We don't know what you are tryign to grow. Could you be more specific?

It would also help to tell us approximately where you live. If, for instance, you are trying to grow tuberous begonias where I live in southern Louisiana, mush is what you'll get. Especially if you over-water or have a soil that doesn't drain well--

Sorry!
I am in NW Indiana Zone 5 I am trying to keep the tuberous nonstops ALIVE over the summer...I am not trying to grow from scratch or anything involved.
THank you so much.
Susan

Hi there Susan;

Tuberous Begonias are like succulents and can't take too much water. This sounds like your problem if they are turning to *mush*. Dig the plant up and look at the roots. They should be white. Brown root means too mush water. They prefer shade too. Unless the plants you bought were *cuts* from a larger plant that hadn't rooted as yet, I'd say over watering is the problem. when in a pot, I myself, water from the bottom and empty any leftover in about a half an hour. In ground, there shouldn't a problem unless the soil is too heavy (clay)? They need well draining soil.

Hope this helps.

Joy4me has given you some good advice. I can't do any better than that. Though I don't have any trouble growing them myself, I am still going to take her advice.

Lainey

thanks all. Would you use a lot of dry peat in the soil, or do you suggest a soiless potting mix?
I will apply all of your expert advice and see what happens.
Susan in NW IN

Use a soiless potting mix.

I mixed compost (bagged/rotted manure) in with Pro-mix and the results were a disaster - at least for the tuberous seedlings I started in January. Eighty percent rotted at the soil line. Bad idea to mix anything but sand in for drainage.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mike Stevens Begonias