[CH] buildup

Parkhurst, Scott Contractor (PARKHURS@LEAV-EMH1.ARMY.MIL)
Tue, 3 Aug 1999 10:14:28 -0500 

	>I'm just concerned about fertilizer building up in my buckets.

	Hi Dave,

	First, a few questions:    What fertilizer are you using?
	What kind of soil is in the buckets?  Are you growing
	the chiles as annuals (replant each year) or perennials
	(keep plants alive over winter)? 

	     If you are using Miracle Gro, or some other chemical
	fertilizer you can use way less than what the package says
	and still get good results.  You can mix composted manure
	into the soil if you want to go more organic.  If you are re-
	planting each year, just use fresh soil.  If you are over-
	wintering, then buildup problems will take some time, 
	depending on what/how much fertilizer you are using.
	Austin is kinda warm in the summer, huh?  If you are watering
	them frequently you are flushing the soil of some of the 
	fertilizer, thus delaying the buildup.

	Scott... KCK