gardenlover
Philippines
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:37 am Post subject: Homemade potting soil question |
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Can I add shredded newspapers in my soil?
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eileen
 Forum Moderator
Scotland
Posts: 18013
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| Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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Many gardeners around here add shredded newspaper to their composting bins so I don't see what harm it would do to add it to your soil Gardenlover. I have a neighbour that even lays newspaper underneath his bark mulch as, according to him, it helps the garden by retianing water and also controls weeds to some extent.
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gardenlover
Philippines
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:05 am Post subject: |
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Thanks. But what I'm asking is... can I mix shredded newspapers as an ingredient in my own potting soil?
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eileen
Forum Moderator
Scotland
Posts: 18013
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| Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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Give it a try as it won't do any harm to your plants. 
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CritterPainter
Washington State
Posts: 1425
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| Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 1:26 am Post subject: |
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Absolutely, but bear in mind that it could alter the ph quite a bit, depending on how much you add. And don't use the shiney inserts.
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Mary 
I have a mind like a steel...sieve
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gardenlover
Philippines
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 2:27 am Post subject: |
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Thanks a lot from you guys. It's because I don't have the materials necessary for a potting soil. I don't have moss, just soil. I want to improve it's texture.
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CritterPainter
Washington State
Posts: 1425
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| Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:39 am Post subject: |
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Oh, I just noticed you are in the Philippines, no wonder you don't have moss, lol! I was there for a couple of weeks visiting friends, a looooong time ago (about 19 years, sigh!)
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Mary
I have a mind like a steel...sieve
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Palm Tree
Cape Town
Posts: 1450
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| Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:40 am Post subject: |
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Hi there
Feel free to use newspaper in your potting soil.
I make COMPOST for my own garden and amongst other waste products is use torn-up newspaper and cardboard boxes, sawdust and wood-shavings, animal manure, wood-fire ash, and kelp/seaweed.
However, when I prepare potting soil for my containers I only use 30 % COMPOST MIXED with sand.
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gardenlover
Philippines
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: |
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Okay then. So what you are saying is... I can mix shredded newspapers in my potting soil to make it more porous? Or can I use a very cheap material to improve my potting soil's aeration?
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