Coir coconut chips or croutons/nuggets in the bottom 1/3 of the pot, then a good potting mix with some added large perlite or growstone, add some worm castings, that's all you need. :)

Adding larger material in the bottom part of the pot is not recommended, all that happens is the smaller particles wash/drop down and fill the voids. You need all the ingredients to be of a similar size, otherwise you defeat the object of a fast draining mix. Lots of info on here about the way to go, try a search in the box at the top of the page using gritty mix as your question. The recipe can be amended as you feel fit, but regular sizes will perform the best. Adding large bits of perlite to a fairly fine grade potting mix does not really have any beneficial effect.

I have read a lot of the posts here. I will be using screen on the bottom. As I said regular pots with soil on the deck dry out fast. I wanted to substitute Growstone for the grit or perlite. But it says it is also porous like the turface. My new plants should be here soon.

I am not sure if I should use the 511 mix or the gritty mix recipe. Or if it even matters

I am not familiar with you growing conditions, but if you home is staying at 69 degrees and outside. If temperatures are dipping really low, say less than 60 degrees at night, then this is something you need to keep in mind.

It makes it a decision for each individual in their climate. It would be time consuming and not necessarily good for our trees if we where to pot up into a more potting soil based media for the summer so that we did not have to water as much. Then repot into a Gritty type mix for the winter months so that they do not retain too much water.

The Gritty mix does require more often watering in the hot months, but this is better than having them sit in wet soil for any extended period of time. Not only does the Gritty mix have the free draining ability in which most seek so not water is perched in the bottom of the pot. It also creates good aeration to the roots.

I keep my seedlings in a different mix until they are atleast 6-8 miths. approx.

As for Kitty Litter. I have never used it. Have heard of many speak of it, but it would have to be one that did not absord the water and become mush or clump.

Rick

Rick you and I live in about the same zone. I am on the border of two zones, but live out on a cliff where the canyon gives me adjusted weather depending on its mood. I think I will stick with the Gritty mix full time. I will just keep a daily eye on things. In the summer we can be 90+ during the day and 55 at night, I have a solar awning so I think I will let the plants get the morning sun then filtered sun through the eventing. Just to see how it goes. I have lost a lot of plants just leaving them in full sun all day. Thanks for your advise.

Marcia, my plants are doing good in a cactus mix with perlite :) I'm also in zone 8b CA. At summer I have to water it every day

Elana

I was thinking the same thing.

Our weather can change a lot. Take this rain/snow. My new plants are arriving this week. It is hard to wait.

My seeds were started a week ago. Have not peecked