This is the third year to grow Lachanalia, and they started shooting new leaves. I mixed DG (local decomposed granite), course sand and small amount of compost. The weather here in Southern California must be perfect for them. Very low maintenance. I did not give or forgot water during hot and dry summer last year, but they came back. Makiko, Zone 9-10 On Oct 24, 2015, at 3:29 PM, Ina Crossley <klazina1@gmail.com> wrote: > Thank you Rodger. That is most interesting. Where I live the soil is volcanic and plants love it. I didn't connect the fact of that with the pumice I now use in containers. I have done no horticultural training, just a gardener from a young age. And get a feel of what agrees with them and what doesn't. Great to know your info on this. > > Ina Crossley > > On 22/10/2015 8:42 a.m., Rodger Whitlock wrote: >> On 21 Oct 2015, at 16:01, Hans Huizing wrote: >> >>> I also use Pumice. >>> For the more difficult Cyrtanthus species I use pure Pumice 2-5 mm. >>> The root system develops very well in this material. >> A demonstration that plant roots need air too. And I don't mean just epiphytes. >> >>> Since this material contains no nutrients... >> Pumice (volcanic pumice) is nutrient-rich like other volcanic ejecta. Think >> about the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius, which have been farmed for millenia because >> the soil (decomposed ejecta) is so rich. Particularly rich in potassium, I >> understand. The best part is that the nutrients in pumice are released slowly. > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/