I felt exactly like you the first time and was resistant to making my own mix. However, it is quite simple to make the 5-1-1 and FAR better for your tree than anything you can buy. I do know some on this forum use MG soil (not potting mix), but I need to bring my trees indoors for the winter and the more porous mixes seem to work the best for everyone here up north. The ingredients for the 5-1-1 are easy to find mixing them up is a piece of cake. Search for 5-1-1 and you will find many times where Vladimir has posted the recipe. I use reptibark for the bark fines. Welcome to the forum!

Thank you Laura. I probably should have specified that the plant will be living indoors all year- round. I live in Connecticut, and have a big bay window it will be able to live on getting lots of sun. I have heard the MG attracts a LOT of bugs, which i certainly dont want! Maybe I will try my hand at making my own, if you say its a lot easier than i think.

Take the time to invest in a proper mix upfront... it will save you much time, money and disappointment down the road. "They will be fine" in a bagged mix is a citrus death knell.

I agree with Laura, try making the 511 mix. You can make small batches if that is all you need. All you need is to use another smaller pot or container to use as your measuring/mixing scoop. Mix together in a bucket or dishpan. Use 5 scoops of the bark and one scoop of the other ingredients (perlite or sponge rock and prat moss). If you need more just add the same proportion again. Don't forget the tablespoon of lime per gallon of mix. The 511 ingredients are much lighter than the gritty if you need to move your tree around. You should put it outdoors during the summer for it to thrive. It will help rid it of bugs too as there are natural predators outdoor that will take care of any infestations that happen in relatively arid and dusty indoor conditions. Good luck with your tree(s). Come back for more help if and when you need it.

Cory

The 5-1-1 mix, is a medium I have used in the past, and it worked well for containerized citrus. It has a life span in containers of approximately 2 years. Some years back I switched to Miracle Grow Garden Soil (Not Miracle Grow Potting Soil), which is a medium used by many of the growers on the other citrus forum. I presently have perhaps 20+ different citrus cultivars growing successfully in it for a little over two years, in containers ranging from 3-gallon to 30 gallon, I also have perhaps 50 or so pineapples, plus various other plants. It also works very well for container citrus trees, and much easier to use. - Silica

Thank you all! So glad i stumbled across this forum. What a welcoming and helpful community.

Silica, do you use it straight or add perlite/sponge rock? It seems dense to me without it. I read so many others use it on the other boards that I wonder if it is different in different parts of the country as the supply sources are different. I have tried it but thought I needed to add sponge rock to make it more porous. It also seems heavier to lift than the 511 to me. I would like to hear if others that use it need to add the sponge rock/perlite. I actually have a few bags that I could repot some trees in immediately and have been debating about trying them in it again.

Cory

Plant is arriving this week, and i am told to repot after a week or 2. Should i be adding osmocote to the 5-1-1 mix at this point? I also purchased DynaGro foliage pro. Plant will be living indoors on a large bay window where it will be getting consistent sun all day long.

Silica, where do you live? Do your trees come indoors for winter? Ainsley, citrus are not meant to be indoor plants - even with good light. I would strongly encourage you (if possible) to put the tree outdoors to soak up sun during the warmer months. I live in Maryland and my citrus trees spend as much time as possible outdoors. It is much better for them and they produce more. I dread bringing them indoors because their health deteriorates.

I would repot as soon as you get it. I never wait to pot my trees. The mix they come in is not usually great, so the faster you can get them out of it, the better. I add Oscomote plus to the 5-1-1 along with the lime. I then fertilize with 1 tbsp FP at least twice a week...when possible. However, once my trees come indoors, they will not grow as well, so I will reduce the fertilizer during those months.

Ainsley, looks like you have a whole bunch of people here that are just happy to help you and everyone on the same page...This forum is blessing since all agree that a mix that allows good drainage and proper aeration is best for our trees!

Mikerno this forum is a blessing!

I purchased the tree from Logee's who have given me contradicting advice. They said wait a week or two to repot, keep as much of the soil it came with as possible, DO NOT remove soil because it disrupts the roots, and dont use osmocote because the NPK is way to high for a dwarf Meyer. My head is spinning with questions, as i become very attached to my plants and care greatly about their well-being.

You CAN use normal potting mix, although many think you can't. I'm planting my Meyer in it soon. Just don't water as often; only as needed. The gritty mix and 5-1-1 mix probably is better, but it's a hassle sometimes to get all of the stuff.

