Growing hops in pots
The cultivation of the hops plant in pots is possible and not difficult, but often, if not performed in an optimal way, it leads to poor results.
When considering growing hops in pots, the appropriate must be taken into account CIRCLE OF AIR REQUIRED, of the CORRECT AND CONSTANT WETTING, of the OPTIMAL FERTILIZATION, andEXPOSURE.
The ideal position for a pot cultivation is with direct sun on the canopy in the morning and with afternoon shade.
It is advisable to use a pot of at least 35cm in diameter, without saucer. In the event that the use of the saucer is necessary for a quiet life and a good neighborhood, it is good to keep the vase in a raised position with respect to the saucer, in order to prevent the roots from remaining soaked in rainy periods.
In the bottom of the vase A DRAINAGE OF 3-5 CM MUST BE CREATED (depending on the depth of the pot chosen), then you MUST use a professional soil possibly with pumice that can be purchased in professional nurseries or gardens. If pumice soil is not available, take the best you can find and add fine gravel or expanded clay. Then transplant the plant at the same height as the level of the pot we sent you, without reloading soil on the collar.
For post-transplant fertilization, it is recommended to use a liquid citrus fertilizer, which will be fine with respect to the needs of hops. In this case, fertilization must be carried out from the vegetative restart until the winter rest (April-end of October), with the doses indicated by the manufacturer on the package.
As you well know, hops are climbers, so you need to set up a trellis or a vertical support. There are also good results horizontally on railings, obviously taking into account the remarkable development that the plant can have.
The wetting must be constant and never exaggerated. The symptoms of over or under watering are the same, so it is difficult to tell when a plant has died from one cause or another, however a hop plant that has suffered from drought indefinitely recovers. Where possible, a timed drip system is recommended where possible.
When the purchased plant is destined to be grown on balconies or terraces, it must be taken into account that parasites such as mites, aphids and common insects such as moth larvae, can rage frequently and tenaciously. Bad air circulation leads, in periods of high humidity, to fungal diseases similar to those of vines and vegetables.
The fight against these diseases is often difficult in the home environment due to the lack of availability of suitable plant protection products and the relevant laws.
For this reason, it is recommended to those wishing to undertake the path of biological control, the aid of:
- Bacillus thuringiensis "kurstaki", Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana per insetti e acari;
- Bacillus subtilis, cupric products, and sweet orange peel oil (PREV-AM), against fungal diseases.