Which potting soil/mix should i use for citrus in containers?

16 years ago

Hello,

I just ordered 10 citrus plants ( 4 Meyer lemons, 2 washington navel oranges, 2 valencia oranges and 2 owari satsuma mandarines) from Cliftons Nursery in CA.. They are being shipped out tomorrow and should be here in about 3 days. I was wondering which potting soil/ mix i should get. Should i get the Miracle-Gro Cactus-Palm Citrus Soil or miracle gro organic choice potting mix? I want to make sure i give them the best possible home:) Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you,

Charito

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Comments (4)

kristimama
16 years ago
Aha, finally a question I can answer! (I'm new here but I've read just about every post on potting mix I could find.)

Head on over to the "Container" forum and read the series of posts about this very topic from a very knowledgeable poster named Al/Tapla and the many many many other people who have had success with his potting mixes. There are also other folks who use different mixes, but there's definitely concensus about the idea of creating a fast draining but well aerated mix for containers to grow successfully long term.

The key thing I've learned about potted citrus is they don't like soggy roots. Basic potting mixes have too much organic material and that not only stays wet too long, but it breaks down and collapses quickly, accelerating root rot and the poor nutrient uptake.

When I got here a couple weeks ago, the idea of "home brewing" my own potting mix sounded so revolutionary and a bit crazy, and now, I'm a convert. I do a slight variation of the mix Al recommends, because I want to grow using a bit more organic material than he uses. You might also want to read his fertilizer posts... all very helpful.

Good luck with your citrus!

Here is a link that might be useful: Al's Container Potting Mix Post
gonebananas_gw
16 years ago
He has what looks to be a good recommended soil in the several mixes at the bottom of that linked post. I would add one serious caveat. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS on whatever source of micronutrients you buy. His amount might be fine for fritted slow-release micros, or a diluted source, but that 1/2 cup for four or five cubic feet of soil looks like it easily be toxic for soluble concentrated micronutrient sources (brands). Micros have a narrow range between deficiency and toxicity.

Personally, I prefer the pine bark a little coarser than the finest available. I like the largest pieces to be about the size of my little finger fingernail, 3/8th inch maybe, and I use more perlite and less peat, both of these to improve drainage. I have to water a bit more often probably.
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This is why the ReptiBark is such a good bet for my application... because it breaks down less quickly, I can go 2 or 3 years without having to re-pot... or with adding a top-dressing only. I don't have to worry that the ReptiBark will decompose right away. I find that if I soak the ReptiBark overnight before using any in a mix, it's much less likely to become hydrophobic. Plus, my pots aren't drying out that quickly... they're indoor, out of direct sun and any wind, as opposed to outdoor containers and the conditions there. Honestly, I haven't had any issues with the small bags, as used for my own applications. When I know a pot will spend time outdoors, I use a different bark in a medium closer to the 511. I found a few bags of some pine mulch at Lowe's or somewhere like that... no idea on brand names or anything... but it appeared a little darker in color, smaller in size, and perfect for using in a 511 type mix. This past spring, we actually added a bunch of composted wood chip mulch to our raised beds and even turned a bunch into the garden for aeration and whatnot... so far, so good! The basic concept is working well for us!
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I like Just Fruit's citrus trees and have bought a bunch of them, but I don't agree with their "Most commercially available potting soils are fine for citrus, or you can mix 1 part clean sand, 1 part peat and 1 part pinebark" at all. That is going to lay too wet for good citrus growth in my opinion. I haven't tried Turface or crushed granite as I haven't been able to find a local source for either of them. I'd really like to try them though and will if ever I get the chance. In the past I've used pine bark nuggets in the half-inch range mixed four parts bark to one part spagnum peat. This works very well for for both aerosity and water retention. My only complaint with it is that it needs replacing after about a year more or less. Once it breaks down past a certain point it starts holding too much water. My present perennial media mix is half-inch treated coconut husk chips and ground coconut coir about 3.5 parts chips to one part coir. This has given me really good aerosity while still maintaining good water retention. In the terra cotta colored plastic pots I find I need to water about twice a week in the hot parts of the year (full sun), less if it has rained a lot. My oldest tree has been in the same media for nearly three years now and come spring will have to have it replaced. I'd really like to find a largely inorganic media that would last even longer which is why I want to experiment with the Turface and maybe horticultural charcoal. The tree still has to have pot maintenance periodically though to either be moved into a larger container or have some root pruning done so the permanent media only gets you so much. I haven't used much slow-release fertilizer as the Osmocote and store brands that I've found so far all tend to release too fast in the hot part of the year. Some of y'all have mentioned a Dynomite brand that I'm going to look for to give it a try. Mostly I use Scotts soluble 20-20-20 with minors with some added magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) once a month. Occasionally I'll add a liquid metals product to the mix if the leaves start looking a little pale. Even with forgetting to fertilize over the summer we've still got more Key and Tahiti (Persian) limes than we can use and the Eureka lemons are starting to color up now as well. If I could find some way to fend off the leaf miners and grasshoppers without going to systemics the trees would even look pretty by the time fall rolls around. It's frustrating to get to this time of year and have them look like they do because of the bug damage. .....Alan.
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You must use potting soil! And a good quality one at that. Garden soil, even amended garden soil, is too dense and does not provide sufficient drainage. In container gardening, drainage and aeration is key. For woody plants that intend to be maintained long term in a container you need a very textural and durable potting soil. So no MiracleGro :-) Stuff like that is far too fine a texture and collapses too quickly, limiting drainage and reducing aeration.. I've attached a link to a long-running thread from the Container Gardening forum on growing trees in containers. The author - Al - is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable container gardeners around. Take everything he says as the gospel!! You will also find various recipes for quality potting soils on that forum, should you choose to make up your own. If purchasing, you want something that has a coarse, barky texture. Farfard (#52) and Metro Mix are a couple of names you could look for. Here is a link that might be useful: Trees in Containers
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cnmicitrusfan1
15 years ago
Chariko-- I'm up north of you in Saipan. I want to order some citrus, but couldn't find anyone to do it-- I can't believe you found someone!! I'm checking it out, and I've got my fingers crossed they'll let me order. I'd like to e-mail you-- my contact info is on my profile page.
athagan
15 years ago
I have no idea if you'll be able to find this stuff or not, but I use coconut husk chips and ground coconut coir with my trees. Excellent air flow while still keeping good water retention. Lasts longer than any other organic media that I've tried under Florida conditions as well. At present I'm using 3.5 parts medium chips (1/4-1/2 inch size) to one part coir. Once mixed I treat it with magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) and calcium nitrate to leach out any residual salt. My oldest tree has been in coconut chips for right at three years now. I'll have to repot it come spring.

If you can't find those then I'd look at pine bark chips or nuggets in the 1/2 size or thereabouts mixed at 4 parts bark to one part spagnum peat. Good air flow, good water retention. In my experience under Florida conditions it doesn't last as long as the coconut chips, but it works well enough.

If even that can't be found then I'd look at an orchid mix with a bit of additional peat mixed in. Not the best, but it has some durability and ought to keep you from getting into trouble with water logging.

.....Alan.

Which potting soil/mix should i use for citrus in containers?

Comments (4)

kristimama

gonebananas_gw

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athagan

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