Troughs

[krisderaeymaeker]

Hi there, just potting up another trough of Clematis marmoraria so I took a shot of my mix.
My mix consists of -  1.5-2 parts composted bark : 1 part 5mm chip : 1 part crusher dust.
We get pretty dry in the summer hence I add the extra .5 compost depending on the plants natural environment.
I am pretty fresh in the alpine cultivation world, but I have had good success so far.

Thank you Doug for this very useful information.

Kris, here in North-east Scotland our New Zealand plants do best in our ordinary garden soil or in our raised beds and troughs which have basically the same mix as our potted plants.... 2 parts grit ( 6mm broken granite) 2 parts sand and 1 part leaf mould.

Thank you Maggi. Because our summers are drier I think I must added  more leaf mould . But anyway I keep trying......

These beautiful leaves can even beat some flowers, Kris!

I agree Katherine! We always think of flowers but this beautiful leaves are there for the whole year and not only few weeks.

[Lesley Cox]

Mark, the Myosotis shown here are definitely NOT weedy. If only..... M. capitata comes from the subantarctic islands, Auckland Island, Enderby and others in the deep southern ocean and should be hardy with you. It is monocarpic unfortunately and has to be resown but is well worth that samll task. I usually get good seed and should this year as I have half a dozen flowering plants. If so, I'll send some.
The other is a garden hybrid and has not set seed for me yet.

[fermi de Sousa]

While we were in India we visited Hampi the site of an ancient Hindu kingdom wiped out 500 years ago and only really re-discovered in the 1970s.
I saw this horse trough and wondered how many alpines could be accommodated in a trough this size!






It would take quite a lot of compost, eh?
cheers
fermi

[Maren]

You'll have a job carrying it home

[Lesley Cox]

Or how many horses? Nice blocks of stone too. Each one, hollowed out would make a good trough.

[Lesley Cox]

I planted another trough yesterday and though it doesn't look good at the moment, it should get better PROVIDED I can keep it cool, something of a risk as though it gets full shade until 1.30pm (on the longest day) it is fully exposed to sun and drying winds thereafter. The chunks of rock look as if they're on top but in fact are well bedded in and with more rock in the tough itself, to encourage the roots to go towards them.The top surface of the trough is about 18cms above the level of the trough surface, The rocks are standing at steep angles as I wanted to make shady slopes below them but that has been only partially successful. Time will tell whether it works but I hope so as the plants are all demanding of a cool environment and mostly are not replaceable now. They are:

Ramondas myconi 'Wisley Pink', nathaliae JCA 686, nathaliae alba and serbica
Primulas aureata and bella (see Primula ID thread)
Diapensia lapponica
Soldanella pusilla
A tiny plant of Salix x Boydii
and two (currently dormant) bulbs
Corydalis ambigua and my most precious frit.

There's space for one more plant and I'm tempted to add a little Shortia but they're TOO little so far so I'll wait and see how things do before taking that plunge.







These little primula plants seedlings are under an overhang of rock.

[cohan]

While we were in India we visited Hampi the site of an ancient Hindu kingdom wiped out 500 years ago and only really re-discovered in the 1970s.
I saw this horse trough and wondered how many alpines could be accommodated in a trough this size!

It would take quite a lot of compost, eh?
cheers
fermi

yes, a lot of compost, and a lot of refrigeration to grow alpines in that climate, i bet

[olegKon]

Very nice and promising, Lesley. I will be waiting to see pictures of the trough in bloom. Congratulations!

[gervandenbeuken]

just an example of one of my 18 years old throughs, planted with a mix of species from N. America, Himalaya and Turkey.
Everything is designed with travertin rock. Plants are doing well without any protection in winter.
 

[WimB]

Nice trough, Ger.  Which soil-mix do you use in your troughs?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Impressive Ger !! 

[David Nicholson]

Well, you have the time now Luc.  I've been meaning to create some troughs for the last five years at least and haven't done it yet!

[angie]

Really lovely Ger, wish my troughs were looking as good as yours are.
Angie

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Well, you have the time now Luc.  I've been meaning to create some troughs for the last five years at least and haven't done it yet!

Careful Mr Nicholson...you are living dangerously... 
Some other projects have priority I'm afraid David...    there's a Mrs G. just as there is a Mrs N. 

[David Nicholson]

Yes Luc, I understand You will have to copy our Wednesday day out regime.