My first gritty mix; how does it look?

9 years ago

Hey yall! Just wanted to make sure I'm in the right direction with the particle size of my gritty mix/5-1-1 ingredients. Just so you know, the pine bark isn't on the picture bc I wanted to see if I got the size right before getting down to the crushing!

The quarter used on the picture is Canadian, but is almost the same size as the US ( 0.5 mm smaller in diameter)

Top: Qualisorb (Calcined DE sub to turface/grit/napa floor dry)

Bottom Left: Perlite

Bottom Right: Natural aquarium gravel (non-polished, sub to granite/gravel)

Et voilà!! How does it look?? Is the qualisorb too small? The gravel too big?

Any comments/advices are truly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!!

Marie

Featured Answer

bragu_DSM 5

9 years ago

size is important, and everything should be about the same size. i tend to be less picky on size. i like the look of your mix and would/do use it in a heart beat. remember, you gotta water a lot. and it runs right through ...

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Comments (7)

bragu_DSM 5
9 years ago
FWIW: I would use that mix [as is] for my desert rose/adenium … fertigate 1/4 strength every time … and probably my amaryllis as well
mariec_6a
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for your reply Bragu! Would you say that the particle size of the mix is ok?
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mariec_6a
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you so much!! I am feeling reinsurred and more confident, thanks for your help, very appreciated.
harry757
9 years ago
mariec, I'm guessing you live in Canada too (re the coin and metric mm) ? If so, could you tell me where you were able to find pine bark for your mix. I'm thinking of trying some for tomatoes in 10 gal. pots.

thanks,

Harry
mariec_6a
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi Harry, a fellow Canadian! Yes indeed, I live in Ontario :)

I first found pine bark "mulch" at Home Hardware (link below). Particles quite fine but a bit on the longer side and didn't feel like getting into cutting/crushing and all of that. I then found Orchiata. It's a New Zealand pinus radiata bark sold on an online orchid supplies store called Ravenvision, located in Ontario. They also ship Canada wide :) They offer a variety of particle sizes, I ordered the "extra fine" which is what I think the closest size for Al's mixes (it's 3-6mm, or 1/8 - 1/4 inches)

Home Hardware: http://homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Outdoor-Living/Yard-Maintenance/Soil-Amendment-Stone/Mulches/Mulches/2-Cu-Ft-Pine-Bark-Garden-Mulch/_/N-2pqfZ67l/Ne-67n/Ntk-All_EN/R-I5011943?Ntt=Mulch

Ravenvision: http://www.ravenvision.ca/site/resources/orchiata/

Photo of the Orchiata extra fine

Cheers!

Marie
harry757
9 years ago
Marie, thanks for the links. I'll have to try and find some out here - looks like a good particle size to me. I usually grow my tomatoes in a mix of perlite and my own compost and I've had my indeterminate ones grow to 8' tall but would like to try out this 5:1:1 mix just to compare. What are you planning to use your mix for?

Harry

P.S We lived in Ontario too when I was just a kid - Ottawa area. Still miss those great thunderstorms!