Gritty mix for citrus - I am overwhelmed with information!

7 years ago

I have been reading the many threads concerning Al's Gritty Mix and other mixes for long term container gardening. I have 3 dwarf citrus in pots (Meyer Lemon, Bearss Lime and Kumkuat), all in the apparently dreaded and useless potting soil. I live in Sacramento - can someone who lives here also give me some advice regarding which version of gritty mix would be best for our climate? I also apparently need to prune the roots of my 8 year old Meyer. I am assuming I should wait until next spring, but would it be possible/advisable to do it now? I've noticed the last couple of seasons it has been dropping a lot of leaves. I still get some fruit but would love to get it healthier. Any help would be appreciated!

Sheila

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
7 years ago
Next spring? Are you in Australia?
Sheila
Original Author
7 years ago
I'm in Sacramento, CA. One of the things I have read on these threads is that the best time to prune roots and repot is February or March. It's already in the mid-to-upper 80s where I am. Spring temperatures are pretty much over by the end of April.
Related Discussions
Gritty Mix + Citrus Plants + Foilage Pro - Questions
Q
Comments (80)
So what do you suggest to test the water PH? Should I also check out the water quality report too? Where's the best place to find that out? I went to the water site for my city (Austin, Tx) but I'm not sure if I need to narrow by zip code? Here was the report: Davis WTP Ullrich WTP Parameter Units Method Cd T2,T2H T3 ----------------- ----- --------------- ----------- ----------- pH SU SM 4500-H B AVG 9.7 AVG 9.6 MAX 9.8 MAX 9.8 MIN 9.5 MIN 9.4 Total Alkalinity MG/L SM 2320 B AVG 61 AVG 67 MAX 65 MAX 72 MIN 56 MIN 62 Total Hardness MG/L SM 2340 C AVG 94 AVG 102 MAX 99 MAX 106 MIN 89 MIN 96 Total Solids MG/L SM 2540 B AVG 188 AVG 198 MAX 204 MAX 202 MIN 168 MIN 188 Total Chlorine MG/L SM 4500-CL F AVG 2.93 AVG 2.61 Residual MAX 3.25 MAX 2.80 MIN 2.70 MIN 2.30 Sulfate MG/L SM 4500-SO4 E AVG 36.4 AVG 34.4 MAX 37.5 MAX 34.4 MIN 35.3 MIN 34.4 Total Organic MG/L SM 5310 C AVG 2.70 AVG 2.60 Carbon MAX 2.96 MAX 2.73 MIN 2.45 MIN 2.46 Conductivity UMHOS/cm SM 2510 B AVG 335 AVG 354 MAX 335 MAX 354 MIN 335 MIN 354 Total UG/L EPA 524.3 THM AVG 28.9 AVG 35.9 Trihalomethanes MAX 32.4 MAX 42.9 MIN 24.8 MIN 30.8 Turbidity NTU SM 2130 B AVG 0.06 AVG 0.04 MAX 0.10 MAX 0.06 MIN 0.03 MIN 0.02 Drinking Water Quality Report Date Range: 01-SEP-2013 to 30-SEP-2013 Now what if I repotted plants from soil that had a bunch of fertilizer salts on the top despite not fertilizing? I'm using 5-1-1 mix, should I add dolomite lime or not because the water is too alkaline? Or is the problem that I haven't been fertilizing regularly?! AAAAh! I don't know where to start! lol!
...See More
Citrus in gritty mix drying off, need help
Q
Comments (12)
There really shouldn't be any initial wetting issues with the gritty mix like there can be when other soils, including the 5:1:1 mix are allowed to dry down too much. Here's how that works: Consider that all ingredients are as dry as they get, especially the bark, as that is the only component that will exhibit any hydrophobia (water repellency). When you wet a completely dry gritty mix, the Turface immediately absorbs water like a sponge and becomes saturated, while the surfaces of the granite also become coated with water. This is always enough water to sustain the plant AND for some of the water to 'break' the hydrophobia of any bark that WAS water-repellent as water vapor diffuses from other colloidal surfaces into the bark within 10-15 minutes, leaving the soil uniformly damp/moist. This occurs much faster when the bark fraction isn't allowed to dry down much below 30% so the bark is never hydrophobic. If you ARE watering in a plant in a completely dry soil, it's probably a good idea to just water again an hour or so after the initial watering to make sure the soil didn't become TOO dry as water diffused from (primarily) the Turface into the dry bark. That said, when I do my repots, I have a tub of water nearby always, that is partially filled with a water/Superthrive solution - like what Al suggested. I set the pot in the shallow water in the tub and gradually fill it up to the soil level & leave it set in the water while I go about doing the next repot - then I remove the soaking pot & put the next pot in its place. Al
...See More
Al's Gritty Mix Guide, am I missing anything ?
Q
Comments (2)
That is much better, thank you. If you have time, can you add more information into the 5-1-1 mix guide. I haven't tried this mix yet and don't know much about it. AlÂs 5-1-1 Mix is a bark-based mix that also provides great drainage and aeration. This mix is also created by Al (tapla) from Gardenweb.com website. The mix is composes of 5 part fine bark, 1 part sphagnum peat, and 1 part perlite. This mix is recommended for annuals or anything that only last a few seasons. The ingredients are: 5 part partially-composed pine bark fines (mulch) 1 part sphagnum peat 1 part horticulture grade perlite (coarse size) 1 tbsp per gallon of garden dolomic lime
...See More
Fertilising in Gritty Mix (Citrus)
Q
Comments (4)
Hi, So I am thinking of the following in terms of food/fertilising: - Gypsum - Osmocote Citrus (http://www.tuigarden.co.nz/product/scotts-osmocote%C2%AE-fruit-citrus-trees-shrubs) For trace elements anyone use seaweed stuff? http://www.yates.co.nz/products/fertilising/organic-based/natures-way-bio-gold-liquid-plant-food/ or http://www.seasol.com.au/ Would I need to feed with anything else? I can't seem to find a fertiliser with 3-1-2 ratio so far.
...See More
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
7 years ago
Hey, Sheila, my brother lives in Sacramento, and I'm familiar with the weather (I live up in the foothills near Auburn). I would say that it is too late in the season now to do the root pruning without seriously stressing your citrus. Can you post some pictures of your plants? That will really help with advice.

