Equal parts by volume of:

pine or fir bark in 1/8-1/4" size
Screened Turface (may substitute calcined DE, such as NAPA floor dry)
Gran-I-Grit (crushed granite in grower size or #2 cherrystone)

1 tablespoon per gallon:

gypsum (which is optional depending on your fertilizer)

Pls. do not use the gravel on the bottom, it's actually been found not to help drainage & may actually impede it.

i forgot to mention that the name of that mix is Al's Gritty Mix. in case you wish to search it.

Thanks, jademan & pirategirl for your input! I will see if I can find these 'ingredients'.

I appreciate your posts.

I use Al's gritty mix for all of my succulents with great success!

If you can gather the ingredients for the gritty mix, your friends' chances of success with their pottings will go up exponentially.

For economical pine bark, search Walmart's in your area for Timberline brand pine mulch. It's a purple bag and less than $3 for 2 cubic ft, which is roughly 20x cheaper than Reptibark or Orchid Bark.

Also, if you can't find the granite, try 1/4 inch river rock at a landscape supply store, most pieces are actually much smaller. That's all I could find in swfl and it's worked very well.

Good luck!

I should be able to get the Timberlines Pine Mulch at the local Home Deport. (if it's in stock) I know I can get 1/4 in riverrock. I am pretty sure I can get most of these ingredients.

Thanks, everyone!

The standard gritty mix recipe calls for sifting out the fines, which can be a PITA. Although I find the process a little soothing. Has anyone ever made gritty mix without sifting? Do you just get a mix that won't be structurally stable as long?

The way the particle size distribution of the gritty mix is supposed to work ensures good water retention, but with no or negligible volumes of perched water to affect root health/function. It's important that the small particles be removed to accomplish this lest they filter in between the large particles, rendering the soil supportive of perched water and eliminating one of the most significant advantages of the mix. Another significant advantage is the aeration inherent in a well-made gritty mix, which would also be a casualty of neglecting to ensure the sizes of the particles are appropriate.

If you don't screen the particles, what you end up with is a mix that will perform like a lot of other mixes, and whose only essential variance from most other mixes would be its structural stability, a derivative of the fact that it has a 2/3 mineral component and the organic fraction (bark) breaks down very slowly. This is one of the less significant attributes of the soil though, because inevitably a plant needs repotting long before there would be even a hint there was a hint the soil had structurally degraded. In fact, with a 2/3 mineral fraction, even if the entire bark fraction was to break down or gas off, the soil would still be perfectly servicable.

I don't think I've ever really listed the attributes of the gritty mix, so:

A) No or very little perched water - the most important (root health)
B) Excellent aeration (root health)
C) Extremely forgiving and easy to grow in
D) Adjustable for water retention
E) Serviceable indefinitely - won't collapse (root health)
F) Easy to make, once ingredients are located & you're set up to screen

I love to see people using it, but I have to be honest. If you can't find the ingredients or suitable substitutes, or don't want to screen them, I don't think it's a good investment of time/effort to make something that will perform similar to a from the bag mix.

More important than a recipe, is the concept. The gritty mix is simply the best way I've found to implement the concept described in the thread I'll link to below. I honestly feel that an understanding of the information in the thread represents the largest forward step a container gardener can take at any one time.

Root health is often overlooked or given short shrift; but it's very important to realize that a healthy plant is impossible w/o a healthy root system. Roots are indeed the heart of the plant, so it pays to keep them happy. ;-)

Best luck. Have fun at the party!

Al

Here is a link that might be useful: Learn about soils .....