Gardino's is a very good mix.

Soil is not ideal (even potting soil) for potted plants. Unlike in-ground, where ground space and different soil/rock layers, rain, underground water reservoirs, wind, and natural earth movement allow for proper root areation and nutrient uptake, a container is a confined area, which causes soil to compact over time, causing drainage issues, which in turn, affects the root system. This can cause root rot, poor nutrient uptake, and poor root aeration, all of which have consequences to overall plant health.

The reason many of us hoya growers use big chunks in our mix (big meaning 1/8-1/4 inch or larger) and omit soil is to allow these mostly epiphytic (epipyhtes are plants that grow up trees or on trees) plants maximum root areation, maximum nutrient uptake, and to prevent rot.

Gardino's uses an appropriate mix for hoyas and other epiphytes (such as epiphytic orchids).

There are exceptions to the SIZE of the individual ingredients you use in your mix. For example, I have some of my more moisture loving hoyas in a mix where all the ingredients are 1/8 inch (smaller chunks of mix retain water, because the mix is more compact and there is less space between each individual piece of mix where water can drain out). Others are in the mix Gardino's sent them in (shredded cypress mulch, which seems to retain moisture longer).

But for 98% of my hoyas, a 1:1:1:1 mix of bark, coir, charcoal, and perlite, all 1/4 inch, seems to be just fine.

Do you use the compacted coir which looks a bit like peat moss or the long fiber coir?

Thanks!

long fiber coir or coir chunks

And remember that the chunkier the mix, the more often you'll need to water. I don't use a chunky mix because I don't want to have to water my plants constantly. I use 2/3 regular coir (not the chips) and 1/3 MG perlite, which is the smaller perlite. When I've tried adding in bark, it makes then dry too fast for me. The mix you end up with is the one that best suits your watering habits, location, how warm and dry you keep your house, and (in my case) how many plants you have to deal with. If you're going to go from regular potting mix to Gardino's mix, check your plants often for dryness until you get the hang of how soon you'll need to water.

Denise in Omaha

Where did you find 1/4" charcoal please? Also, how do I tell if the Perlite is 1/4"?

I know Perlite comes in different sizes.

Thanks!

After cleaning up my hoyas after the winter slump lol, I noticed that the hoyas that weren't doing all that great (a lot of withered stems and leaves) where all ones that were in soil mixes! All my pine bark mix ones were doing fine. My next project will be to re-pot the soil mix hoyas into a soil less mix!

I've recently discovered orchiata bark and love it. I also add #4 perlite to it. I'm surprised it retains as much moisture as it does for not having any soil in the mix.