Tyler,

I have found that it can take a bit of tweaking, depending on each individual use and what is readily available in products for mix.

I have used Bark, but my preference is Coconut Husk Chunks. I have found that the Bark is more difficult to get wet/moist when dry as opposed to the Coconut husk chunks. The biggest factor is that all ingredients should be relatively the same size.

I use approx. 1.5 - 1 - 1 . (1.5 Coconut HC)

Rick

Rick, what you are talking about is different that coir, correct? The stuff that is purchased compressed and you have to add water to expand it for use? You're talking about a different product altogether, right?

Also, I got the Napa floor dry but it was way to dusty for my liking so I switched to pumice instead. Seems like the pumice is lighter in weight too.

Thank you,

Tyler

i don't use bark. just cherrystone and floor dry. you gotta screen the floor dry, and wear a mask. pumice is nice, but pricey if there are no pumice mines around.

I started with 1:1:1 (bark, pumice, lavarock) but adjusted it to 2:1:1 for higher water retention.

I'm the 7:1:1 one, mainly because I don't like having to water more than once a week in summer. So all my adult plants (3 years and older) have been in 7:1:1 for about two years now. Younger plants have varying amounts of soil in the 7:1:1 depending on how vigorous they are. Seedlings are in 50 percent soil and 50 percent pumice.

This is just for adenium. All my other plants are in pumice and/or grit, except for mesembs which are in various experimental mixes.

Pagan

Hmmm... Very interesting. Thank you Rick, bragu, tan808 & Pagan.

I'm really not sure what I need yet, so I've stuck with the basics. My initial feeling was that the 1:1:1 was too...rocky? And I wanted to add more Reptibark, but of course I am someone who has used traditional soils my entire life so chalked it up to that.

I admit to not sifting and just eyeballing the different components (Reptibark, chicken grit and pumice) for size similarity. I'm positive the uniformity in particle size of mine is not there as compared to others who have painstakingly sifted. Bless your hearts for having the time and (mostly!) the patience. I do, however, thoroughly rinse and let air dry for a few hours prior to potting up.

What is Cherrystone? Is that a brand name or an item? Like a pebble or river rock or something...?

Tyler

Tyler,

The Coconut husk chunks are exactly pieces of cut up Coconut husk and you are right 'Not' Coconut Coir (fine stuff sold loose or in brick form).

I to bought Floor Dry and only use it for my Hoya's. Too fine.

I really like the Pumice and is what I am using now. The Growstones that Tracy uses are nice, but I cannot get them here.

Cherry Stone is a Grit, made from a product called Quartzite. It replaced the Grit #2 used for Chickens. Used to be crushed Granite Grit.

Used Turface for quite a few years, but the size was too small in comparison to the others products I am using.

If one of you ingredients is noticeably smaller in size, you will find it at the bottom of the pot when it comes to transplanting time. Usually holding a lot of moisture.

Any new plants I receive go into a mix that is 50% Coconut chunks and 25% each of the others.

Rick

Thank you Rick. I currently have all but one of my larger plants in terra cotta. Hopefully the porousness will offset any smaller particles sifting to the bottom & retaining water.

I don't believe I've ever seen coconut husks on the market here. Probably need to purchase online.

Tyler

Tyler, try looking through these useful forum threads:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1645335/desert-rose-with-als-gritty-mix?n=26

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1375349/container-soils-water-movement-and-retention-xviii

Tyler,

I have bought mine at PetSmart pet store here, sold for reptiles. Tracy found some in blocks that you soaked and that is what I would love to get. Wish I could remember the name of the product. I am going to send her a note, just remembered I wanted to source them and forgot until now.

Rick

Rick, maybe ExoTerra from PetSmart? Coconut husk also comes in bricks, Tyler. Just Google it.

Thank you for the info everybody.

Maria Elena, that link you posted from Al Tapla on water movement is pretty extensive. I've read part of it before, but I was distracted and didn't quite finish it. I'll need to give it another shot. Seems like a lot of info but well worth the effort.

I'll need to scrounge up some screening materials too.

How the heck does Marie get hers to grow so beautifully in just plain ole Miracle Grow cactus mix and perlite? Amazing. I don't get it. It rains a LOT in Houston, too. Seems like the soil would retain water. She can't drag all of those plants back and forth every time they get a Summertime Gulf Coast rain storm. Her plants thrive and are non the worse for it. All of her fingers and toes must be very green indeed!

Tyler

I use regular potting soil mixed with perlite. Lots of perlite. They grow well in Florida with all the summer rains. I certainly don't bring them back and forth.

Jane

i've used the mg/heavy perlite mix, especially on my youngest plants. It works, but is not optimal because the perlite likes to 'bubble up' in rains. Top dress with the cherrystone to hold down the perlite. Older plants get the gritty … hands down.

