CHC/peat moss vs Gritty Mix

13 years ago

Surfing various "container citrus" forums I just learned of using coconut husk chips and peat moss for citrus soil. (It took me a surprising long time to find what "CHC" was.)

I have NO experience with using CHC, and have been very impressed by my trees performance in Al's gritty mix. I would guess that the gritty mix would be heavier (and more stable due to its' weight).

Anyone have experience with both? How do they compare for citrus trees in New England?

Thanks in advance

Tanksalot

Stan F.

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Comments (8)

thisisme
13 years ago
There is at least one member who did a side by side comparison and posted pictures. I'm sure he will chime in when he sees this thread.
Stan
Original Author
13 years ago
Patient is not one of my virtues. Could you at least summarize the comparison?
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>>> I made a really big batch of 5 parts fur bark, 1 part crushed granite, 1 part Turface mvp, and 1 part peat moss. Although not a disaster, I am wondering if you've mixed up the ingredients between making the two types recommended by Al in the container forum: the "gritty mix" and the 5-1-1 mix. Gritty is 1-1-1 bark fines, granite, turface and particle size of the components in paramount (thus sifting and searching for sizes). The 511 is bark fines(partially composted), peat, perlite and as long as you use the smallest bark you can find, should be fine. You correctly added Gypsum, avoid the lime for both the berries and citrus. >>> Your blueberries can be fertilized with the citrus fertilizer, too. Depending on your pH of your water, I would probably still add some Vinegar to feed the blueberries. Even with help of MG Miracid, you are fighting the constant natural pH rise every time you water with municipal water that is usually above 7.2+ Even with using bark+peat mixes with Soil Sulfur, using Miracid, and watering with heavy vinegar water about half the time, the pH started about 7.0 this Spring -- darn.
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thisisme
13 years ago
Well Mike did the side by side and others had the same results. The CHC/Peat left many of the leaves yellowed. Mike re-potted in Al's Gritty mix and they they all recovered.
Stan
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks!!!
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Thisisme..Thank you..

Tanksalot..

I have left a link at the bottom which will help you not to be disappointed with the lack of help from some whom claim their trees do very well in CHC..

If you decide to go through with it, I pray your plants do not go through the turmoil mines did, and that you get better support to grow GREEN healthy very vibrant trees that I could never get with CHC...
In fact, the one whom introduced the gritty mix to you was the one that was quick to correct my plants suffering and explain why CHC is not a good choice along with the disadvantages...

MIKE

Here is a link that might be useful: Very interesting in my experience with CHC
silica
13 years ago
I have switched many of my trees out of the gritty mix and over to CHC/peat last July, and will swith the rest over when they need to be up potted. In my estimation CHC has been absolutely outstanding,--- EXCELLENT. I have been growing container citrus for 8 years, and the CHC/peat blend has turned out to be far and away the VERY BEST mixture for citrus that I have ever used. I learned about CHC growing some time ago on the other citrus forum. Wonderful, and outstanding are the only words I can use. I recomend it highly. One thing for sure, you simply cannot over water your tree when it is planted in CHC.
badsmerf
13 years ago
I'd really like to know why you believe that Silica. When it comes to over-watering it kinda makes me wonder how peat (extremely high PWT) and CHC (don't know PWT, but since its an organic material it can't be low) can't be over-watered.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
13 years ago
I'm always glad when someone finds something that they feel works well for them, but I think there should be a whole lot of qualifications made before anyone would make the statement "One thing for sure, you simply cannot over water your tree when it is planted in CHC." For example, a 50/50 mix of CHCs and peat will be extremely water-retentive and very easy to over-water. Even then, it's doubtful they could make the case. The 50/50 mix would also support a significant perched water table. I don't know about others, but for me, the presence of a significant PWT is a clear indication of a heavy soil and over-watering.

I'm not commenting to 'protect' the reputation of the gritty mix or promote its use, but I've done side by side comparisons (and reported the results) of media blends with CHCs and coir as their primary fractions (even after rinsing very thoroughly to reduce complications from a high solubles level) vs media with pine bark and/or peat as the primary fractions, and in each case, the CHC and coir blends were not even in the ball park, using growth as the comparative yardstick.

There are a number of very good reasons that commercial ops that DO use coir and CHCs limit their presence in container media to small %s of the whole.

Al

CHC/peat moss vs Gritty Mix

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thisisme

Stan
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thisisme

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meyermike_1micha

silica

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CHC/peat moss vs Gritty Mix

Comments (8)

thisisme

StanOriginal Author

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thisisme

StanOriginal Author

meyermike_1micha

silica

badsmerf

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Stan
Original Author

Stan
Original Author