What no one has said is that the most wonderful garden soil turns into something not usually suitable for healthy plant growth when thrown into a container. That good in situ stuff turns into something quite different when removed from the very complex system of a real, working soil. That's why we become creative in coming up with our own recipes. Long ago, I ditched my own version of a turface based medium (too much of an ordeal) for a total commitment to a terrific bagged mix, all ready for instant use. The product I'll recommend is manufactured by Fafard, and is in their Professional Mixes line of container mixes. I'll attach a link to the Heavy Weight mixes that I've been using for many years, with great success. My favorite is the Nursery Mix. I use it for just about everything except for seed germination and young bedding plant transplants, going into small cell packs. These Heavy Weight mixes (their Middle Weight products are great, too) perform just the way we want our potting mediums to behave: they drain rapidly and maintain their coarse, porous structure for a long time. Avoid Fafard's Retail product line. Those products will be easy to find on the shelves, but aren't any better than any of the other stuff. In other words, not up to my fussy standards, lol. Find a locally owned garden center or nursery or landscaping company who either already has the Fafard Professional products on hand or who will be willing to special order you some. That's what I do. Here is a link that might be useful: Fafard Heavy Weight mixes

Mike in OK, well done. You and I have to get creative with our mixes due to our weather issues (for me, very hot and completely dry for 9 months out of the year through summer), and the fact that I have no access to Farfard, sadly. Steve, using a ceramic pot with good bottom drainage or for those that have to move pots in and out, a good quality plastic, acrylic, fiberglass, composite pot will provide enough drainage for citrus, if you have a well enough draining potting mix. I think, while your potting setup might work, it's excessive, and not particularly duplicative for most folks, who would like a nice looking container in their home for the winter. I never use unglazed red clay pots here in S. California as they are simply way too drying for my climate with it's lower relative humidity and lack of any rain at all from about March through November. I couldn't possibly water my trees enough. So, a container that is not breathable is preferable. And, for many others as well. I'm not sure why you feel you need the "aerate" your citrus roots so much. Perhaps due to the amount of rain you receive?? And MeyerMike, not sure what to do with all those roots as of yet, lol! I was SO shocked to see so much root growth through the bottom hole, and those trees are just in the pots for about a year, maybe less. A real tribute to Four Winds doing such a fine job establishing their trees with excellent root growth. The pot they're in are big. Actually, they were rather over-sized for the size of the trees to start with, so I made sure that I added a bit more larger pieces in my mix, to make sure I didn't have any drainage issues. I would have expected this sort or rapid root growth in my potted blackberries and raspberries (and that's why their pots are set on pavers, lol!) but not so much citrus. So, I'm probably going to have to pot them up next year. I was really shocked, personally. Patty S.

I strongly advise against using the Miracle Gro Garden Soil in a container. Even the manufacturer warns against that on their labels. Fafard's Nursery Mix is another good one to seek out. I've never had a problem having a privately owned nursery or garden center special order my annual supply of Fafard for me. The big box stores won't/can't do that. You might want to click on the link I've provided. Fafard was purchased by SunGro a few years ago and they've started to change the packaging. You want to scroll down to see the Heavyweight mixes. Click here for SunGro-Fafard PROFESSIONAL mixes . Some years ago, I was sent a sample of the FoxFarm Ocean Forest potting mix. It was so fine-textured (as opposed to coarse) that I never even attemped to use it in a container. I did use some as a seed starting mix, and it functioned okay for that purpose. Most of it was scattered over my lawn.

Yes, and using mixes specifically for 'potted' plants can be quite tricky to say the least. A balancing act too that is one does not master, your growing experience can be quite limited or very rewarding. For me it's all about sacrifice's, sacrifices made in order to attain the best possible growing experience possible without sacrificing the integrity of the mix and the vitality of my trees and their root systems. One has to be able to foresee any potential issues before deciding what to use. What might do a great job in the 'summer' might be the death of your trees in the 'winter' months. For instance: One could use a mix that hold much more water for the summer while in the end could kill your trees holding too much water come the winter and shorter days. One could use a mix that holds PWT that can be used to your advantage and disadvantage if it rains too much, stays cold for long periods of time, or gets worst as the mix break down. One could use a mix that dried out very rapidly, almost too fast for the summer and in the winter and then in summer loose their trees to not enough moisture. One could also use a mix in which you have to check the moisture levels quite often in each and every pot, for some hundreds, or use a mix that you can water every time you water for all at once without fear of root rot without having to check to see if they need water. The 511 to me is a good balance. You can add just enough smaller particles to keep the soil mix moist longer in summer while reasonably dry out in the winter in a good amount of time. You can use it on all your plants and water all your plants at the same time whether they are still moist or not. The 511 also allows you to store your trees at very cold temps, even though the pots are still moist without fear of rot. The 511 also dries out evenly and holds its structure much longer than peat or fine particle based mixes.. So If I were to match up the 'pros' with the 'cons'. I'd say the 'pros' far outweigh using a 511 mix or the like in my favor. It might be a great idea for each of us to decide what you are willing to sacrifice in the winter or the summer and find a happy medium that will work for ALL seasons to save yourself a lot of headache and certain trees their demise. What is forgiving in the summer time or in a nice warm brightly lit greenhouse structure might not bode so well for trees in less than ideal conditions come shorter colder wintery days indoors. MIke