I'm still looking for my perfect mix... My all seedlings/yearlings are in cactus/coir/pumice/perlite mix 1:1:1:1 and doing good; my older plants (I only have three) are in 5:1:1 repti bark/growstone/large perlite mix and also doing fine. The only thing I've noticed is that in a gritty mix they don't grow fast, they look like I grow them "hard", but I don't. I have to water all of them every day during summer, even my cactus mix getting bone dry when we get above 100F. Probably because most of them in a tiny pots. I may try coconut husk/grow stone/perlite mix like Tracy does for my next plants. You have perfect weather for adeniums Tyler, any light mix should work well in my opinion:)

Thank you, Elena.

There is definitely a learning curve, for me, anyway. The 1st one I put in gritty mix had a rubbery feeling root I'd been concerned about. Good thing I was monitoring it daily as while only that root was soft, the caudex was mushy. Yup! Root rot. That one rubbery root didn't have any rot though. All my doing too since it was sent to me in perfect condition. Now I have 3 amputees hanging & drying. Perhaps that was due to (like Rick warned me about) my not sifting for uniform particle size and moisture remaining near the bottom, although I'd only potted it up a month or so ago.

I guess if the conditions are right it doesn't take long for things to go south.

Tyler

I am an orchid grower primarily. My other plants including my Desert Roses grow in MG with Perlite and the older plants get an orchid mix which includes bark. I like using the orchid mixes because the bark holds some moisture but the mix is very airy and drains quickly.

Jane

I just found a new US seller in FL, she uses pine bark mulch/soil/perlite mix. Her plants are loving it! I'm pretty much sure that here in SoCa, any mix will work during summer, now I just have to figure out what's work for winters. Over here in High Desert, temps about 78 during a day and 38F at nights. My plants are kept indoor at about 76-78F, so I'm not too worry about them being cold. Actually I need to learn how to keep them semi-dormant at winters. Right now they are still want to grow and leaning toward the window and having buds. They took over our spare bedroom but there's no way I can provide adequate lighting, it's just too many of them. Hopefully temps will go down soon and I'll be able to keep them below 70. Isn't it crazy? Almost like to trying to put baby to sleep that doesn't want to go to bed!

ahhh yes, grandchildren ….

Yes, Elena. In San Diego, we've had a heat wave for the past week and a half with daytime highs in the mid to high 80's and low humidity so very dry. The over night lows have been in the low 60's and the air is dry and thin with no cloud cover.

All of my plants with leaves and even my babies are doing very well and still outside. The only plants inside are my amputees and the one plant I got from Taiwan 2 weeks ago that had the tip rot. No more signs of rot I cut it off and put cinnamon on it, so I guess I need to move it outside but I feel like I need to take it out of the 1:1:1 gritty mix.

I just need to master the bare root and leafless thing and figure out what works best for me in my area. There doesn't seem to be an issue obtaining just about any substrate products I want to try. I just need to figure it out. I'm seriously considering repotting using the coconut husk, Growstones and pumice. I'm thinking that might be the most free draining, holding the least amount of water so the least chance for rot. I don't want anymore ugly surprises or amputees. Eeeesh!

Who is that new FL seller...?

Thanks,

Tyler

Elena,

Yours is an interesting dilemma. Given your daytime temperatures, I wonder if anyone in your region is keeping their plants outside during the day & wheeling them in at night.

Maria Elena

Maria Elena, I have about 20 plants that are getting a "privileged treatment " and they are sunbathing during a day and going inside at nights, but I'm not able to bring in and out 150 seedlings and yearlings, so they are indoor and awake. Some dropped bottom leaves but still want to grow, I tried to cut down on watering but they're getting too soft and shriveled, I almost killed my minis... So I'm watering them once a week. When weather will finally cool down, I'll keep their room below 70s, so hopefully that will help to keep them semi-dormant.

Tyler, I think husk/growstone/pumice mix will work great for you, just rinse coconut husk well before using. I've read that some sellers use salt water when processing it. That's the only reason I haven't used it yet, got lazy and used repti bark instead. That seller from FL is on FB, I joined adenium swap meet group and she is posting her plants for sale, her name is Bree. Shipping only 8-10$, and her plants are good size and really beautiful, I'll buy some more in spring. :)

Elena,

Is this the FB adenium swap meet group you mentioned? I want to be sure before I ask to join.

Thank you, Tyler

Tyler,

This is the Group that Tracy signed me up on and she is very familiar with it and would invite you if you sent a note to her.

Rick

Seedlings do not go dormant. Keep them warm, well-lit and keep watering. Just don't fertilize more often than once a month.

On the other hand, if I had 150 of them, I'd probably cull them that way.

Pagan

Tyler, yes, this is the group! Just send "join the group" request. Probably most of us in there, lol.

Pagan thank you for the advice, I should have asked earlier. I'm glad they are all alive. :)