Oh, sure that's an easy answer, There is none. The point is, to our junior members there is too much around this forum that says CHC is.

one more thing that I've noticed is that the medium temperature when the sun hits the pot is slightly lower comparing to normal soil and the roots are not "boiled".

This is a good thing too, defending the CHC

I certainly appreciate differing opinions as Ryan has presented. I wish there was more of that at this forum. I don't believe I've seen any posts in the forum that objectively describe the pros/cons of the CHC mix -- or more specifically the circumstances where another specific mix may be appropriate.

As Ryan has stated his aim was to educate the more junior members, I assume he considers it helpful. Honestly, I think these posts do a disservice to them, at least for beginning gardeners who don't have the time or analytical mindset to educate themselves of all the options and the pros/cons of each. There is so much misinformation at sites and from nursery "professionals" (used loosely) that it becomes much too confusing.

Most beginning gardeners want a recipe, one they can follow (even if a bit difficult to make, like Tapla's two mixes at GW) that has been tested by many other people and used successfully.

These types of posts detract from their confidence in the recipe and in many cases discourages (or delays) attempts to make/use a quality soil; such as when many post "hey this mix works great" and someone comes along to provide technical opposition that essentially qualifies (not necessarily disagreeing with) the "great" portion of the statement. Especially when the qualification tones more as direct opposition.

Having said all that, I'm the opposite so I appreciate his comments (though I don't agree with all of them). I prefer to see opposing views that I can ponder. And ideally to see how proponents respond to said opposition, and the opposing response, and so forth. Especially if the opposition is within my zone.

It's the intelligent debate that educates me and ultimately gives me the confidence to spend the money and time to try it out.

I have a key lime that is about 3yrs old and has been growing in pine bark mix that I make. I have moved it to a larger container 2 or 3 times. Each time I have moved it to a larger container, I have looked at the existing media for degredation and have seen none. Probably the most important quality of a citrus media in this area is it's drainability--we had over 7 ft of rain last yr--at times raining every day for weeks at a time. I can leave my container citrus without watering for several days or I can water every day--the media does not get soggy or degrade. I fertilize with slow release 18-6-12.

I will have to say that I have had mostly good luck with the use of CHC/Peat Moss mediums with my trees. As I have a bad back and routinely have back pain, I love the lighter weight factor that the CHC mix provides me especially when combined with air pots. This way, I can easily move around my container trees. I also enjoy the great drainage this medium provides, and I have actually witnessed several of my trees that were growing poorly in a citrus soil mixture thrive after being planted in the CHC medium. I was amazed after re-potting a few of my trees how the roots actually attached to the medium and grew through it and spread throughout the medium. Now, with that being said, I have a few trees that are doing just fine in a soil medium that they were originally grown in augmented with a great little potting mixture that LAAZ recommended. It is a quality potting mix that costs about 8 dollars for a 2 cubic foot bag. It is a Superior Potting Soil that is exclusively available at your local Wal-Mart! LAAZ has told me that he almost completely uses this potting mix for his trees and I can tell you from first hand experience that he does quite well with his trees! With this being said, I think it is wonderful that this forum is available to help newbies like myself! In closing, I would have to say that there probably is not a perfect medium for everyone out there; however, I feel that trying out the different mediums and finding one that works well for you is part of the learning process that makes growing citrus in containers an enjoyable learning experience.

Skeeter, where are you getting your pine bark from, what size is it, and are you sifting it first? I could be wrong, but I thought you had said you have a natural source (in the "forest")?

Millet,
please could you provide a picture of CHC? I fear the CHC you use is not available in Austria -but please let me hava a look.
/Robert

I use soil from underneath an ebano tree and mix in a ratio of 4 parts ebano and 1 part soil from wal mart the one from miracle grow. Quick draining and all my tropical fruit trees love it. Everone there own lol.