Hello everyone, I did do a search and read quite a few posts about soil mixes and I am still very confused I have a meyer lemon and lime tree both in five gallon containers that I purchased from Clifton's nursery, they both look like they have half soil and half sand mix i have had them since last fall and they are doing ok but they definitely need to be repotting

I went out today to look for CHC with no luck, I came home with compressed coconut fiber peat a bag of organic potting soil and a bag of coarse sand

could someone tell me what I am missing what ratios to mix the ingredients that I purchased , what is a good substitute for CHC?

I would really appreciate some help because this is all new to me I don't want to damage my trees.

Thanks Dave from Connecticut

I just found that my local Petsmart sells Coconut husks/chips would this be good suited for Citrus potting mix?

It is good to add larger size particles as part of the ingredients of any potting mixture. The larger particles aids in the drainage. Bark chips, coconut chips, 1/2-inch sized perlite, or other items can be used. The compressed coconut fiber you found is called coir. Coir is used the same way you use peat moss. Some advantages that coir provides over peat moss is that it does not shrink when it becomes dry as does peat moss, is renewable, and it is much easier to re-wet when dry than peat moss. The world's most popular commercial potting mix used by nurseries is 3 parts bark chips, 1 part coarse sand, and 1 part peat moss. Personally, instead of bark chips I prefer coconut chips. Recently, I have been planting some trees in 2 parts CHC, 1 part peat moss, 1 part scoria, 1/2 part 1/2-inch size perlite (a blend of large and small particles). Time will tell how great, or not so great this blend turns out to be. Finally, there is no 100 percent perfect growing medium, every mix has its benefits, and its draw backs, just be sure whatever type of medium you use it hold water, provides good aeration, drains well.. - Millet (266 BO-)

Thanks millet, I understand now how long to you soak your cocnut chips in Epsom salt? I saw one post said an hour and one post said 24 hours? One other thing I suppose you have to be careful what coconut coir you buy some have a very high salt content this brand here seems to be washed in fresh water to flush out the salt?

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/canna-coco.html?opt=50-liter%20bag[/url]

Depends where you purchase your CHC. I use Chrystal Companies CHC product. Originally I soaked over night, but now I soak them for only and hour or so, with Epsom salts and Calcium nitrate. Citrus are moderately tolerant to salinity, so any coconut product that is very well washed should be OK. A soak in Epsom salts would be an added benefit. The soaking of coconut chips in Calcium Nitrate and Epsom salts before using came from the orchid industry, as orchids are very sensitive to salinity. I planted trees in 4 parts CHC and 1 part peat moss. If you never have had experience with CHC, I would recommend to use CHC, at 3:1 or even a 3:1.5 which provides a little less aeration, but holds more water. Many growers on this forum have had good success with CHC, and good success with bark. There are even growers who grow in what is called a Gritty mix, which is a blend of small rocks (granite) and turface, using no organic matter at all. Whatever, good luck. - Millet (265 BO-)

well , in my climate I must say , 3:1 coco chips mix is a 50-50 % succes.

some went well some not at all.

I tried them here, and they dried out to fast.