Question regarding 5:1:1
goldstar135
7 years ago
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Dave
7 years agoPerlite is easy to find. Usually a place like lowes will have it.
For the peat portion, you can just use bagged miracle gro potting mix. Lowes will also have that.
Dolomite lime, again, lowes should have it.
pine bark that'll work well will be the only tricky part. The pine bark prices need to be 1/8-1/4" and a lot of pine bark out there is just too large to use.
I see you're in NJ. Do you have an Agway store close by (I see there are some in jersey).
This bark works well for me. You'll still need to do a little sifting and also pick out the sapwood (light colored stuff).
goldstar135 thanked Davegoldstar135
7 years agoRelated Discussions
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 MoreA GREAT experience regarding the gritty and 5.1.1.mix!
Comments (2)I know what you mean the plants were "dancing in the rain". My peppers were doing the La Cucaracha yesterday when we got our first inch of rain in 6 weeks. I was out in it uncovering rain barrels and setting out every bucket I could find under the eaves. I almost danced too! :)...See Morequestion regarding 5:1:1 soil mix.
Comments (2)It may be that you've over-potted, which is choosing a container that is much larger than the last one - hard to say from your description. The 'mushrooms' you are seeing are just the fruiting bodies of fungi that ware already in the bark. Don't be concerned, it just means conditions are right for the shrooms to fruit - no big deal. If you're concerned about water retention, insert a wick into the drain hole & let it dangle below the pot after you water until the pot stops draining. Locating the drain hole near the edge (but still on the bottom) and tipping the pot at a 45* angle so the drain hole & wick are as low as possible makes a big difference in how much water your soil will hold. You could also just partially bury the container in a bed or garden. It only needs to be a couple of inches deep for the earth to 'pull' all the excess water from the soil. It's better to repot/pot up when the plant is actively growing or just about to enter an active growth phase, so roots colonize the new soil mass quickly. You don't need to change to a different soil now, just be aware of how much water your soil DOES hold, and water when your plant needs it. I.e. when the soil feels dry at the drain hole; and use the tips you think are appropriate for you. Al Here is a link that might be useful: More about dealing with water-retentive soils...See More5-1-1 mix recipe --- a couple questions
Comments (102)coco does not disintegrate, it resist decomposition and last several years.. i have made a quick video showing how airy it is, and it's certainly not "dust" like it's mentioned in that 2 line sentence about the person in that link you posted say it is, and as i've said, coco can be purchased in coarser grade too. i'd imagine mixing the finer grade coco with the coarser coco would make one hell of a mix that will put the 5-1-1 mix to shame and keep so much money in your pocket.. but i think just the normal texture coco is fine, there are plenty of people who use it on thehotpepper forum by itself with amazing results. it does not compact at all despite how hard it is squeezed. very fibrous which is why it does not really need any additives such as perlite, bark, etc..which saves huge amounts of money. the amazing thing about is it has tremendous water holding capacity while still staying light and airy and not suffocating plant roots. there are so many other reasons why it's superior to just about every type of planting media out there. research and very much doubt you'll find many valid negative things about it....See Moregoldstar135
7 years agogoldstar135
7 years ago
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)