I have been looking for CHC locally, but I just can't seem to find any. Crystal Company does ship to Canada, but they informed me that the duty and brokerage charges would be approximately double the cost of the CHC itself! So this left me with little option but to look for alternatives.

While in a local garden center, I came across a product called Miracle Mulch. It is effectively a compressed block of small coconut husk chunks and coir.

I'll give it a try mixed with some perlite for my potted meyer lemon and see how it goes.

http://www.groworganic.com/item_PSO125_Miracle_Mulch_Compressed_Brick_2.html

The blend that you pictured looks to be a good medium I have used almost the same mixture in the past on several trees. The mix you have pictured works very well with small citrus trees. It gives the root system very good aeration. However, for a larger tree, the mix does not have enough texture to support the tree and keep it standing straight. The water pass through with your medium might be so fast that the CHC chunks will not have enough time to absorb adequate moisture, therefore you might have to water and or fertilize by placing your tree into a larger container and let the medium soak for 2-3 minutes. All in all it should work well. Lastly, please go to your profile and list your location. Thank you. - Millet (1,361-)

Very similar to Mulch Block that I have been seeing in stores.

onizuka,

for future reference, lee valley carries chc in 1/2" size:

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=56694&cat=2,51603&ap=2