Also, either the Gritty Mix or the 5-1-1 mix will work in Sacramento. Sourcing ingredients for the Gritty Mix is more difficult, as is the preparation, but it is a more durable mix. The 5-1-1 is easier to source and assemble, and is the mix I use for most of my Citrus - although I start with uncomposted bark, and I typically replace the peat with grittier ingredients, such as lava rock, perlite, turface, pumice, and quartzite. This allows the mix to last longer, 2 - 3 years if the container is sufficiently sized.

Josh
Sheila
Original Author
7 years ago
Josh - here is a photo:

I had a lot of leaf drop recently when the soil got too dry (I'm a flight attendant and I was gone a lot that week and my husband didn't water!) But it seems to be recovering from that. It's bloomed twice but most of the baby fruit drops off. I think I had about 8 lemons this year which is about average. I was planning on re-potting it this year because it's started to lean to one side. The lime and the kumquat are much younger and healthier looking )they haven't been in their pots as long), so I didn't include photos. The 5-1-1 for now - I think sourcing the ingredients will be a lot easier.

Sheila
Gibson Zone 9 (Central Valley, CA)
7 years ago
I live in Manteca (an hour from Sacramento). I can give you information on where I found supplies and everything I learned while figuring out what the heck everything actually was ... If you find pine bark fines, please let me know. I would like to get a yard of it (or so) - several bags would be okay too.
Sheila
Original Author
7 years ago
That would be great, thanks so much for any help you can give me!

Gritty mix for citrus - I am overwhelmed with information!

Comments (6)

Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)

Sheila
Original Author

Related Discussions

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a

Sheila
Original Author

Gibson Zone 9 (Central Valley, CA)

Sheila
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Gritty mix for citrus - I am overwhelmed with information!

Comments (6)

Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)

SheilaOriginal Author

Related Discussions

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a

SheilaOriginal Author

Gibson Zone 9 (Central Valley, CA)

SheilaOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Sheila
Original Author

Sheila
Original Author

Sheila
Original Author