I can tell you that I use Oscomote plus (the pink container) for my Meyers and they are thriving. I kept my largest Meyer in potting mix blended with perlite for the first three years or so and it lived. Yes, you definitely do not water as often. I also had big problems with gnats in the winter and my trees spend 8-9 months of the year outdoors. Although it lived, it did not do as well as it is doing now in the 5-1-1. It is totally worth the small trouble to put it in the right mix the first time. As far as removing the old soil, I try to get as much of the old soil off as I can. I had a Meyer that I did not do that for (just added soil around the root ball), and she began to decline. I ended up having to do a total bare-root repotting figuring she'd die anyways if I did not try. I had to cut away rotting roots...it was nasty. She lived and is a lovely tree now. I don't think you need to rinse off the roots, but gently removing as much of the dirt as you can is a good idea.

thanks Laura. Does it matter that mine is a Dwarf? Might that be why Logee's said no to the osmocote?

The plant is supposedly about a foot tall

My plan is to get a 12" terra cotta, make the 5-1-1 soil (reptibark, peat, perlite, garden lime, osmocote)

Dyna gro foliage pro (every 6 weeks?)

Water once a week? Should i be adding vinegar?

Full sun

Am i missing anything?

Cory I use Miracle Grow Garden Soil straight out of the bag. Members on the other citrus forums use it both straight out of the bag and some members add perlite. I never heard of anyone adding sponge rock, but one probably could. It drains VERY well, supplies good oxygen. I like it as a medium, it is so simple to use. Actually, I first heard about its use from Laaz, who is the Citrus Growers Forum owner. - Silica

Hi silica, could you post some pics of your trees, I am super nosy lol? Also where are you? You seem to have lots of great citrus info!

Looks like we are on the same wavelength Laura, just saw your question ;).

Yes Hobby! We so often are! ;-). Yes Silica, I would love to see your trees and know what zone you are in.

Ainsley, it does not matter that it is a dwarf. The same light and fertilization requirement apply. I would suggest that instead of terra cotta, you use a plastic container. I know they are prettier, but they are also quite heavy and keep the tree's roots colder - especially in winter. Most of us here use plastic. You can get pretty ones - I'll post a pic of some of mine. You need lots of drainage holes. If you plant it in the 5-1-1, you will likely need to water more than once a week. Right now, I have to water almost daily because it is still so hot around here....my trees wilt. Full sun, yes, but after repotting, put the tree in filtered shade if possible for about a week to get used to the new mix and to avoid sunburn. You don't want to ruin those beautiful leaves with a nasty sunburn. I have two trees from Logee's and they are quite nice.

Oh, and during the active growing season (once your tree is outdoors after winter) you should fertilize with FP at least once a week. My trees are all in the 5-1-1 and I use 1 tbsp per gallon of water and add about 1/2 capful of white vinegar. To find out how much vinegar to use, I bought a cheap pH testing kit and measured my water 1. Out of the tap with nothing added (in my case it is about 7), then I measured again after adding FP (that lowers the pH some), then I added vinegar by 1/4 tsp until I got it to about 6. Even if it is a little lower, it's ok.

Silica, I had a feeling others were going to ask you to post pics of your trees...That is why I been asking you for years and yet you have not, and why I have had issues at times in the past believing what you have to say at certain times..But I will admit, much of what you say is very good and you seem to enjoy helping us..)

As they say, the proof is in the pics! I personally have to see what others trees look like to see if what they are saying is justified or sound...Please, post us pics..If you need help to do so just ask, I would be wiling to show you how)

You use to debate with me on how great Coco Nut husk were and now you don't use it anymore and have switched to soil..I have know you for years and you and I but heads over that one for quite some time when I was just trying to help others with the 5.1.1 mixes here...You have also told me that my trees have no need for Ca in the fertilizers when I have learned otherwise from great experts here on the container forums for years..

Now, you're encouraging others to use Miracle Soil? Ok then, how do you use it? How long does it last without compacting? What do your trees look like? Do you have a demo on how to mix it? Do you know anyone else that could show us just how successful they have been with it? How often do you have to re pot? How do you know when to water? Does it hold a perched water table in the pot where it stays wet all the time? How deep is it? How big are the pot that you use in comparison to the root ball? Where can I get some? I'd be willing to give it a shot if it is easier than what we are doing, more convenient, and does such a great job)

If you show me pics and take the time to answer my questions, I would really appreciate that. I think it would make life easier here for many who spend time and invest in making their own to protect there trees and the roots.

