I found a better quality orchid mix that looks just perfect for citrus. I think my issues in using teh orchid mix I WAS using is htat the pieces were too large. This mix contains medium fir bark, corse perlite, charcoal and spahagnum moss.

Sound good? The citrus now, are currently in a really gritty soil mix, VERY well draining, but seems to REALLY hold on to moisture. I repotted one tree in the mix today as this tree was really root bound, the others look to be ok for the time being. Potted it into a deeper pot thats 1" wider than what it was in.

This new mix is by "willGro" and its 3L for 10 bucks. HIGHLY expensie but if it does the trick, I'll never complain.

Any suggestions, greatly apreciated

CC,
The orchid mix doesn't sound like a good idea. Orchid roots are very thick and need the porous nature of the rocky mix. Citrus have rather fine roots and you would be watering constantly to keep enough moisture in the root zone. You need something that both holds water and provides air. I found a mix on the Plumeria forum that works very well. Its very light, very airy, and holds just enough moisture. Its also very light weight. Makes carrying those heavy plants a bit easier. Your 10 bucks goes a lot further with this mix.

These ingredients should be available in your area. IF your closest U S town/city has a Walmart or similar store you can get almost everything you need there. You may need to get the gypsum at a nursery or home center that has a gardening center. The mix is as follows.

Peat moss
Potting soil
perlite
Epsom salt
gypsum

Get a BIG bowl or bucket to mix this in.
I use a 24oz cup as my measurement for the peat, potting soil, and perlite.
For the Epsom salt and the gypsum I use a 2oz bathroom drinking cup.
I also mix up 2 batches at a time as its easier.

1 peat moss
2 potting soil
4 perlite
1 Epsom salt ( use the one in the personal care/health part of the store as the one in the garden area contains a bit more sulfur than you need. The gypsum contains sulfur also so you don't want to over dose the little guys. The Epsom salt will be located where you would get foot soaks.)
1 gypsum

Mix these all together very well. Mix for 5 minutes to make sure the Epsom salt and gypsum are fully incorporated evenly in the mix.

Depending on how big your containers are, you may have to repeat the process several times.

You can also add a slow release fertilizer to the mix but divide the total amount by the number of batches you need to make. You don't want to add the full amount to each one.
Andi

Just about every possible mixture of ingredients is OK for a short period of time. The main problem with most mixtures is that the soon begin to degrade and compact. This results in slow drainage, and the loss of air porosity. Gardner Dragon, I believe your medium of peat moss, potting soil and perlite, is in reality two-thirds parts peat moss and one-third perlite, because most potting soils are mainly peat moss and perlite. A good growth medium should contain 25 percent air space at all times. I think Citrus canuck medium sounds OK depending on the size of the bark. By far the most popular growth medium used by commercial nurseries for trees is 1 part coarse bark, 1 part peat moss, 1 part coarse sand, plus nutrients. - Millet

the bark pieces are about 1/3" big. not too big. There are a couple a bit bigger or smaller, but pretty much they are all uniform. the perlite is almost as big as the bark

Well, I have since repotted all my trees in this mix.... lets say repotting a highly rootbound 7 gallon tree.... is not so easy to transplant) All the trees are thriving. Would they have done this in their previous soil? I dont know, but I do know the soil was highly compact and teh roots were showing the start of root rot.

All the trees have new growth on, even on one my sister almost killed (she put it on top of my heater without thinking... I found it many hours later, poooor tree!) A couple fruit fell off that I wanted to keep on, but all in all, I am so thrilled at the new mix and its only been a couple days. I love the fact that I only water now when the new growth is looking a little limp, perks right up and I know I'm not overwatering. I have a little problem with overwatering, so, trying to really hold off and boy is it hard. gut reaction on a hot day is to keep them watered good. I highly doubt in their current medium that I could overwater.

Almost thinking its time they go out for good. the lows now, are in teh high 40's, no chance of frost. And, I am moving so, be nice to get them out of the way now... but I'm scared it may be a tad too cold yet... since they've been in a very nice and toasty room. We'll see what the next couple days brin. Its pretty nippy and wet outside, Hopefully it'll be nice tomorrow and I'll get them out there.

Seeing that new growth is such a good sign that finally, things are going great

Bark chips ... what kind should they be? I have access to fir & cedar mainly, or would something else be more appropriate?

Cheers, Barrie.

Fir, Pine, Cedar or CHC all will work. The advantage of CHC and Cedar is that they do not break down as quickly. I'm not sure about cedar, but CHC last up to 5 years and holds up to seven times it's weight in water. Fir and pine also work well but will begin to breakdown in 4 to 6 months and become mostly degraded by one year in warm locations. - Millet

Thanks Millet. I may just try a mix of chc and bark to see what happens.

Cheers, Barrie.

has anyone tried this soil mix? :

30% washed sea shore sand
30% perlite
40% peat moss

i tried this mix for about two weeks and its working good

Hi all

Not sure how much use this is to anyone but I have found that a potting soil/coconut husk chips mix works very well. The coconut husk chip will only hold just the right amount of water and are know to release it at just the right rate. Also, its impossible to overwater as the husk chips won't retain it. They also last quite long and before anyone jumps on me for this, please let me just add that we use coconut hush chips for just about everything when it comes to container plants. Its all we use for orchids as well and it really does work well. Not sure where you would get the husk chips but here in Thailand its all we use.

thai tropicals, I certainly agree with you about CHC. CHC is the only "wood" chip I use for citrus. Interesting you mention orchids in Thailand, as I sell various colors of dye to large orchid growers in Thailand for coloring their orchids. - Millet

Hi Millet

Now you have just blown me away completely. I have never known that orchids are dyed to get colour. Please tell me more about this as I'm fascinated. I have always been under the impression that they were naturally the colours they are.

They are naturally colored, however some colors do not exist in the orchid family such as sky blue, hot pink, black etc. For these and other colors they dye them. Many flower varieties are dyed. - Millet

Thanks Millet

Just goes to show, one is never too old to learn. I really never knew that some flowers got the colours from being dyed.

You mentioned that you only use chc chips for your citrus? Would I be asking too much if I asked what sort of mix you would recommend?
This forum is just great, one can sign up here and I'm sure in no time at all, you can be having some success with planting citrus. So far I have a few kaffir limes, a few key limes and a few others which have sprouted but I can't remember what it was I planted (lol)

Thanks Millet.

Hey Thai Tropicals!! Sawasdee krap! I just returned from Thailand. It seemed like everywhere we went, there were mounds and mounds of coconut husks waiting to be pulverized. I can only assume that end product was for nurseries and such.