Soil Mixtures

Previously I made mention of an "all purpose" soil mix that I use that needs to be modified to suit general potting work.

I know I save a lot of money making my own mixes and here's some different mixes that some of you might be interested in.

General Potting mix:
2 parts "brown" sand (microwaved for 3 minutes at a time) *microwaved* always being implied as well, below.
1 perlite
1 vermiculite
6 peat moss
(Fertilizer) - I don't measure but I throw in whatever I have laying around (granular).

To propagate "woody plants" as cuttings (mix)
4 parts perlite to 1 part peat moss as given to me

Also for propagation of cuttings I use:
4 parts sand
6 peat moss
1 vermiculite
1 perlite
*This mix won't algae up like the above mix using 4 parts perlite to 1 part peat.* However, if you use a fungicide the first mix using the perlite only and the peat is the best. This is a great greenhouse product, it's called Zerotol. The majority of cuttings he grows are Thuja, Tsuga, and Juniperus, however it would work well he says for most everything.

I also know another grower who propagates his woody plants in perlite only on a mist system.

I just decided that the original information contained to much sand for general purpose potting.

Anybody else know any other mixes or have recomendations either for general purpose potting or for "specialty" situations? If so, I'd like to hear and read about them. (Link for Zerotol) http://www.greenfire.net/hot/P195.html

Dax

Hello Dax. It feels a little funny posting this on T&S, but since you asked...

There is an excellent treatise on potting mixes posted in the container forum by Tapla. Here is the link: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/527353/ This is a most informative post to me, with the best discussion I have read concerning particle size, compaction, aeration, perched water tables, and other factors related to container media. Based on this and other information, I have moved away from peat-based media for general use, except for small seedling transplants.

I am moving to a coconut husk chip (CHC) based container media for many different plants. The CHC provides the large particle size that Tapla discusses, but unlike bark, CHC breaks down very, very slowly (because of a higher lignin content, I believe). CHC holds something like seven times it's weight in water. You can literally squeeze drops of water out of individual chips. You water less often with this mix, since the CHC gives up the water as needed by the plant. The recipe I use was developed for citrus by a former GW poster named Millet. I currently have Citrus, Ficus, Gardenia, Dieffenbachia, and others in this or a variant of this mix. Here is my current recipe:

4 parts CHC (1/4 or 1/2 inch, rinsed three times and treated in the final rinse with Epsom salts and Calcium nitrate if you have them)
1 part peat

Then add, per 1-cubic foot:
4tsp Micromax (year-long trace element mix)
8T 15-9-12 Osmocote 3-4 month fert
4T Miracid granular fert
200g dolomite

I start fertilizing with 1/2 strength general fert or Miracid liquid fert after one month.

I've added manure in a CHC:peat:manure ratio of 3:1:1, but this mix doesn't drain well enough.

For my woody cuttings I use peat:perlite 1:1 without any trouble.

SB

Right on. I'm sure I've read that thread because the guy was really informative and gave lots of photos.

What it really boils down to, Is what works best for (you) as well as what you grow of course...

I only posted here because my last post which was an add on of sorts had a container soil recipe.

So right on!

See ya (and thanks for sharing) to a very unorganized post in more than one way, in fact many.

Dax