Can I use the 5:1:1 mix for plumeria?
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10 years ago
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Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia
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question on using perlite in the 5-1-1 mix
Comments (4)I would agree with Josh. I, myself, use a mixture of fir bark, coarse perlite, and granite chips. It's more along the lines of the Gritty Mix than the 511, but the concept is still just about the same with regard to aeration and drainage, and us being more in control of the feeding and watering needs of the containerized planting. Size of materials being fairly comparable is what I go for... unless it's a planting that requires more moisture retained for longer, at which point I add a bit of high quality potting mix or something similar, still keeping the majority of materials used of larger size than fine silt/peat. Don't let me confuse you, though... keep in mind that growing in containers differs greatly from growing in the ground... and that we each have our own individual environment to consider when planting anything. There's really a lot of great material to read here in the forum... and I think you'll find that it's the concept, the how and why of it, that's really important....See MoreCan the 5-1-1 mix be used in succeeding years?
Comments (7)It's best to replace every season, especially with vigorous vegetable crops that are used as vegetables crops. The main issue isn't that its spent of nutrients or anything like that, it's that the pine has decayed/collapsed to the point where it now holds some perched water, and doesn't have as much free air space. You can, of course, make a subjective decision based on how compacted the mix appears to you. I generally use the spent mix to replenish my raised bed, along with other amendments. The 5-1-1 mix is supposed to be affordable, allowing it to be re-used. But nowadays, what is affordable is more debatable than ever....See MoreCan self watering pot be used toghther with gritty mix or 5-1-1?
Comments (15)Hi Doc!! I am sorry that i haven't been around... My Little Daschund had a terrible accident a few days ago when he was coming up the stairs. He missed a step and hit his little head wrong and instantly began to curl his feet. The Vet said he hurt his neck and to wait and see if he will come around. Well, he was paralyzed and couldn't do much to help himself, so i had to make the decision to let him go and not suffer anymore.. A hard decision because i didnt want him to leave me, but a decision made from the love that i have for him and the true love he always gave back. A true Gentleman for 13 years and he left in my arms a relaxed loved little loyal companion. This is why i have been away.. I'm still bummed and im missing my little garden buddy..But i wanted to come here and tell you why i didnt respond to your email and this post.. Thanks for the email to get me here!!! Sorry to hear about your Peace Lilly. I know how much you loved them and how you worked so hard to get the mix right and the special containers for your loved lilly. Noone could have done more than what you did to make them happy, try again someday and i bet they will be bigger and strongern(healthier) than the others. Puerto Rico sounds lovely right now.. That would probably make me smile seeing those beautitful sunsets and crystal blue water around Luquillo Beach!! Love those Coconut palms all the way down to the water. What a great local spot to visit. So you have a new Rubber Tree eh? ;-) I bet it does love the partial shade in your yard. Plants naturally love being outdside and i understand that you want to bring it inside to your office. You have the right idea to keep it away from drafts and or airconditoning vents. Constant air (chilled) causes problems and i would avoid this if possible. Also, i would keep it close to any natural light that you can, but if it is only artificial light try and see if it adjust. Give it some time because taking it from a natural enviroment to a artifical enviroment will cause any plant an adjustment period. Good Luck Tecnico and i hope all is well with you!! Enjoy that beautiful sunshine down south!! Take Care, Laura...See MoreIs Al's gritty mix or 5-1-1 mix really any better than other mixes?
Comments (32)@Nil13 made reference to the Whitcomb 311 mix, which is an earlier historical attempt to create a more coarse potting soil for container plants. I think it is extremely helpful to read a document written by Carl Whitcomb that explains how he came on this formula by accident. Essentially what happened is he accidentally left nine test pots under a bench and everyone forgot they were there. They had successfully nearly killed all of their test plants by watering in a normal potting soil mix and the unwatered plants started to do very well. What I have started to realize is that any plant can do well in many different soil mixes, if you are able to carefully control the watering. This explains why so many people on this forum claim gritty mix is not as good for their succulents as their (fill in some random horrible soil with lots of small particles) mix. Inevitably those people are growing their plants indoors. They have enormous experience with their plant type and they know exactly when to water the plant. So that is the case of a very skilled gardener compensating for a very bad soil. What gritty mix does for me is let me grow succulents outside in very abusive weather conditions, without the plant dying. A plant can get a week of rain and it will still drain well. During Summer, gritty mix will tolerate a bit of overwatering, although you still really need to pay attention to not overwatering. Whether you make your 511 mix with perlite/peat, or with two parts Turface, or with lava and pumice, is probably in the big picture not going to be the deciding factor in whether your plants grow well or not. Success can be add with any of those mixes because the size of the particles allows the roots to breathe and prevents capillary action of water from bring the perched water table to the top of the pot and drowning the roots. Fine-tuning how you make 511 is a question of matching the plant type to the moisture retention of the soil and to the watering habit and climate exposure. Any 511 variant is going to do better than almost any commercial potting soil because of the larger particles used in the majority of the mix....See Morejandey1
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