I opened one bag so I could test the ph of the soil and it's 6.5. Do you guys think this will work for citrus? The bark pieces are small, the perlite is huge. I just don't want to hurt my trees.

That would be awesome if it works, hopefully someone chimes in with an answer :)

Charcoal isn't a problem. It is porous. Absorbs chemicals (hence use in water purification). I don't think it will chemically react with the fertilizer salts we commonly use.

Hard to judge actual size without reference, but that "bark" looks rather large. Some of that looks more like partially decomposed wood (and just barely at that). Smaller (1/4 inch) would be far better. Soil/Sand mixed in will fill the gaps, but generally there will be large air pockets because you can't settle the mix well. And the larger bark forms dry voids - like a roof sheds water from the soil beneath.

The bark is quite small, I tore a small hole in the bag. The pieces are smaller than a quarter for sure. The periliteis huge! I've never seen such big pieces!

thanks for the info about the charcoal! I would have rather purchased pine bark fines but none of the stores around here carry it. This is $4 a bag vs. repti bark at $15.99 a bag.

I am not sure. I have orchids and use orchid mix for them, but the orchid mix I use I think would be too large and porous for the citrus because of the large chunks. I hope someone else chimes in. If you do use it, I would add some peat moss to that mix.

Yeah after having stuck my hand in it I was thinking maybe 4 parts this and 1 part peat moss. I can return this if someone thinks it's absolutely terrible. Hopefully some of the stores start getting the fine pine bark in but I need something for when my new trees come.

From your picture, the pieces aren't terrible. I've sent bark through a mower before, but since is a mix and has perlite in it, that would get dusted, so, it should be ok. The good thing is that with slightly larger pieces, you don't have to refresh the soil as often as normal for 5:1:1, you might get 2 or 3 years before the structure deteriorates.

Amanda, 5-1-1 mix calls for 1/2 inch and smaller pine bark. Is that what you have?

Yeah the bark is pretty small but probably not small enough. What happens if you use bark that is too big?

That is a question for AL Talpa but I believe the smaller particles will settle toward the bottom of the container decreasing the air spaces making root rot more likely.

Thank you everyone for all of the information!

Amanda, why don't you just buy some reptibark? Sometimes on Amazon you can get a big bag for $15 and that should work for at least two big pots.

I just ordered a bag. I'm still trying to figure out all of this potting citrus business. I have been gardening for years but this has been a whole new adventure. I am just lucky that my calamondin survived for so long in the miracle grow cactus, citrus, and palm soil!

Amanda, I have a calamondin that has been in the MG cactus, citrus & palm mix since 1982 and it is doing very well. Of course it has been repotted a bunch of times but always into the same mix. I had plans to put it into 5-1-1 last spring but never got around to it.

That's amazing Vladimir! Mine is only 2 years old and hasn't ever flowered. I recently repotted him but Walmart doesn't have any more of the timberline pine bark yet. The soil never seemed to bother the calamondin but I had one of my two original Meyer lemons die this winter while in the MG soil. I have been reading this site since I got them 2 yrs ago but after it died I started being active to find out why it died. Everyone blamed the soil. So now I am just trying to find out what everyone else is doing to grow such great trees. I don't want anymore trees to die.

Actually, I meant since 1978. I let the top 3 -4 inches dry before watering.

Mike- Thanks for the advice! Losing that Meyer devasted me, I was so depressed. I worked so hard trying to save it. My sweet husband bought me another. I have new trees coming and I wanted to have a mix ready for them when they arrive. I have already repotted the calamondin when I potted my new lemon, I did that shortly after my very post on here! Unfortunately where I bought the first bag of mini pine nuggets is out right now. I am on spring break from nursing school and while I had the time I wanted to get my ingredients. I'm having a difficult time finding them! I will keep looking. There is a landscape place that sells it by the yard but they also do smaller custom mixes. I need to call them on Monday and see if I can't haggle a deal. I ordered a bag of repti bark in case I can't find a bag of pine! Thanks for helping me everyone, I appreciate it so much and I'm sure my trees are thankful too!

Amanda, what trees do you have coming in? Just curious....;-)

Two dancy tangerines and a key lime! I'm excited! And I asked for a golden nugget for Mother's Day haha! I have a lot of plants in my yard that produce fruit, like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, apricot but my kids can NEVER get enough. We have a lot of fun growing things that we can eat together. I have plans for setting up a place in my garage to winter all my citrus haha

Amanda, that's great! I am excited for you..Will they be bare root trees or potted ones?

They should be potted in 4 in pots. They are supposed to be fruiting size but I bet they will be way to small haha I am a big fan of letting things grow up a bit before carrying fruit. At this point though my calamondin needs to start making fruit, he is a huge bush now!

Amanda, I would not do any drastic things to them until it's the right time..Just saying if they were mine, I would stick them in sunshine after a few days, just light at first and just do a re pot without disturbing the roots for now or do nothing to them if the mix looks ok..)))

Sounds like good choices Amanda. I want a gold nugget as well. Where did you order them from? We have lots of fruiting trees and bushes in my yard as well and my kids very much enjoy eating them. It is one of the best things you can do for so many reasons - teach them about food, where it comes from, and the joy of harvesting it! ;-)

Laura- haha Michigan Bulb. I know it's not the best but my calamondin came from there and it's done well. The golden nugget will come from four winds.

All set!