How often do you change gritty mix?
8 years ago
While checking my plants this morning, I noticed that a jade has wrinkly leaves. It has been this way for a few days and watering did not help. It is outside in full sun all year and potted in gritty mix of perlite, Napa oil dry and bark.
It has been about 2 years since a repot, so I figured it was time while I look at the roots. Here's what I found - dessicated roots (that pile at the top) and little to no bark left.
I haven't gotten all the dead roots off of the plant, yet. They are literally falling off. Here's a close up view.
The plant has been doing rather well until just recently. So maybe I have caught this in time.
I guess my question is - should I be using the bark in my mix? Is it decaying faster during our wet summers and I just need to repot more often? Or is 2 years about right?
The bark used above was chopped orchid bark. Lately I have been using Repti-bark. Not sure that makes a difference. I prefer granite to perlite, but I use which ever I can get.
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Comments (10)
- 8 years ago
Here is a picture of the two different barks. Miracle Gro orchid bark is on the left and the Repti-bark is on the right.
Frankly, I don't think my early mixes were done well, probably not sifted well. But they were certainly an improvement over trying to cut soil with perlite. My summers are just too wet for any mix that holds water.
8 years agoCrenda 10A SW FL thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)Related Discussions
Gritty mix problem. How do I tell if the mix is too wet ?
Comments (4)Nguyenty - it looks like your Turface has already been screened? The #5 gravel looks very good - about the same size as the granite or cherrystone I use. You're better off with the granite fraction being a bit too small than the Turface fraction, because the granite holds so little water comparatively. I think what I would do is use it as is. I wouldn't fertilize at each watering because I suggest you DO water in sips, with an occasional flush until the roots have colonized the soil mass. At that point, with an established planting, it becomes less likely you could over-water. I would also suggest you insert a wick through the bottom of the pot at the perimeter (if plastic), and after flushing the soil or watering, tilt the container at a 45* angle with the wick down. This changes the shape of the soil that CAN be occupied by perched water to an inverted triangle, better said - a triangle standing on an apex - and reduces the volume of excess water a planting CAN hold; and, the wick increases the effectiveness of the strategy significantly. ..... not lecturing or being snotty. Think of it as a reminder to anyone following along ~ The reasoning behind the gritty mix: it provides a soil with little or no perched water that retains it's structure indefinitely. If anyone is going to build a soil similar to the gritty mix but lacking these two properties, there is little sense in going through all the effort when something like the less expensive and easier to make 5:1:1 mix would serve as well. Really glad to see you made the effort. I hope you let us know if in the end you think the dividends justify the diligence. Al...See MoreHow often do you water houseplants in gritty mix?
Comments (7)Thank you for all of your helpful replies. I just realized that I wasn't actually using a dowel, but a bamboo stick, which is probably more water resistant and harder to see. So I'm going to go get a dowel and try it that way. All of my plants are either in plastic, resin or fiberglass pots, so no real terra cotta. I'm going to give it several weeks to see how much watering and then reevaluate. I have to go away for a week at a time so might have to up the turface content on the mix to hold water longer if the plants dry out too fast. While I trust my housesitter to get the plants under lights, which have huge drip trays,there are far too many other plants where if the drip trays ran over it would be very, very bad. With regular potting soil, most plants were going 1-1/2 to 2 weeks, which means too wet. If I can stretch it to 6 or 7 days, it would be perfect, but we'll see. I think it's confusing because the top of the gritty mix looks totally dry by the next day. I think I'm going to have to do a wilt test for sure before I'll really know and feels safe....See Morehow often do you water with a 1-1-1 mix??
Comments (5)Tracy - it depends on the humidity. Mine are all on wicks and I bottom water streptocarpus plants in 5" pots about every 5 days. We are so dry in Colorado that I never use a hair dryer - so everything violets included needs more water - and wicks and mats create the necessary humidity around the plants. In other climates may be it is 50% humidity at home and 90 - outside, so the plants grow better and bigger. The only very scientific gadget I use is my index finger. You touch the soil - and you can tell - dry - or needs to be watered tomorrow - or wet. That's why there is always dirt under this nail - while the rest of the hands look nice and clean. :-)) I....See MoreHow often do you clean out/change purses?
Comments (31)When I graduated from high school in '65, my mother's friend gave me a clutch type wallet as a graduation gift, and somehow, very quickly, that evolved into my purse, and I have just carried a wallet like that ever since. I carry the same one for years...until it literally falls apart. Right now, the zipper on the zippered coin compartment is broken, so when I am out and I get change, I carry it in my pocket, or put it in the console of my truck. My truck is my purse. I keep receipts in my wallet and about once a month, take them out and put them away. I save a lot of my change, and keep it in a jar in one of my cupboards. Once a month, I empty the jar and put it away. I try to make sure I save a little more each month than I did the previous one. I've tried carrying a purse a couple of times since I switched to the wallet and it seems so heavy and kills my shoulders. Hairbrush and anything I think I will need....I keep in my truck....See More- 8 years agoCrenda 10A SW FL thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoCrenda 10A SW FL thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
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