Aurorawa, thank you for the help and suggestions. I looked for the stuff you mentioned on Amazon. The Fafard mix shows many mixes...I assume it was the succelent mix, which has been discontinued. I did find turface, although a reviewer said the price was very high and it could be found much cheaper somewhere else. Let me ask...if I were to use the cactus mix I ordered, can I add some of my chicken's grit (or should I get turface)? I can go to Home Depot and try to find cherrystone and the orchiata bark, I just worry that I will not find it and I just can't drive all over town to find some...my time is very limited for these endeavors. I suppose the pine bark should not be too hard to find...I hope ;-)

Auroawa gave you GREAT advice, and yet I am thinking that may not be what you want to do because you want easier and less time confusing?

I am always willing to go the long route for my trees since they can have so many issues when trying to avoid the perfect mix in which is what I use. I also use the above mentioned..

Laura, you never said where you live? Do you have to winter them inside?

If you want the easiest way out, I would use 75 percent perlite and rest just the soil mix alone...If you use bigger ingredients mixed in with what you ordered, you will have a soupy mix nearing the center or the bottom of your pots causing cyclonic death of your roots which will eventually kill your trees if caught off guard..The smaller or fine particles if used, the soil mix, will gravitate towards the bottom while the bigger pieces stay near the surface, not good.

Sand and wood shavings are the worst to add to soil mixes because the wood shavings will rob your mix and your trees of much needed Nitrogen and the sand will clog much needed are spaces for your roots to move and breath..

3/4 perlite or less with the rest being a potting mix depending where you live, and how fast you want or mixes to dry or stay moist)

Thank you Mikermo! I actually just looked up more stuff for the gritty mix and ordered the three things off Amazon. I have grit for my chickens, so I can use that. I am not sure I ordered enough though. I live in Maryland and they do spend all winter indoors. As soon as it is warm enough, I will kick their butts out on my patio where they will get plenty of sun. I am just kicking myself for ordering the cactus mix. Can I add a little into the mix?

Hello,

I wanted to chime in on this conversation. I live in Michigan and purchased a couple Lemon trees last spring. One of them I gave to a friend and his is growing and blooming with lemons like crazy and he left it in the small pot it came in waters it a little during the week and has even given it Miracle grow and coffee grounds. Mine is not doing as well. it's leafs have been falling off as well and some turning yellow. I replanted it about a month ago using the Cactus mix, which the nursery I purchased it from told me to use. I also kept it in a similar size container that it came in and kept it planted the same depth so not to shock it. It is now bloom flowers like crazy however some leafs are turning yellowish and loosing some leafs of those leafs. Not sure if the leaves are as rich looking as they need to be.

Why not use the Cactus Mix? I have researched online and there are so many answers and all different as to why the trees turn this way. Some even stating its normal in cold climates for the tree to go thru this process.

Thank you for your advice,

Renee

Renee,

From what I have read here, I think that cactus mix will still compact over time. I think one of the advantages of the gritty mix is that it will not compact and it may reduce the need to re-pot as often. I hope someone chimes in to clarify if I am mistaken. Your tree looks good. Mine also is dropping leaves and I remember it doing that other years, so I am not terribly worried. It is loaded with lemons, so it can't be that unhealthy. Many of my leaves look like yours except mine has dropped even more. I'll try to post some pics in a bit of mine.

Hi Mikerno, why did you say you don't like gritty again? I just repotted a tester citrus into gritty but now that I see how quickly it dries out I am worried gritty may be too fast draining for my climate (summers are super windy and dry).

I will be adding mulch as you suggested this weekend. Also perhaps I will switch them all out from terra cotta... I guess with gritty there is no risk of saturated water so I don't need the visual queues terra cotta gives anymore.

Hi Laura, I am just like you! Chickens, bees and a newish citrus obsession! No kids though, but a career instead! Welcome to the forum!

Hobbyartisan, how funny! I love my chickens and bees! I think the reason that they advised against the cactus mix is because it will still compact over time. However, like you, I do not want to be required to water my plants terribly often. Although, from what I understand, the gritty mix DOES retain moisture, just not in the air spaces between the grains. Like orchid mix, the mix absorbs the moisture. Hopefully someone else will chime in also. In my previous life, I was an environmental health scientist. However, after having my kids I decided to call it quits. I have a Ph.D and it is nearly impossible to find part-time work at that research level. It's ok...I am very happy with my choice. I homeschool two of my kids and teach a little here and there...that's enough for me ;-)

Hi Hobby, where did I say I don't like the gritty mix again? If I did It was a typo)

Just to be clear, just as the environment and everything we expose our trees to is very different to everyone else, so is the fact that our leaves fall off..

There are dozens of reasons why our leaves fall off so no one can make a distinct diagnosis for you, just as getting sick until one goes to the Doctors...These boards are here to help you figure out why and that is why we discount one possible reason at a time..Starting with the mix and how often one waters..Usually the culprit here. That is why a majority of us focus on the mix almost 100% of the time....That is a great starting point.

The gritty mix is hailed as the ONE mix that everyone should use, but a foundation, or building block for growers to build off of and or who have no clue as to what a good soilless mix is..One that does not understand how water behaves in containers will quickly find out when they use this mix correctly. or wrongly..

If a grower is not dedicated to watering more often, in some instances, every day, the gritty mix is not a good choice to use, and that is why many use the 5.1.1 mix, since it holds moisture longer. The only downside of it, is that it breaks down more quickly.

Using the knowledge one gains from using mixes like these help one to build a mix that works for their needs in their areas ...But it can not deny the fact that what is best for most 'plants' needs and a mix that encourages our citrus trees grow to their full potential is that of one like the gritty mix.

Laura yes I dug down a bit in the pot to check for moisture and it did seem moist so maybe it will be ok. I guess I'm hovering a bit but I'm hoping this transplant doesn't kill my tester tree! Good for you I wish I could drop the job it seriously gets in the way of all my hobbies- my real passions! But then how would I pay for all these ridiculously expensive citrus trees???

I thought I read that somewhere mikerno but maybe I'm wrong. All good points, maybe I will try a second tester tree in 5-1-1 and see how she goes!