Laura, i would love to see a few of your plants and their pots. Would i need to drill holes in the side. I had read on here people like terra cotta for air exchange, but if you think plastic is better i am certainly open to your suggestions an guidance.

Laura..AMAZING as always!! I love how you did your mix and how wonderful your trees look..You are right, no need for hole if using the right mix...Even then, if one used a heavier mix, holes on the side of the pot will not stop a perched water table from developing..The water would just drain faster and still be trapped in heavier mixes..........

WOW!!! Those are beautiful! I only hope my new little guy can flourish like that.

Im so grateful for everyone's help, especially yours Laura. I have a few giant boxes on their way from Amazon filled with supplies for my 5-1-1 mix, which I never would have done without everyone's guidance.

You are very welcome Ainsley! We are always happy to have other citrus lovers join our forum. I have learned so much from everyone here. They have always been extremely helpful and my trees would not look they way they do without their generous help. My daughter recently was looking at a big box from Amazon...she looked at it and said..."it's more reptibark...I can tell from the smell"!! It is that bad at my house! The smell is great though, don't worry. She has just learned to recognize it ;-)

Silica, isn't one more likely to get root rot with the MG soil than with the 5-1-1 or gritty?

Hi Silica, I have read on the other forums about Laaz and Millet and others using the MG garden soil and being very happy with it. When I buy it, it is always so heavy and dense that I wonder if mine comes from a different source. I tried it with a few smaller trees a few years ago and it seemed to compact quickly. After I hear yours and the others good experiences with it I am thinking of trying again, maybe adding some sponge rock if it seems too dense. My sister uses it with perlite in her annual container planters but they are extremely heavy. They seem to dry out pretty quickly though outside. I have to move my trees by myself and have a dolly to help me but I do have some stairs and a wall to get them over, so weight does matter to me. Even the 511 gets heavy as the containers get larger. Thank you for the information on how you use it. I have 3 medium size trees I may try repotting into it if I am able to lift their pots.

Cory

So my tree arrived today! It had a pretty rough 24 hours in the hands of UPS, who did not adhere to the "This side up" printed on the box. Should i repot this week, or give it some time to deal with its trauma, before switching to the 5-1-1 mix?

Give it at LEAST two weeks. People at the greenhouse were I got mine said a month, and there experts.

I plant mine immediately...I have never waited...especially if it is not happy after being manhandled by UPS.

The longest I have ever waited to plant my trees (all 45 of them) is two days.

Meyers are extremely sensitive to light changes and if you pot it immediately it might lose most/some/all leaves. Pot it at least two weeks after you get it like I said before.

I usually wait for a week to 2 weeks to make sure the plant survives the shipping that way I dont introduce any additional variables when demanding a replacement from the vendor.

Silica...I was hoping you would come back soon before all the Miracle Grow products run out locally here...Thank you

Well, I've never had issues with repotting immediately. I usually repot then put the trees in the shade for about a week giving them only morning and evening sun. After about a week, I put them in filtered shade, then slowly ease them into full sun. I've never had any leaf loss and I have four Meyer trees.

I have used miracle gro bagged mixes for my herbs and greens I grow in winter in my grow tent in my basement. Wicked fungus gnats in their mix. Never again will I bring that stuff inside.

I can't see how mg could work for citrus at all. Boggy rotten root central- yuck!

Repotting immediately might let it lose all leaves. It will be shocked from the light change. Especially if if was in the hands of UPS. Because it has to be a different light than were it was grown.

Limeandlemon..Hello..Me too. I have never lost any leaves re potting right after I got mine in delivery..But what I can tell you is that if one does not re pot carefully and does not slowly acclimate them back into the light, they will sulk and may even loose leaves..I guess it's all in the way we treat our trees after they have been punched around a bit in those good ole post offices and ripped from their comfortable environment...

Some Trees are different.

During the time the old soil is removed and roots are transferred to the new soil, it is essential for the roots to be wet, all the time. Otherwise they will dry and die, starting with the thinnest ones - exactly the ones that absorb water and food from soil.