Can I Grow Plants Directly In Compost?
I'm planning a rooftop container garden and want to keep the weight of containers low. I want to know if I can grow plants directly in 100% compost without adding any soil or perhaps in high compost to soil ratio (say, 70:30)?
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no… plants need more things to grow well than is found in compost…. those things are found in soil…. and fertilizers…. but mostly in soil…. there’s a whole microbial community in soil that helps plants live and grow!…..
to keep the weight low in containers, fill part of the container with something light that will take up a bit of space on the bottom of the container…. a large container, use capped soda bottles or crushed soda cans…. a nylon mesh bad (like for washing lingerie) filled with packing peanuts….. then over that, lay some landscape fabric or several layers of burlap (to keep the soil on TOP) and then fill the rest of the way up with your soil mix…..
I use mushroom compost in my beds but not 100% it will burn the plants up…I mix mine 50% compost and 50% percent loose topsoil..not the cheap junk in stores..it gets too dense…the 2 and 3 dollar a bag junk will get so dense it will hold water and kill your plants..http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcbeachrat/…
4 pages of veggie pictures with my results from this method..I also have alot of veggies in containers on my back and front decks…http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcbeachrat/
Compost can generate heat as it decays so you have to be careful that the compost is done before you plant in it or it could destroy the roots of whatever you try to plant.
Think about the possible air gaps beteewn the leaves/debris. The heat it will generate and the heat of the pot and root ball within. I doubt it will be a glorious new way of gardening but fun to learn none the less.
Try it and have fun…………
No. You will still need the majority as top soil.
Even the ready to use compost will have too strong of a percentage of nitrogen and will ‘burn’ the plants.
I wouldn’t it will burn your plants up!*