Has anyone tried 'Al's gritty mix' for conifers?
maple_grove_gw
12 years ago
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maple_grove_gw
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Skype anyone?? Al's gritty mix
Comments (0)So, after posting this(below), I was told that I should try skype. Well, I do have skype and a microphone so if you're willing to give me a little demonstration e-mail me your info and tell me what times work for your. I'll try to find a time that works for us both. I'm determined to get this right!! I tried to make Al's gritty mix several years ago, and failed miserably. Getting the ingredients was someone costly, so if I attempt this again, I intend on getting this right. I would like to meet with someone and watch in person how this is done. I don't know why I'm not getting this, but I thought that maybe if I could watch someone do this, I might be able to better understand what I'm doing wrong. I'm having a houseplant mailed to me in a couple months, and I want to be ready when it arrives. Anyways, I'm in northern Illinois, only about 15-20 minutes away from the Wisconsin border. If anyone is willing to meet with me, please send me and e-mail so we can chat. someguy00273952@yahoo.com...See MoreAl's Gritty Mix -- A Learning Experinece
Comments (138)I recently bought a rubber tree plant. It looks very healthy but the soil it’s in is very rich and very hard. I had to take a chop stick to break it up since I couldn’t put my finger in the soil to test the moisture level. So I decided to change out the soil. My first mistake: I went and bought miracle grow potting soil and then watered after I transplanted and even though it has drainage holes not a drop of water came out the bottom. It retained ALL the moisture in the top 1/3 of the pot and I know my plant will die of root rot If I don’t do something soon. My second mistake: Next, I tried a mix of equal parts coarse sand, mini pine bark and peat humus. Again, I watered after planting and it was like soup. Nothing draining out of the pot. I used Al‘s mix years ago for my outside container plants and it was wonderful. We’ve moved since then and I don’t know where my grani-grit or Turface went. I don’t remember where I got these from in WI but I will have to search again. succulents are my newest obsession and I bought bonsai jacks gritty mix but my indoor succulents are not happy. There are zero nutrients in this mix And that makes me uneasy. My question to you is this: What mix do I use for my indoor succulents? (Mainly Echeverias, some Haworthia and some sedum and pachyveria). What mix do I use for my rubber tree plant? What mix do I use for my sanseveria snake plant? Im thinking gritty mix for snake plant and succulents? Please help. Thank you!...See MoreAl's Gritty Mix and spidermites on the East Coast?
Comments (12)lololo..I never meant Dove..It's a good thing you caught that! I meant to say 'Ivory' dishwashing soap...I use about 5 drops in the 32 ounce sprayer...Sheesh! Yes. Exactly! Make sure to hit every leaf..Every once in a while, like let's say once a month I treat all trees anyway just to avoid any type of onset..Sort of a maintenence thing. Yes one part GOAT and one part of everything else..lol Just kidding..Let me know when you find any ingredients and then we can make something just like the 1.1.1 or 5.1.1 of an amended version of either..It will be real easy.. Perlite is a HUGE start. Napa store will usually have floor dry comparable to Turface and Pumice, sort of an inbetween..Make sure it does not fall apart when water touches it. Agway has all the bark fines you need...It's their own blue bag consisting of southern pine bark. The pet store might have big bags of Fir Bark. Grain stores usually carry Turface Mvp and or chicken grit growers size without crushed shells..It's pure crushed granite. Pool supply stores carry washed coarse sand..Very good stuff. The local Nursery might have a heavy mix that contains mostly bark. You can find Fafard at most Hydroponics stores and or look online to see who your local sellers are.. Pumice and or Turface can also be found at local Bonsai shops.. Your current mix is far superior than just a bagged mix and I can tell you had drainage in mind..Good job..But I am afraid if you don't change your trees out of it by next fall, it will go bust, decompose and compact... The 5.1.1 mix will only require a bunch of bark and perlite.. The 1.1.1 is easy to amend if you can't find all the actual ingredients.. Looks like you have plans for this spring, just like me. MIke:-)...See MoreAnyone using Al's gritty mix in a terrarium?
Comments (8)â¢Posted by succulent_succotash Paul_, are you using gritty mix solely for your terrariums? Any other type of soil mixture? Actually for all 3 of my large terrs, It's a 2-3inch layer of sphag over lava rock. Reason being is it makes for a lighter weight tank should I need to move it, and the plants I have in them are more moisture lovers. I don't do succulent terrs as they do not make good long term terr inhabitants. IME, any organic material will grow mold -- especially in a terr. You may not notice some types as not all are light colored, but they are there nonetheless. What will greatly reduce the presence of many fungi -- at least the white fuzzy types -- is good air circulation ... something many terrs lack. Once I installed a couple pc fans in my 90gal terr, mold issues abated....See Moregreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
12 years agomaple_grove_gw
12 years agoMike Larkin
12 years agolou_spicewood_tx
12 years agomrgpag SW OH Z5/6
12 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
12 years agosluice
12 years agomaple_grove_gw
12 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
12 years agosluice
12 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
12 years agosluice
12 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
12 years agosluice
12 years ago
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