Perhaps too much bark. Bark would have made it too acidic. Hippeastrum likes slightly acidic to neutral medium; Lime, on the other hand, is alkaline. It can correct acid but then the formula beocmes too complicated. I get best results from a mix of coarse sand, leafmould and bone meal. If available, hoof and horn provides slow release nitorgen, as well. Liquid fertilizer can used three to four time during growing season.

The lime should take care of any acidity from the bark. I don't know about Tahoe red fir, having never used it.

Most pine bark fines, or small pine bark pieces, in my area come from southern yellow pine... so I don't know if that makes a difference. Also, I didn't notice if you used any turface or granite chips or akadama in your mix... mine uses turface and a tad bit of very coarse sand.

I also don't know about adding all purpose fertilizer... I usually don't add any, and only do so as needed when I water.

I would think that there would be a natural loss of some leaves from the re-potting process, which usually is a tiny bit stressful for a plant, regardless of how careful you are... especially when you're completely changing mediums.

My suggestion to you is to ask this same question in the Container Gardening Forum... and list your mix ingredients... Al should be able to tell you if there are any problems with anything you've chosen to use.

Myself, I'd never use leafmoulde in a potting mix. The whole idea is to keep the particles at the same approximate size, and keep it on the more inorganic side to stop decomposition from happening quickly, thus keeping the aeration. Pine bark tends to break down extremely slow, so that shouldn't be a problem. The pieces should be about 1/8" or thereabouts... it should be like a very porous, gritty mix.

Ask Al... I know he'll have the answers you seek!

Wouldn't decorative bark used for walkways and play areas be much coarser than bark fines? I understood bark fines to be very small pieces of shredded bark. No?

Just thoughts from a rookie here... but it looks a little like fertilizer burn that you'd see in other plants. Could it be that the combo of potting soil plus, and fertilizer was just too much assuming there's already fertilizer in the "plus" part? Alana

Thanks for your input guys,

The bark was available in large medium and small pieces. I used the small stuff and the pieces are like 1/8th inch approx.

Maybe your right about too much fertilizer, I have noticed a bit of a whitish color coming to the top in some containers, almost like you see salt form on the outside of a pair of army boots (sorry, cant think of anywhere else I've seen this, lol). Perhaps that is the fertilizer leeching into the bark at the top.

They should be ok with time right? The mix will become less potent?

This is what my mix looks like...

{{gwi:376473}}

This is one of my Clivias planted in the medium I use... this is straight "Al's Mix", without adding the handful of potting soil or extra perlite and vermiculite that I sometimes add when potting different plant types.

{{gwi:376470}}

I tweak the mix as needed, depending on what exactly I'm planting... some plants like a coarser medium, while others seem to do a little better with certain additives.

{{gwi:376468}}

{{gwi:376467}}

{{gwi:376472}}

I would definitely take some photos of what you're talking about, with regards to your fertilizer, and post the questions you have on the Container Gardening Forum. Al, or "tapla" as he's known, will be able to better answer any questions you pose. He's incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to all this.

I consider myself to be a student of the "school of Al" when it comes to soils and fertilizers. He's helped me to grow healthier bulbs, and I constantly find myself rereading his articles to make sure I'm doing everything right. I also do quite a bit of reading over at that forum... his answers are always right on the money!

I wish you the best of luck, and I really wish I could help you more... but I do know that Al can help you.

I replanted most of my bulbs using the gritty mix formula advocated on the Container gardening forum (1/3 pine bark fines, 1/3 turface, and 1/3 granite gravel). I am not at all happy with it. It has virtually no water retention, and I have to spend a lot of time draining out the excess water that collects in the tray after I water. It took me a week to find a turkey baster to do this with, and now I am afraid that I have gotten some rotting at the base where the pots sat in water for too long.

This occurs even when I only water with very little amounts.

I am now adding compost to the medium and having much better results. The only fertilizer I added to the mix was a little gypsum, and the Dynamite controlled release fertilizer.

I am now going to repot all the bulbs using the mix and compost. UGH.... it is over 100 bulbs!

I, on the other hand, have no watering issues to speak of... I know about how much water I need to use for each size pot, and I use a small watering can to direct the water to the soil around the bulb, and not on the bulbs, themselves.

If you're looking for a medium that requires little care... this isn't it! It requires checking for moisture, feeding on a regular basis, and more attention than the organic bagged potting soils available everywhere. I like Al's Mix because it doesn't compact in the pots, and I have complete control over moisture and feeding.

