typo - oops :-( "Profile Field & Natural"

It's "Profile Field & Fairway" (Natural is the color)

Use bark for your primary filler in place of peat.
Adjust the pH with 1 Tbsp of Dolomitic Garden Lime per gallon of soil.

I looked at the pic online of the Field and Fairway and it looks smaller than Turface MVP.

Josh

The summer will bring 90-100+ temps so I will use the Turface as my primary. I agree that the Field and Fairway isn't as large as the Turface MVP bur screening will be eliminated and the smaller size will help contain more moisture. Maybe I'm wrong, and if so, please let me know. Will the bark will hold the same amount of moisture as the Turface? I don't believe the bark is pine but I will make a phone call to be sure so I don't have to worry about a low ph. I will use this for my blackberry

Pine bark is great, but I only have access to Orchid (Fir) bark.
No, bark will not hold as much moisture as Turface. But the bark
will last considerably longer than peat. I'm able to use my bark
mixes for 2 years without the compaction/drainage problems
associated with peat.

Summer temps are the same here.

I found a local landscape supply company and they had Axis, Pro League MVP, Turface MVP and Profile Field & Fairway. Axis particles was too fine almost a powder, nothing larger than a 1/32. I wouldn't use it even if it was free. Profile Field & Fairway was little more coarse but still the particles were too small nothing larger than a 1/16. Pro League MVP was consistent at a 1/16 to 1/8 which was tempting. I went with the Turface Mvp due to its larger size up to 1/4. I will probably have to screen, something I was trying to avoid but I will do it.

What do you think about the Pro League? Are the particles too small?

Thanks greenman28 for the input, it's helpful information.

Keep '1/8 inch' in mind. Al little under and a little over is ok, but you don't want the main components of your soil varying much from 1/8". If anything needs to be larger than that, it's best if it's the bark. I've never seen anything in MVP or Allsport even approaching 1/4".

Al

I have Turface Allsport, and I haven't seen any in it close to 1/4" either.

Here's a pic. for you. With the famous dime. ;)

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JoJo

Here is a pic of Turface MVP

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Al,

Do you think the size is ok or should I check the Pro League MVP?

Thanks, Ron

It's great!

Al

I went with:

3 parts Turface MVP
2 parts small orchid seedling bark mix
1/2 part pumice

This will be for my orange thai chili plant and I will let you know the results if anyone is interested.

Here is a pic of the mix I mentioned above

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As a subscriber to P.Allan Smiths email news letter, yesterday he sent his "Make your own container ORGANIC soil mix". The T.V. gardeners who we all take to be "garden authorities", so often disappoint by advocating practices that no professional horticulturist would tolerate. I subscribe to these news letters to keep up with new plant introductions, but have to put up with tons of misinformation along with it. Al

A pic of using peat and pumice after 5 months and already breaking down. The mix was squeezed, then bounced in the hand 3 times before it started to break apart. The mix is too saturated starving the plant of oxygen and there are plenty of large holes in the bottom of the raised container. The roots did not look good and root rot was starting to set in. I'm sure the thai chili will do much better, it should be happy.............

{{gwi:34133}}

I agree with you guys. So often in my travels I come up against the same thing. I see writers of books suggesting compost sand and perlite as a planting medium, and telling people all sorts of things that don't make sense ...... but they sound good to many, if not most of the unsuspecting readers/viewers.

Al

And the sad part is, that many come here and debate with those that don't agree with those type of articles..

Sometimes a forum war can be start with two opposing views based on books and info like that.

By the way Al, your mix looks nice. If you had gone with the very small turface, chances are they would of settled to the bottom of your containers, while the bigger particles would of stayed towards the top..

Mike

Good news!

This is the first time I used anything close to the mix above and I am very excited. If Al lived close by, I would have to buy him breakfast this morning. Thank you very much Al for sharing your knowledge. Without your writings, I would still have a PWT.

I checked the mix at the bottom of the container and its moisture is consistent from top to bottom. :-) I have learned so much in a short time at GW.

Thanks to everyone that responds to help, or at least tries.

Ron

It is a superior mix!
Durable, adaptable (moisture content), fairly light-weight, resistant to pests, and attractive!
Make sure to water when needed...it will dry out sooner than peat-based mixes.

Josh

Just to clarify about the Axis.

The bag I was looking at was the fine not regular. I called this morning and they don't have the regular. Does anyone know the particle size of the Axis regular?

"Make sure to water when needed...it will dry out sooner than peat-based mixes."

That's for sure. I guess that's the trade off when using a gritty mix that will last a long time and has plenty of oxygen.

I do have alot of other mixes I am testing and will post the results around October.

I find this hobby very rewarding and I also get a good dosage of vitamin D while being outside in the sun.

Here is a friend stopping for lunch.

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I think I came close to an overdose of Vitamin D today! LOL!

But, yes, it does have it's rewards. :)

What a beautiful picture! Thanks for sharring that, and best wishes!

JoJo