I messed up my Gritty Mix with pumice, can it be saved?
I accidentally added pumice instead of chicken grit to my 1:1:1. What should I do from here?
I'm making a mix for my new haws if that helps.
Also, exactly how clean are the roots supposed to be? I washed these with a paint brush and this was about as good as I could get it. Should I try to get more off?
Sorry for the million questions. Thanks in advance!
Comments (19)
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I dont want to mess up my new cookware!!!
Comments (5)I've got all-clad. And I use it on high heat on a regular basis--so far so good (I've had it for about 6 years). I use metal utensils, as well as silicone (don't like wooden utensils, since they're porous and I'm not comfortable about getting them truly clean). And yes, I've used it in the oven, as well. You shouldn't get burned on spots, if you clean the pieces well after each use. If you do see some of those speckles starting to form, 'scour' the pan with a little baking soda--it takes them right off (would have saved your cookie sheets, if used regularly). Barkeeper's Friend is a good idea, but I only use toxic cleaners as a last resort on surfaces that touch food--baking soda is a better choice--it does an amazing job of cleaning, is non-toxic, non-abrasive, kills germs, deoderizes, etc. It's the first cleaner I reach for in the kitchen as well as the bathroom. One caution--if you're new to All-Clad, and if your previous pans had coated handles. the All Clad handles will get quite hot after a while--be sure to always use a potholder when picking up the pans after they've been on the range....See MoreMy first gritty mix, and it's a beautiful thing
Comments (8)Kd How about what plant likes rather than your liking? sort of kidding...but really, if plant likes it, it is usually much easier on the grower. I do agree with you on mix looking good - so much nicer to look at than just plain soil or peat :)...See MoreJust got my gritty mix ingredients! Now some questions..
Comments (6)Thanks for the info! :) I was thinking I would rinse with my fine mesh strainer (same thing as a sieve I believe). I suppose I hadn't thought about whether or not that would be sufficient for all three ingredients. I do have a colander I could use. I need to do a little more research on proportions to use. I was thinking of starting with 1:1:1. Though, I understand that turface holds the most water of the three, so in glazed pots I will probably use a smaller proportion of turface and in terracotta pots I'd do a little bit more (not more than the 1:1:1 ratio though). I will need to do some more reading. I imagine it will also take some experimentation to get it right. I don't plan to repot all my plants immediately until I get a handle on the watering and such and seeing how my plants react. Right now all of my plants are in 50-60% turface and C&S soil except for a few new ones. I have mostly echeverias and haworthias, and i also have some young jades (4 bought in the same pot) and portulcaria afra variegata (6 that came in the same pot). I keep them all inside, but on days when I am home in the afternoon, I move some outside for several hours from about 2-7. Pretty humid here right now. My porch doesn't get any morning sun, so that is one reason they stay indoors....See MorePercentage recommendations for my attempt at a gritty mix.
Comments (3)Yes, you over-did it...but we all have to learn and make many mistakes as we gain some experience. You don't have to go crazy and buy expensive mixes - you can make your own for much less. I do not use pumice because it is hard to find (and costs more $). I use chicken grit and sifted perlite in approx. equal amounts. To this, I add little turface (between 10 and 20%). Or, you can use some C&S soil, or cocopeat. I would use either in similar amounts as turface (but not all 3 together!). If you have pumice, you can use it instead of perlite. Reptibark can get quite pricey too if you need lots. I use bark sold for orchids, but only for CC. I stopped using bark for succulents, because it is difficult to source and/or pricey too. While I like to look at pics of arrangements like yours, I do not do them. I have several large pots but with multiples of same plants. I may do some in future, but probably much less variety. With so many different plants (some could prefer more or less light, and also water) and packed so much so close together, I always envision more chances of disease spreading, and plants growing and in need of repotting at different times....but that is just my opinion!!! Many certainly look good. I think your "messed-up" mix could be salvaged. I would sift it using a window screen or kitchen strainer to get dust and smallest particles out. Most of us here do not use sand - it is usually too fine, and sooner or later it compacts and interferes with drainage. As you found out:..."Down about 2.5 inches was the sandy loam that was still quite damp, compacted and hard"......See MoreErin
7 years agoErin
7 years agoErin
7 years agoErin
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago@cactusmcharris - I agree, I fell in love the moment I got it! I had to order it from California (General Pumice Products, love them!)
@breathnez In my arsenal I have: 3/16" pumice, Gran-I-Grit Grower, Reptibark, sifted through a 1/4 inch screen, Turface Pro League, Lambert perlite (great size, no powder), and sifted river rock from my property, various sizes from gritty sand to small stones, sorted.
Depending on the plant is what combination I go with. (For example, Lithops get straight pumice, others get grit, pumice, turface, just depends plus I experiment a lot) Today I was planning on going back to Al's recipe for my new haws since didn't want them to be a science experiment!
I originally stopped using bark in my gritty mix since A: its expensive B: It's a pain to sort, and C: I found myself not wanting to use it all up too quickly because of the aforementioned reasons (it's kinda like having fine China but never wanting to eat off of it)
I figured the haws deserved it.
So this afternoon I "accidentally" mixed together bark, pumice, and turface then realized I meant to use grit (and not the pumice) so I came here to ask about it (and you guys are really awesome, thank you!).
@Rina I will post a pic of my mix tomorrow since its dark :) (Nice to "meet" you, I've learned so much from you and your posts!)
In the meantime, here's everything new I got! (Dupes will go towards a giveaway) I don't need 10 split rocks - or do I? ha!
Mostly for a review/tutorial/DIY blog post
and a 6" baby toes (both my Frithia Pulchra and Fenestraria are so tiny in comparison!)
OH, and a boat load of new TC pots from dollar tree.
Erin
7 years ago
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoErin
Thank you, hope I helped a little...
WOW, that's a truckload of succulents. And yes, you NEED all the lithops. IMO, they look great crowded in a container. Look at this one for example from-here-:
I also use less turface, maybe 10, max 20% of total; but I do not add any soil or bark to mix.
IIRC, pagan - ewwmayo - and others do not use bark in their mix for haworthias - but check with them please! I could be wrong . I do not have fancies they grow and few I have are in the same mix as other succs).
Pagan
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
stupidlazydog CT zone 5b/6a
7 years agoErin
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago@Rina - thank you! Oh, and you're the reason I quite using bark ;)
Here's some of the new plants potted up, does this look about right? The haworthia venosa tessellata just has a top dressing of pumice - I needed to get into some tight spaces where the roots were wonky.
(PS - You talked me into keeping them all - don't think I'll do a giveaway for mesembs, maybe echeveria instead LOL)@stupidlazydog - I KNOW, right!? - most all are done, each in their own pot except for those two there.
Sue