Re: Chemistry of Waterlogged Soils

From: "Julius Boos" ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 2001.03.27 at 15:11:36(6093) Dear Ted, Just one MORE thought---I grew Urospaths, Dracontioides, Anaphyllopsis, Cyrtosperma and many other tropical wet-loving Aroids, all of which were known 'swamp dwellers', but many other growers had failed before me in trying to grow these plants in pots placed in a saucer of 'static' water. MY thoughts were that in most 'swamps' (there must be tremendous variations in the chemistry of the soil in the many habitats in which these widly distributed plants grow!) there is movement of water through the substrate, no matter how slow, and this plays a big part in the plant`s ability not only to 'survive' these seemingly 'bad' conditions, but to thrive and reproduce in them. By putting the soil in the pot on a thick layer of 'lava rock' which keeps the 'soil' ( I tried to limit the amount of 'soil' contained in my 'mix', using peat moss, chopped sphagnum, and coarse 'play sand') above the level of the water in the saucer, good regular applications of weak mixes of liquid fertlizer, and regular changes of the water in the saucer, these previously 'impossible-to-keep-growing' plants literally thrived in my collection, producing seed which were sent to friends worldwide. Chemistry is NOT the only item at 'play' in this equation! Hope the above is of help. Julius +More WPB, Florida >Does anybody know of a good reference for the chemistry of waterlogged soils? My soil science books are oriented to typical agriculture where waterlogged soils are the enemy. Many aroids are specifically adapted to life in watery places where normal soil chemistry is (I presume) quite different. Any ideas would be appreciated. Please respond to the list or to my personal e-mail. Thanks. Ted Held ted.held@hstna.com.

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