Potting Mix Question

Ronny

I just have a really quick question and i know it will probably start a debate in here and thats not what i want to do, but i really would like to know, If i purchased a potting soil that was fast draining and mixed with it some pine bark would that make for a good potting mix? I have tried the oil dry stuff and i really don't seem to like it too much, and the lava rocks seems to be ok but getting them as small as u need them is a pain in the neck, but a fast draining pottin soil and pine bark seems to me like it would work just as well, I haven't done anything yet wanted to get some input before i did!

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RedPine

I would forget about potting soil.Have you tried perelite with pine bark?It is a simple and easy mix that works very well.

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sauce

Hi Ronny, it would be nice to know what you are growing, what stage they are in, and what they are currently planted in regarding soil and container type and size. Potting soil and pine bark combined will probably be too wet for the roots of most trees.

Ronny

I have many different plants, from junipers to maples, to larchs, to pines, cotoneaster, surinam cherry, bougies, fukien tea, chinese elm, willows, crepe myrtles, alot of them are in regualer fast draining potting mix and have been for over a year and doing fine i might add, some are in nursery pots while some are in training pots.

sauce

Not sure what you are looking for since your trees are doing fine. If it is in regard to the pine bark I personally would nix that idea. Good Luck

Joanie

Add more inorganics, like the lava rock or perlite or pumice or such. Don't add organics, like pine bark. The soil will probably stay too wet if you do.

Joanie

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Ronny

so a fast draining potting soil and maybe lava rocks would work for a soil mix?

Joanie

Well, it's better anyway. Be aware of how much moisture it retains. If you take a handful of it, wet, and squeeze it... and it holds together when you open your hand, it's too moisture retentive. It should fall apart in your hand.

It would be better to start with the organic/inorganic ratio that people recommend on this site. Most "potting soil" has waaaaaay too much organic in it. So adding lava or dry-stall or perlite will help, will bring it closer to what you really want, but it still could be better.

Soil is one of the toughest things to figure out, isn't it?

Joanie

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Ronny

yes it is it is driving me crazy... so a good way to test potting soil is to squeeze it in ur hand and if it stays it holds too much moisture if it crumbles it doesn't, then add some type of lava rock or something like that and it would be better.