Here is a picture of the two different barks. Miracle Gro orchid bark is on the left and the Repti-bark is on the right.

Frankly, I don't think my early mixes were done well, probably not sifted well. But they were certainly an improvement over trying to cut soil with perlite. My summers are just too wet for any mix that holds water.

Depending on the bark, 2 years sounds about right in Florida. Orchiata lasts longer than the usual orchid bark, so you might get another year out of it.

2 years in Florida is like 4 seasons in New York.

Thank you, Nil. I knew it wouldn't last forever, but I didn't expect it to all be decayed. Naive of me, I guess. The Repti-bark seems to be holding up well so far.

I wonder if you could still sift the mix you have and just add what is needed... anyone?

Kevin

Yes, I use as you mentioned - no 'secret' ratios. Mostly equal amounts of grit, turface and perlite. Sometimes I increase amount of turface (if wanting little more water retention), but only by approx. 10% since I find it does retain more water. For plants like schlumbergera, I add just a little soil/coco coir. I stopped using bark (I have few pots with little bark in the mix, but def. not 30%) since I have hard time to find it small enough. Repti bark seems to last longer, but if one has many plants it gets too pricey.

I have re-used gritty mix: dumped it into collander, washed well with hot water+little bleach, rinse well. Very small particles washed out (I dump that all on compost heap); grit-turface-perlite get washed and rinsed. I add whatever is necessary and use again. So far so good.

Rina

Yes, the pine bark can decompose fairly rapidly in sizes that small since they have already started to compose when using them, and that is why I use the Fir Bark or Orchiata..

I have found that over time, it can become hard if you are using much smaller pieces not allowing the roots to get moisture properly which will desiccate them. I just watered my jades in my almost 3 year old gritty mix, and then a day later did a re pot..The roots were bone dry in most places while some of the mix was wet. IT became hard and compacted..The roots filled the pot.

I had to break up the root ball noticing the center of my jades roots were bone dry, and use a fresh mix,...2-3 years even up here in New England with Orchid not composted fir bark and about 2 years with the pine bark decomposed ones..

Thanks, everyone! My mistake was forgetting that hot wet weather is quite conducive to making things decay. And I heard folks say that gritty lasted them 4-5 years. Those folks didn't have my weather. Since everything in SW Florida rots, rusts or mildews, I'll have to be more vigilant!

Rina, I think I'll give your bark-less mix a try, too!

Crenda

Just remember that with your temps you may have to water more often.

I found it really good for me - plants are outside (when temps are high enough); I don't have to worry much about rain as everything drains well. This past 'outdoors season', I think I watered maybe 2-3x as we had enough rain for succulents. On couple of occasions I suspended plastic sheet over the plants, since it was raining for few days non stop, and quite heavy. But I worried more about some other plants and few cacti I have, not really jades. And since I didn't really water, they didn't get any fertilizer - I know many fertilize their succulents regularly.

Rina