Recommended Soils & Fertilizers

For Planter Technology Container Irrigation Systems

To get the most out of a container irrigation system, follow the simple guidelines below for selection of soil and use of fertilizer.

Soil

Never use field soil when planting any type of pot or planter. It quickly loses its structure, leading to reduced soil aeration, capillary action, drainage, and nutrient release. Care must be taken when planting a tree taken from the field that the surrounding soil be appropriate for use in a container. Heavy clay soils should be removed or rinsed off (as possible), and replaced with potting mix.

We recommend that soils used with our irrigation systems be lightweight potting mixes. These are typically made up of:

• 1/3 peat moss
• 1/3 coarse composted bark or other organic matter. Watch out for mixes that utilize very fine organics – they don’t allow for proper aeration when compressed.
• 1/3 sterilized coarse sand, or sand equivalent (usually perlite or vermiculite). For exterior applications sand is the superior component, although it isn’t often available in pre-bagged mixes.

Many commercially available potting mixes will conform to approximately these ratios, including products from these manufacturers:

Bandini, Fafard, Piedmont Pacific, Peters, Scotts and Successoil

Fertilizer

Most common water-soluble fertilizers will work with sub-irrigation systems. They should be introduced into the water supply. They must be completely water soluble, and should be mixed at 1/4 to 1/3 the strength recommended by the manufacturer. Mix the fertilizer thoroughly into the water prior to adding to reservoir. Do not use organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion or kelp. Commercially available fertilizers meeting these requirements include:

Dyna Gro, Foliage Pro, Miracle Gro, Peters, SchulzSystemic

Pesticides

We are frequently asked about the use of systemics with container irrigation systems. Do not introduce them into the water reservoir. If their use is necessary, suspend the use of the irrigation system, and top water the systemic into the soil, as recommended by manufacturer. Observe all local rules and regulations regarding the use of all pesticides.