Normally use whatever is at hand, but charcoal and composted pine bark is essential for drainage.

Went out yesterday and bought pine-bark and some greengro potting mix in 65 litre,seem a lot like fern &palm mix,so you,re right Bernard whatever is around there all good.Dolomite lime with the Alocasias and through the year thrive soluble fertilizer with some seaweed or fish emulsion extract for both.Have you noticed that Equatorial Exotics are getting more plants in Bernard,got some good Anthuriums off Aroids&Palms in Port Douglas,Cardiolonchium family types,Graeme.

Graeme, time for me to start up the wood-burning barbie to get enough charcoal for the spring potting time. Getting some crushed volcanic rock (lavalith) is also great but not readily available here in Brissy. Every now and then checking the website of EE but so far not enough stuff for me to order. If you order again from up north, let me know, maybe we can save on postage?
Have fun

Sent a small order off two weeks ago,due next week,waiting on a further up-date from EE Arden said they possibly will have the purple leaf in later on.I want to get more Fotgetti later they,ve run short of them.Wil let you know Bernard,have a good spring,Graeme.

How much charcoal do you put into potting mix.

Depends on the plants, for Anthuriums and Amorphophallus I use approx 30% charcoal, 40% bark and 10% gravel and 20% potting mix. For palms, I only use straight potting mix.

Thanks Bernard do you Know anything about Majestic Palms.

I have got one, seems to be happy. What do you want to know?