioner
  • Can be used as a mulch on boarders or pot plants
  • Can be contaminated small particles of plastic and glass
28
Q

Describe the 3 steps in the breaking down of organic matter

A
  • First step - Worms, moles or other large organisms eat the organic matter and excrete the remains
  • Second step - Fungi present in the soil feed and grow on the dead material, this helps to break down larger woody matter
  • Third step - Bacteria/ microorganisms eventually convert it to the nutrients that can be absorbed by the plants and Hummus
29
Q

Describe Mulching and explain why it is important

A
  • Material added to soil surface which has a range of uses but generally improves plant growth
  • Bare soil looses moisture rapidly
  • Bare soil is prone to capping and erosion
  • Ideally no bare soil should be visable
  • Decorative finish
  • Prevent weed growth
  • Aid moisture retention
  • Protect soil surface
  • Improve soil structure as it is slowly incorporated
30
Q

What is composting?

A
  • Breakdown of garden and kitchen waste, gradually decayed
  • Supplies nutrients
  • High levels of hummus help improve soil drainage, aeration and nutrient holding capacity
  • Contributes healthy soil organisms
31
Q

What conditions are needed when composting?

A
  • Beneficial organisms are aerobic so require well aerated conditions
  • Water is needed but materials must never become to wet
  • Oxygen is needed so material must never become to compacted
  • Should be covered to keep out excess rain and retain heat
  • 1 part green 2 part brown - green will speed up process, brown will helps to keep open and aerated
  • Heat is needed and produced - may rise to 70’c but not high enough to kill pest/disease
  • Must be turned often
32
Q

Give an overview of how comfrey tea is made

A
  • Produced from plant not animal material
  • No cost and no carbon footprint
  • Good source of potassium
  • Used for liquid feed

Process

  • Wear gloves to protect from irritants
  • When plant has reached 60cm (but before plant has flowered) cut it down to 5cm above ground
  • Chop the leaves
  • Pack 900g of leaves into hessian sack and suspend in container with a lid
  • Fill container with water and keep warm
  • Stir mixture, foaming indicated it is working
  • When it stops foaming (after 4 weeks) draw of the liquid
  • Dilute 1:10

Uses

  • Tomatoes, cucumbers - flowering/fruiting plants
  • Folier feed

RHS L2 Sarah - 1/2/3/4 (21 decks)

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