They are quite different. The gritty mix is designed for long term plantings - like houseplants and perennials (trees & shrubs are perennials, too) that will go 2 years or longer between repots. The 5:1:1 mix is designed to be a well-aerated and fast draining replacement for slower soils like MG and other commercially prepared peat-based soils.

Lots of people use a combination of bark/peat/perlite or bark/potting soil/perlite for SWCs, but I'll let the folks that use them offer their suggestions.

Someone will be along soon. Good luck!

Al

Thanks Al - just the explanation I was looking for. Sounds like it's 5:1:1 for my SWC tomatoes then. Happy planting.

Remember please - you'll want quite a bit more peat than a 5:1:1 mix has so you get better wicking in the SWCs. Maybe something like 5:3:1 or 5:4:1.

Wishing you lots of success!

Al

Thank you Al for the add'l information. I'll take your advice & adjust accordingly.

Good - you'll be happier with the extra peat in a SWC.

Take care!

Al

Bumping an old thread here, but is it possible to grow anything in gritty mix, including herbs and vegetables? Would they perform close to the level of the 5:1:1 mix?

I grow lots of herbs in the gritty mix. I don't grow veggies in it, but everything else grows well in it (that I've tried to grow). I take that back, I've grown peppers in it, basil, rosemary, santolina (lavender cotton), oregano, lavender, parsley, thyme, .... If succulent plants like Coleus, Impatiens, Begonia, Geranium .... grow well in it, then most veggies should too. I've even grown lots of plants that form a caudex, as well as other plants that form storage root structures (dahlia, canna ....), so I expect that root veggies would probably do just fine, too. I usually use the 5:1:1 mix for all the short term stuff (like veggies) because it's easier to make & less expensive.

Al