Hello everyone, I have decided to change my potting mix. Actually, the last batch I "cooked" up isn't working out too well. I talked to the guy at the hydro store and he explained to me that any organic soil can have bugs in it. Therefore, causing mealies sometimes. Here's my point, rather question. After repotting all of them, do I need to redrench them with bayer? Should I bake the soil to get rid of bugs. Finally, how do I premoisten the potting mix beforehand? Seems like it would be hard to pot the hoyas in a wet mix. I hope this makes some sense. Thanks in advance!
Heather
Changing potting mix
Heather what are you changing to? Were you referring to the Fox Farm Organic that has bugs in it? If so, I haven't noticed any bugs in mine. Actually any soil can have bugs in it. If you want to pre-moisten the soil, just spray it with a sprayer type bottle. Need a tad more information from you:-).
Blessings,
Awanda
Good questions Heather, I have been wondering about premoistening my soil befor planting. It always seems wet and then I dig around and it's still dry.. I've never baked my soil so this should be interesting.. I'll have to keep my eye on this thread.
Yes, Awanda, it is the foxfarm. I found the black magic seems too moist. I added a bunch of perlite, and pumice to it, I think I added too much of the latter. Now, I can't seem to keep the mix damp. That is a great idea with the spray bottle. Never thought of that. I was asking the clerk how mealies just develop in an otherwise healthy plant. He just explained to me that any potting mix can have bugs in it. He uses the fox farm and said he has come accross some bugs from time to time. He suggested next time I see mealies, come in and get 1500 ladybugs. So we would have 2 dogs 2 cats and 1500 lady bugs! Hard to name them all! Lol...I remember in a previous thread, someone said they bake all of there soil to get rid of bugs. So would I still need to readd bayer?
Heather
I wouldn't think you would have any mealies in it if you had the Bayer T&S in it before. That stuff usually wipes out everything.
When you repot, you are going to leave a soil ball around the roots so I think that would still have it in it.
I use the Foxfarm now too but mix it with the rough coir, perilite, and a bunch of other stuff to loosen it up. I've not had any bug problem with it.
Marcy
Marcy I use the Fox Farm Organic and Fox Farm Warrior, which is a soil-less mix. With the two of those mixed together, it make a wonderful, fast draining potting soil. I also add #3 perlite to it. I'm really happy with the final results.
Blessings,
Awanda
When did you drench the hoyas? The Bayer T&S goes systemic and the plant is full of it...the soil does not have it in it. The mealies aren't affecting the roots, or shouldn't be....If it was over 6 months ago that you drenched...you could do it again..I think.
Sounds like Awanda's soil is good...also Marcy's. Remember that the only reason you are even using the organic matter is to hold water and nutrients. Hoyas in tree crotches have very little if any up there.
Do you have mealies on the plants?
Are there ants in the soil.
I wet my mix before I pot...but it is so lose it never gloms together. Peat in a mix should be wetted, as well as coir or bark.
Is it just the boggy organic matter you don't like? Is it too soggy?.
Carol
I don't find the Fox Farm to be boggy, it's a very loose and fast draining mix. This is what Fox Farm's site says about it: A powerful blend of Pacific Northwest sea-going fish, crab meal, shrimp meal, and plenty of our own earthworm castings, Ocean Forest Potting Soil is nature's finest soil amendment. It is ideal for greenhouse applications, as well as indoor/outdoor plantings.
Fox Farm has added composted forest humus and selected peat mosses to create the optimum organic medium for a versatile planting environment.
Ocean Forest Potting Soil contains earthworm castings, bat guano, and micronutrients. It is light in texture and well aerated...a premium blend of good things from the earth and the sea.
This is the description for the Warrior soil-less soil: Formulated for use in containers and hydroponic applications. Specially designed to enhance root development and encourage greater nutrient uptake by plants. Allows for custom feeding schedules that are 'crop specific'. An excellent medium for starting seeds, transplanting, and growing plants both indoors and outdoors!
I have found when mixing them both together, it makes a wonderful potting mix, added with #3 perlite.
Blessings,
Awanda
Okay, thanks for the tips. I like the foxfarm, I used it for two hoyas already. It's just the Black Magic, I don't care to much for. I think I messed up my mix though. I added to much pumice/perlite. It's like chalk, some of my plants that like it dry are doing okay, but the thin stemed ones, and ones that prefer more moist are a mess. Leaves looking sad! My problem, I only drenched hoyas outside with the bayer, not all of them. Now I don't remember which ones got bayer and which didn't. Learning the HARD way! Time to start a journal.
Heather
I KNEW I would forget who & when they got it, so I took a china marker & wrote T&S & the date right on every pot that I put it in. I have too many hoyas & not enough old brain left to leave it up to memory. Ha. That REALLY helped because I didn't do all of them on one day, & when I went around again with the stuff, all I had to do is look for my mark to see if I had already done that one. Kinda messes up my pretty little white pots, but well worth it not to have to guess on these things. Also, it wipes right off with a cloth anyway, so I can change dates etc. later.
Marcy
I have a couple hoyas that I've had about 10 years & I used African Violet potting soil for them & they seem to be doing fine. I was sent 11 Hoyas that were rooted & put them in similar potting mix, lots of organic mix & how do I know which hoya like it dry & which ones like it moist?
TIA
Jan
List your plants and we will try to help...
Miss Kitty posted a really good thread about some that like it more warm and humid. Hopefully she will read this and post the link. I'm not sure how to do that.
Heather
AlohaHoya,
I presume you are asking me to list my plants? Anywhere here is what I received.
h. australis keysii
h. sumatia ipp5 1778
h. optomistic siiostemma
h. quinguinesvia
h. naid #6
h. australis subsp. australis keysii
h. blackstar eriostemmn
h. wuyetti/hentiana
h. compacta
h. carnosa cv holliana itolliana
h. publicaly x pink silver
I hope I have them all spelled correctly. I won't be offended is someone corrects the spellings for me. Also, recieved 2 that didn't have names on them.
Jan
Hmmmm. The spellings ARE a challenge. Here is what I think you have.
H. australis ssp. australis (the real name) - warm, middle range...can take cool.
H. sumatra IPPS 1778 - don't have a clue. It is probably H. sp. Sumatra and could be anything.
H. optomistic - should be H. cv. Optimistic and Eriostemma. This wants warm, humid and doesn't like being changed around...takes a lot of light.
H. NAID #6 I gues is H. NOID (no ID) # 6....no way of telling what it is.
H. australis subsp australis keysii = H. australis ssp. australis. Same as # 1
H. blackstar = H. cv. Blackstar an Eriostemma. Same as H. cv. Optimistic
H. wuyetti/hentiana should be H. kentianna (syn. H. wayettii) - warm, humid, lots of water
H. compacta
H. carnosa cv. Holliana (who knows what the other word is)
H. pubicalyx cv. Pink Silver....
These last three can take much cooler temps, lower light, less water.
I hope this helps. My information is based on the Id's being more or less correct.
Carol
Thanks Carol,
I think you did a good job of desifering my spelling. I noticed that I did mis=spell a couple of them.
Now, I hope that they all survive my inexperience.
Jan
Hey, Heather. Is this the posting you were talking about? http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/553747/
Lemme know.
Ann
Yes Ann, hopefully that will help Jan out now or in the future! I found that list to be extremely helpful. BTW, I love my new potting mix! Fox Farm rules!!
Heather