Keep in mind that just any old bark will NOT do. Wood chips aren't what I'd use, either. What you're looking for is pine bark, or fir bark. And any old size will not do, either. You're looking to make a larger particulate the significant portion by volume of the medium. The more fine particles there are, the more they'll simply fill in around the larger ones, negating the very reason you added them in the first place.

Read the article in the link below... it can better explain what I'm saying... medium recipes are given, and size and details discussed. If you have further questions, there are plenty of folks willing and able to help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Container Soils - Water Movement & Retention 13

Thank you. I am surprised no one else has posted anything.

Jodi is correct.

Pine bark is about the most durable. Then you have Fir bark, which is what most of us use.
Hemlock and Spruce bark would probably work as well. I'd avoid Cedar and Redwood bark, personally.

Again, particle size is important. For a seasonal bark-mix, you want particles ranging from
bark dust up to 1/2 inch. The majority of the particles, however, should average 1/8 to 1/4 inch.

If I've done the math correctly, the percentage of bark in your mix should be about 70 - 80 percent.
Many of us use the 5-1-1 mixing ratio, and 5 parts of bark is a little over 70 percent.

As Jodi also mentioned, you want to avoid sap-wood/wood-chips. Make sure that the inclusion of
sap-wood/wood-chips is less than 10 percent of the overall bark fraction to be on the safe side.
The inner wood decomposes more rapidly than the durable outer bark, and could lead to potential
problems such as nitrogen immobilization, heat spikes (due to decomposition), and eventual compaction
(again, due to decomposition).

When using bark, it is best to add Dolomitic Lime as a Calcium source and moderate pH buffer.
Add 1 Tablespoon of Dolomitic Lime per gallon of mix. Mix thoroughly, and you're good for the season.

That should hit most of the key points.

Josh

Josh

Thank you. Now that I look around on here i see the 5-1-1 it is nice and will use it. I cant wait!

You'll really enjoy it.
I've referred to the 5-1-1 as my "work horse" around the yard.

Not only is it economical, it is also lighter in weight than saturated peat mixes,
attractive, and very easy to mix together. I use uncomposted bark, as well,
which helps the mix to last even longer than recommended. As Al says, the mix actually
lasts longer than would be a prudent amount of time to go between re-pottings.

I have ferns, vegetables (radishes, onions, hot peppers, tomatoes), peaches, birches,
pistache, osage, maples, willows, buckeyes, ailanthus, cedar, calocedrus, cypress,
redwood, pines, citrus, and even oaks in the 5-1-1 mix. I can attest to its versatility.

Josh