Question for all Michigan Citrus growers!! please help me out

msugrl2010

11 years ago

Hello Michigan citrus growers,

I just bought a one year old oroblanco, and within this month I will have to pot it.

Can you guys tell me where you get your mixes from? I'm searching for a well draining mix, (this also counts if you make your own, where do you get the materials from?)

I'd appreciate your guys's help, it seems to be difficult to find good mixes or the materials to make them in Michigan.

MSUgrl

Comments (7)

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
11 years ago
MSUgrl, you don't say where, exactly, you live in Michigan? Is it in Lansing (MSU)?? If so, there are several retail outlets that sell Fafard. Have you checked their retail locator on their web site: http://www.fafard.com/FindaRetail.aspx Put in your city and state. You will see there are many options for you. Call some of the retail suppliers to see if they carry the heavyweight 3, 52, or Nursery mixes. All are very excellent choices for you.

Patty S.
(who lived in N. Indiana for 10 years, and sent a daughter to MSU)
msugrl2010
Original Author
11 years ago
hoosierquilt,

Thanks so much for this link! I found a place that sells the 52 mix, finally! the mix struggle can be over! lol.

I graduated from MSU in 2010 :/ now I'm in Grad school outside of Lansing. I figured you were from indiana by your username too (hoosier) lol! Nice that you sent your daughter to MSU! hope she loved it as much as I did! :)

MSUgrl
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hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
11 years ago
She did :-) Very nice place to raise 3 daughters for sure. Good luck with both your citrus and grad school!

Patty S.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
You will like the Fafard, or should I say....your plants will. I recommend the Heavy Weight mixes for all comtainer grown plants with the exception of bonsai.
msugrl2010
Original Author
11 years ago
hoosierquilt, Thank you! also I had a quick question, I heard about people using things like bamboo sticks or skewer sticks to test the moisture level of the soil. Is this true? does this work well?

Rhizo, Good to know! I'm so happy I won't have to make my own mix lol!

MSUgrl
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
About the skewers. It might take practice for you to interpret what your fingers are feeling. The whole purpose is to be able to determine the moistness of the soil in depths that the fingers may not be able to reach. When you insert a small diameter, DRY dowel rod into the depths of the potting mix, it should come out cool and damp if the mix is damp. It might be especially helpful for determining if the mix is staying too soggy at deeper depths.

I've never used the technique, relying on other methods to determine if watering is needed, but I can see how it could be useful. I'd think that a bamboo skewer might be too small, but maybe not. A soft pine dowel rod seems like it might pick up more moisture than bamboo.
msugrl2010
Original Author
11 years ago
rhizo,

I think I'll try to find a pine dowel then. Thanks for the advice!

btw, what types of lights do you and hoosier use on your trees in the winter? I was just thinking about it today since its already August (crazy!) I was planning on placing my tree near a window where it can still get light, but in MI we have overcast winters, so I wonder what light I'll need to supplement it with?

MSUgrl

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Question for all Michigan Citrus growers!! please help me out

Comments (7)

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

msugrl2010
Original Author

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Question for all Michigan Citrus growers!! please help me out

Comments (7)

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

msugrl2010Original Author

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hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

msugrl2010Original Author

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

msugrl2010Original Author

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msugrl2010
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