Neal - you raise good points. They would be hotter in a container than in the soil. Maybe they are heavy feeders but I have six gardens of JI's and do not feed them except for compost when I think of it, have time, have energy to dig into the compost bins! I will not use Miracle Gro due to the salt build-up. Any azalea or rhododendron food would be ideal for those good gardeners who do feed their plants. The JI's DO love moisture and mulch will help with evaporation.
