511 mix after 3 years
Just Started(Sydney)
3 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (67)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years agoSilica
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Foliage Pro 9-3-6 / 5-1-1 Mix
Comments (7)I read the link and I feel so liberated with knowledge. I am now out of the "you don't know what you don't know category" and into the "I know what I don't know and I don't know a lot category" Follow-up. 1. Is this a valid Watering Strategy? Use soaker hose until the water flushes through the bottom holes. I can then mix up a diluted gallon of foliage pro 9-3-6 and water my plants with a watering can after the soaker hoses have done their job? If this is valid, I have to figure out how much of the diluted foliage pro water to use per plant. 2. Using a wick. I did a search but didn't find it. A piece of cloth out of one of the drainage holes. Correct? How far up the container does the wick go? Can you provide a link for that info? 3. Any issues with these smart pots? http://www.hydroponics.net/i/134702 thx Eric...See MoreAl's 5:1:1 Mix vs. Al's Gritty Mix for Tropical Fruit
Comments (5)Yes you can, and in the short run 5-1-1 in may actually perfom better than the Gritty mix. But it will wear out quicker (break down) than the gritty mix. I tend to think of annuals going in the 5-1-1 mix, and perinnials in gritty mix. If you are going to be up-potting in a couple of years go with what you have. Either are a better choice than most anything you can find in most garden centers. Gritty mix makes future repots a dream, tip the pot over and you have bare roots.. Grading the pine bark is not fun, I hate it! A major concept of the gritty mix is based on particle size, larger particles have less surface area (by volume) and thus less water retention. 1/4 to 1/8 inch seems to be the optimal size, although due the screening process of pine bark and the thin strips I will let most 1/2 and under get in the mix (under 1/8 is not good either). If you are looking for Turface MVP check a local irrigation supply house, the stuff was designed for baseball diamonds so look in that direction. The dust is not good for the mix (particle size) The gran-i-grit is intended for chickens to help them digest grains. There are many other products other than gran-i-grit that will perform just as well. Look to a local farm supply house for the rock. Rock dust is not good for the mix (particle size) Gypsum is available at the big box home improvements stores. Gritty does dry out quicker than potting soil so you do need to water a bit more often. It is extremely difficult to overwater with gritty mix, that includes mother nature overwatering. Root rot is probably the number one killer of potted plants. After water, air is the most important thing you can give roots (most plants), more important than fertilizer. Gritty mix excels at this without drying out the root system. Gritty mix is heavy stuff, an advantage of heavy is the pot is less likely to tip from heavy winds. Al is a smart guy, it is such a simple concept....See More3 year old 5-1-1 mix with MG moisture control
Comments (1)The 5-1-1 should be fine if you made it and had it sitting in bags unused (without CRF) If you mean you have used it for 2 previous years, and are planning to use it a 3rd season, I would dump it in the compost bin and use fresh. As for the Miracle Grow...Did you keep the receipt? I would return the MG and buy more components to make 5-1-1, and use that exclusively...not as a MG soil additive. The only reason I use bagged potting soil is to use to replace the "peat" portion of my mix when the PBF part is derived from a pH balanced "Soil Conditioner". In that case I use potting mix (also pH balanced) so I do not have to muck about with the dolemite lime at all....See More5-1-1 mix is beginning to decompose after 1.5 months - normal?
Comments (1)Even if there was a a significant N supply, there wouldn't be a notable breakdown of the bark within such a short period. Might you be noting the bark particles snuggling together more tightly, which reduces the o/a volume by diminishing air space? How long a soil lasts can be over-shadowed by the need to repot or divide plantings, or in some cases just turn them onto the compost pile if the planting is comprised of annuals. As plantings mature, the root system often become a part of the soil structure (with some soils, that never happens because the lower part of the soil is always saturated). I've seen some plantings where at least 90% of the original soil mass has gassed off, leaving only a small fraction of soil in a pot filled with roots. If you are growing a plant that doesn't produce an extensive root system, you can probably go 2 years using the 5:1:1 mix before collapse becomes much of a problem. If you have a planting with a vigorous root system, once you get to the 2 or 3 year point, the roots have either becoming a part of the soil's structure, so even as the 5:1:1 soil breaks down and collapses, the roots themselves should be contributing to aeration and drainage, or roots have formed a mat so dense that water and gases don't penetrate. In either case the remedy is repotting or if appropriate, dividing. Al...See Moregardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
3 years agoJan
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoHOWARD Martin
3 years agoSilica
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years agobklyn citrus (zone 7B)
3 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
3 years agoHOWARD Martin
3 years agoMeyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
3 years agoMeyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years agoHOWARD Martin
3 years agoJan
3 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
3 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHOWARD Martin
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoVladimir (Zone 5b Massachusetts)
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoSilica
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoSilica
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoHOWARD Martin
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoJan
3 years agoSilica
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoponcirusguy6b452xx
3 years agoSilica
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoMeyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
3 years agoLemon Lime Orange Zone 6a
3 years agoHOWARD Martin
3 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN MAKEOVERSBefore and After: 3 Remodeled Kitchens With a Vintage Vibe
A hand-painted hood, a brick fireplace and patterned porcelain tiles add classic charm to these renovated kitchens
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNNew This Week: 3 Kitchens That Stylishly Mix Dark and Light
Combining dark painted cabinets with wood cabinets and other warm tones creates a sophisticated kitchen color palette
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNNew This Week: 3 Bathrooms That Stylishly Mix Materials
Smart pairings of elegant finishes catapult these bathrooms into style heaven
Full StoryHOMES AROUND THE WORLDAfter the Quakes: New Christchurch Houses 5 Years Later
These New Zealand architects and homeowners have overcome the obstacles and created strong, stylish new homes
Full StoryNEW THIS WEEK3 Warm Kitchens That Mix Blue, Green and Wood
Look to this color palette to add inviting personality to the room
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN3 Landscape Designs That Beautifully Mix Old and New
The designers have preserved some existing elements in these outdoor renovations
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Remodel Costs: 3 Budgets, 3 Kitchens
What you can expect from a kitchen remodel with a budget from $20,000 to $100,000
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNIdeas From the Year’s Top 10 Kitchens of the Week
Get inspired by the found objects, reclaimed hardware, efficient storage and work zones in our top kitchens of 2016
Full StoryFLOWERSSneak a Peek at Some of Next Year’s Irresistible New Roses
Here are top 2018 picks for beautiful blooms, lovely fragrances and exceptional disease resistance
Full StoryLIGHTINGThe Pros and Cons of Recessed Lighting
A lighting designer shares three things recessed lights do well and three things to watch out for
Full Story
HOWARD Martin