Need Help Finding Gritty Mix Explanation

last year

Hey all, a few years ago I read a very detailed explanation of Gritty mix written by Al. I’d love to reread it, but can’t seem to find it anywhere. Can anyone help me out? I believe it was written on this forum, but can’t recall if it was a post or a comment in response to a question. Crossing my fingers someone can help me find it!

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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

last year

last modified: last year

Perhaps this is the thread you're looking for, Adri. I count it as serendipity that (Josh) Greenman28 (who always provides reliable information) liked one of my comments on the thread I linked to. When I rec'd notification of his 'like' and realized what the thread was, I immediately thought of you and wondered if it was the thread you sought.

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Comments (14)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
I would look here first: Container Soils - Water Movement and Retention.

It's long and detailed but oh so worth the read! Gritty mix is discussed in some detail towards the end. Be sure to read all 3 pages!
adri16579
Original Author
last year
Ive read that one! It’s great, but I was looking for one that was written specifically about gritty mix.
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chamaegardener (Z5) Northeast Illinois
last year
What specifically are you looking for about the gritty mix that is not included in the detailed explanation of woter movement and how to make gritty mix?
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last year
A lot of thought went into how to best put the gritty mix together.

It first had to provide long-lasting structure that couldn't be appreciably diminished by breakdown of the organic fraction (pine or fir bark). To protect the long-term structure, the organic fraction/ bark is limited to no more than 1/3 of the medium's o/a volume.

Second, how much perched water a medium can hold is based primarily on the size of the particles that make up the medium. Since particles of a uniform size lose their ability to hold perched water as the size of the particles becomes larger than about 1/10", the particles should be screened so particles aren't small enough to support perched water, and not so large the medium tends to stratify/ form layers, or water retention is diminished to the point it requires too much effort to water.

Third, it needed to be adjustable for water retention w/o increases in it's ability to hold water coming at the expense of introduction of perched water as the reservoir by which watering intervals are extended. It is designed so all or nearly all water is held in a microscopically thin layer of water on the surface of soil particles, within internal pores of those particles with internal porosity (bark and Turface), and at the interface where soil particles contact each other, leaving all the spaces between soil particles filled with air and water vapor.

Fourth, the adjustability in water retention needed to be a function of changing the ratio of two ingredients (Turface and grit), one of which has no internal porosity (to facilitate water retention) and the other of which has a great deal of internal porosity. By not changing the size of particles, water retention can be increased without introducing a perched water table, undoubtedly the best reason to use the gritty mix.

Al
poncirusguy6b452xx
last year
Or you can use a heavier mix and

eliminate the perched water table.
adri16579
Original Author
last year
Thanks, Al and all! I already use gritty (to the best I’m able to make it) and really like how it performs. I was just talking to some other folks about it and wanted to brush up on the specifics before I make a fool out of myself. ;-)
adri16579
Original Author
last year
I think this might be it! If it isn’t THE thread it’s certainly one of the more helpful threads I remember reading awhile back. Thank you for linking it. I’m looking forward to rereading it later.

As cliche as the saying may be, it really is a small world. Josh and I are friends through a Facebook citrus group. You’re absolutely right about the reliable information- he has given me (and everyone else) plenty of useful advice and if he gets impatient with the endless questions, he doesn’t show it. Good guy!

Thank you again!
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last year
Take care, Adri. I think I'm a member of that group, though I haven't posted in a long while. Joe Cwik (sp?) a member as well?

Al
adri16579
Original Author
last year
There are a few citrus facebook groups floating around. That name rings a bell, but I’m not as active in that group as I am in a different one. I don’t beliebe Joe is in that one? Maybe I’m wrong.

Feel free to join us over on the darkside sometime. 😂
Silica
last year
I have look into the Facebook groups. absolutely terrible is to kind of a description.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last year
Aren't you just the perfect little ray of pitch black. Scheesch!

Al
Silica
last year
Just tell it like it is.
adri16579
Original Author
last year
Bahahaha, to each their own!