I use my own, somewhat imprecise version (gravel, unscreened Dry Stall, fine orchid bark or redwood bark in more or less 1:1:1 proportions) with no problem in San Diego. It worked fine in inland Orange County, too. I am generally a bit light on the gravel.

By "gravel" do you mean Quikrete All-Purpose Gravel sold at Lowes/Home Depot?

Yep.

San Diego and Orange County are different climates than Riverside
County. They do get coastal cooler breezes and the heat is no where
near as high.

Al modified his formula for me when everything we grew had to be in containers. We lived on a golf course with horrible HOA restrictions. We have since moved and don't need containers any longer. Here is the recipe.

For 100+ degree Desert Heat:

4 parts Turface
3 parts bark
2 parts crushed Gran I Grit (Grower Size) or #2 cherrystone
1 part vermiculite

Plant a little high, and after the planting is established, mulch heavily
with crushed granite. 1 Tbsp gypsum per gallon of soil

This formula worked great for our little side yard vineyard and many fig trees. They are all in-ground here. We did use root pruning containers and the amount of roots in those bags was incredible! The soil is very well drained, yet holds moisture.

Suzi:

Thanks.

I live in a condo. All of my plants are in containers.

I have 50+ containers so I'll need about 40 cubic feet of gritty mix.

What kind/brand of "bark" do you use?

I have a word document so I could remember my sources and the formulas. I no longer need the gritty mix, but it helps me help others.

*** Fir Bark
This was the hardest thing for me to find.
Al really likes "Shasta Forest Products" and I called the company to
ask for stores that carry their product.

Kellogg Garden Products
8605 Schaefer Avenue
Ontario, California

Phone: 909-673-8065

I decided to use OF Wolfinbarger. It was more affordable. Its not Shasta
brand. But it is Fir Bark.
OF Wolfinbarger 2cu ft $4.50 bag. 1/2cu Yard $26.50
5675 Francis Ave;
Chino, CA
91710
909-627-7481
http://www.ofwolfinbargerinc.com/
-They also have BARK FINES for anyone making 5:1:1 mix.

I have had wonderful results with the original formula. I make my own fir bark, removing the bark from fallen trees, shredding and screening to size. Granite fines are available in bulk from my local landscape supply. My local branch of Horizon stores has my Turface. I have been amazed at the longevity of the Mix.

Whats Turface? I just read that somebody says for cacti and succulents,a mix of garden soils and grit with clay cat litter works best. I know over the years,I've seen some of the best C&S in a rich soil in a pot.

I also try to amend even the best potting soils. I haven't yet cut the ties to it. But peat is just not good for many plants in the long run.

Turface is the stuff they put on sports fields. It's pure calcinated clay. It must add to the ability to hold moisture in HOT climates like those in Riverside County. You wouldn't need it stanofh. The sun here bakes, and the clay holds moisture, but it's so evenly dispersed in the mix, you wouldn't know it's there. They put it on Pitcher's mounds. It's for athletic fields mainly.

calcined clay has been used for ages in turf sports fields, not just pitcher's mounds. And sports fields includes golf courses. Although I believe many are switching to calcined DE these days.

http://www.a1grit.com/products/specialty-materials

• No. 10 Health Grit
• No. 10 Iron Health Grit
• No. 16 Chicken Grit
• No. 6 Calcium Poultry blend
• 3/8” Turkey Grit
• 1/2” Ostrich Grit
• Pullet Feed
• High Grade Calcium meal

Which one would be OK for gritty mix?

chicken or turkey grit (3/8" works well with 3/8th granite gravel from HD and 3/8" mini-nuggets of fir or pine bark) stay away from calcium anything, it's the wrong pH.

I don't use Turface, I use Dry Stall, sift out the finer bits and rinse it well as it's dusty.

No sifting or rinsing required with Turface.

Hi Suzi,

Re: "I decided to use OF Wolfinbarger. It was more affordable. Its not Shasta brand. But it is Fir Bark".

At this link, what kind of "Fir Bark" did you buy?

http://www.ofwolfinbargerinc.com/wood/#!

Wow! That was at least 5 years ago! I would imagine the

Fir Pine Mix, Used in soil mixes and for bare root plants such as roses. You just want something small. Al is very specific on that. It's been too long.

I know you are a guy, Gary, and guys don't ask for instructions (against their wiring) BUT why don't you give Wolfinbarger a call and ask them if there is bark in that mix and what would they recommend. That's what I'd do.

Sunshine Growers in Ontario right by Eastvale has orchid seedling fir bark. It's fine and uniform. I think it was $11 or $16 for a gigantic bag.

I've been using Earthgro Groundcover Bark, $5/2 cu ft bag at Home Depot. A few months ago OSH had it on sale for $3 and $3.50 (different sales) for the 2 cu ft bag. I screen it with 1/2" hardware cloth. I'm not making a pure 5:1:1 or gritty mix, but figuring out my own mix that will last a while and hold water in the long hot summers here...and not cost too much.

I'm in the inland San Fernando Valley, which has a climate very similar to neighboring San Gabriel and Riverside counties, though the temperatures are slightly lower. Like jbclem, I'm also using the earthgro decorative groundcover fir bark product from HD for the 5:1:1 mix. In my experience, you may even be able to get away with not having to screen it. Screening with 0.5" hardware cloth catches very little, just some long sapwood pieces, the bark is mostly 1/4-3/8" pieces. 5:1:1 is more water retentive than the gritty mix, but gritty mix lasts much longer than 5:1:1. In our hot dry climate, I would suggest opting for 5:1:1, especially for things like citrus as you won't have to water daily, especially in your summers. The mix decomposes in a year or two, but it is so cheap, fast, and easy to make. In the long-term gritty mix requires more upkeep (constant, sometimes daily watering) than 5:1:1. More practically speaking, it can survive through, say, your weekend 110F+ heatwave if you're out of town. Also, the ingredients easily obtainable.

I just bought some more Earthgro Groundcover Bark at OSH for $4 per bag, not as good as previous sales but still 20% off plus no sales tax. Although it varies by the batch, screening with hardware cloth for me always catches a few hand fulls of larger pieces of bark (plus some sapwood)...which I save to use as mulch around fruit trees.

Don't forget that you buy bulk shredded bark at a Rockery. I imagine bagged bark once its screened isn't nearly as much as when you started considering the price.

The Rockery can fill your pickup truck with a half yard to as much as you want. Even if you have to bag the bark yourself (compact car owner)...its more for the $. I always fill to the very top of the bag. Get my dollars worth.

These new mixes nursery's use must be incredibly inexpensive for them. I'm seeing a whole lot of plants that should be in 6" pots in 5 gallon size pots. Like these Crown of Thorns. Almost typical now.

What is it made of? I'm seeing more and more nursery mixes that look like a combination of shredded recycled forest products, compost, and sand.

I have no idea. I saw no sand. Its seems like a mix used on cactus to Roses.