I've had no rot problems at all... no fungus gnats or other insects... and my medium retains the proper amount of moisture to keep the plants happy and healthy. I water roughly once or twice a week... more often on smaller pots. I go by feel, and those that need moisture are watered.

I do add a bit of vermiculite to my mix, so maybe that's the difference in water retention... though I really don't want too much water retention as that was my problem before! The bagged junk I used to use stayed moist way too long, and the roots suffocated as it collapsed.

I'm having wonderful luck with this more porous, gritty, inorganic medium! I love it! Keep in mind, though, that all my pots are indoors, and I am home all day and have time to constantly check things and water where needed.

Jodi,

How do you handle having all the water run out into the container below? I have my bulb pots in trays, and it would take me forever to have to take all the pots out, dump the water out of the tray, and put the pots back in the tray. Once I put the pots outside for the summer, it shouldn't be so bad, but even then I don't put the pots right on the ground, as it is an invitation to sow bugs and other critters to get in the pot.

That is why I bought the turkey baster, to suck the water out. So now I am watering every 2 days, and most of the water gets drained out, and then thrown down the sink. I don't even think the water stays in the pot long enough for the turface to absorb any, because the medium feels dry several hours after watering.

Once I started adding some compost to the mix, things have gone a lot better. But I didn't start doing that until I repotted the majority of my bulbs.

Barb, I don't really pour that much water into each pot to begin with (unless I'm leaching)... I kind of have a feel for how much to pour in each one, so that when it's all said and done, there's not that much in the saucers. What does drain through, I allow to soak up into the pot through the bottom. If there's still water in the saucers after 2 or 3 hours, I dump them.

You have to remember... my pots are all indoors, so there's not that much heat or direct sun sucking the moisture out of them.

I learned my lesson well last year, regarding setting pots directly on the ground outside, without saucers. I lost some Sprekelia bulbs to a combination of too much rain and too many sowbugs, or pillbugs... or whatever those nasty things are called! This coming season, I plan to set the pots on a low bench type structure, without saucers. I need to keep the pots off the ground, and keep excess rain from gathering under the pots.

I think the addition of a little vermiculite and a handful or two of quality potting soil mixed into my medium is very helpful for the amount of moisture retention I'm looking for. I don't want the sopping wet soil like I used to deal with, but I do like enough retention so the plants can have what they need.

As I mentioned before, I tweak the mixture depending on what I'm planting. And I just sort of have developed a feel for how much water to pour into each pot... it was a learning experience for me, too, at first... but now, I love it! I hope that helps explain how I handle things... oh, and my pots are all medium from top to bottom with NO drainage layer. That would defeat my purpose and create a perched water table within the pots... which would not be good!

OT here, Jodik
did you find replacement spreklia bulbs? If you want I can return the one you sent it's dormant right now. I've been looking for them at the local nurseries and box stores, haven't seen any so far this year.
Chaz

Oh, no, Chaz... that was a gift! :-) I wanted you to have it! I actually have enough now... and these are staying indoors this summer, I'm thinking! Thank you, though!

I haven't found any locally, either... but I got lucky and found some nice ones on Ebay. Larry was nice enough to buy me 4 bulbs, though now I think he wishes he'd waited! Our recent car repairs broke the bank! In any case, I was rather surprised that Lowe's didn't order any this year... I wonder if they didn't sell very well?

The two bulbs I had from last year are coming out of dormancy now... one is growing a baby. I've found that they require close watching while dormant... so they don't get too dry and begin to dehydrate. I think I've got them under control now, though!

They were so beautiful and unusual last summer when they bloomed! I love this particular amaryllid! Thank you for the offer, Chaz... but now I have to ask you... would you like another to fill the pot a bit more?

Thanks for the tips guys,
Al on the container forums suggested simply diluting the mix with more of the non-fertilizer ingredients. I did that and repotted everything. Surprisingly I found it was quite wet at the bottom even though the tops were dry.
Hopefully it goes well.

I hope it works out for, Erin... as I've said, I'm having wonderful growth using this grittier medium. When checking it for moisture, you really have to jam your finger down and feel for it... looks can be deceiving, and the top layer may look dry, but down in there, around the root ball, it may still be fine.

You'll get a feel for watering and everything... it's really quite an easy medium to manage, in my opinion!