You can't over work a citrus tree

Cool that's good to know!

What would be the advantage in growing a tree hydroponically?

None. I looked into that idea 5 years ago and came up with excessive expense and big risks. When we grow in 5-1-1 we are about as close to hydroponic growing as possible. The 5-1-1 does little more than hold moister between feedings and act as a tool to hole the hydrologically fed trees roots nicely spread and to hold pockets of air along with moisture for best growing.

Steve

I have never been a fan of 5-1-1; exactly because it is essentially hydroponic growing; but with consistency in watering/feeding and no neglect it is pretty reliable.

Well my trees are loving it so I will stick with it. It's not about the cost to me it's about doing something I love. My improved Meyer is in a 5gallon pot with holes drilled into the bottom it was transplanted from soil into Coco coir chips. I set the pot into a 5 gallon bucket with a gap in the bottom it holds almost 2 gallons of aerated nutrient solution. It's been in there since late summer and has taken off with lots of new growth. I like it so I will stick with it and will report when needed.

Coco chips as a 5-1-1 medium makes a good medium, and has a life expectancy of about 1.5 to 2 years, then the chips break down into a peat moss like consistency. Then you have a 0-6-1 medium.

Im not sure what 5-1 -1 medium means. But I figured it would start to break down the coir is a stop gap for now when the time comes I will probably replace with a 50 50 mix of perlite and vermiculite. What nutrients are you you using for a 5-1-1 medium?

Miracle Gro 24-8-16 with 2-0-8 gives me 26-8-24 for winter

I'm using MB ferts bloom a and b those 2 together give me 7.5-2.5-9 with addition of gh cal-magic with iron. Nutrients solution ppm around 1200

BTW poncirusguy I like those bucket lights.