Wood chips and sawdust will kill your tree fast. Your tree will be OK in the cactus mix. You will need to watch your watering so as not to flood the tree.

What I used in heavier soils.

New Zealand lemonade on US897 rootstock. · More Info

My heavy soil setup. I used a vacuum cleaner to draw out extra water and aerate the soil till I found my pine bark chips. It got the tree through the winter with a lot of growth.

Steve

Thanks for the info! That's quite the setup you have there! Is the vacuum sucking out the moisture? How do you prevent it from sucking out the dirt?

Most of what I read said to give a deep watering when the soil is dry. They suggest watering until you see water coming out the drainage holes. Is this what you suggest, or will that "flood" the tree? When I give this kind of watering my soil doesn't dry out for weeks.

The dirt just doen't seem to come out. I water mine in a container and soak them for a few hours to insure total saturation and then drip drain them. After that I use the vacuum and pull air through for about 10 second 3 times. every 3 days I,ll pull 5 seconds of air 1 time till next watering.

Steve

Thank you for the tip Ken, I'll look around for coco chips.

My local nursery carries forest humus in bulk and it works great for the 5-1-1. It’s the perfect size for the chips/bark in the mix.

Travis,

I don't know where you are located, but they sell the ideal pine bark fines at a home center, under the name Soil Conditioner. That is what it will say on the label.

Also, if you can't find soil conditioner, they sell it online. You can order it.

It's not expensive.

Farfard potting mixes are also good, they sell a fast draining mix for cactus and citrus. Usually only nurseries sell this mix though, so look online under Farfard potting mix and check it out to see who sells it near you.

If you have a walmart near you they sometimes have the large bag of pine bark fines in the small size for 3$ for 1 or 2cu. I can't remember the size but they're big. It's only in store. Their website didn't have it in stock, or listed for even the same price. I found those AFTER I spend a ton on repti-bark! My variegated pink lemon did wonderfully in that!

Thank you Nick, butterfly4u, and Kelly! Those are all great recommendations. I looked for pine bark fines previously at the home center and couldn't find any, but I wasn't sure what I was really looking for. I'll watch for soil conditioner or forest humus. I also live near a walmart so will keep my eyes out for their in-store options, as well.

Bought mine at the Pet store Repti Bark.
https://www.chewy.com/zoo-med-premium-repti-bark-natural/dp/123784

Butterfly4u, is this really you? I have missed you and your great posts. So happy to see you back)))

Atheen, I think I owe you a response. Too many deaths and sickness in the family to even have the time to respond and I am so sorry. I will chat with you soon my friend()

If you're near the Carolinas where Daddy Pete's Soil Enhancer is sold,, consider looking at a bag of it for the aged pine bark fines. Many soil conditioners don't used AGED pine bark, Daddy Petes does. The last couple bags I got where perfect, I didn't even have to sift it.

I purchased reptibark at the pet store out of desperation for a project. The price is crazy as it runs about $30 for a large bag. Go to any big box store and get mini pine bark nuggets which is under $4 for a 2 cf bag.

When I see a sale of pine bark, i’ll buy about 40 bags at 5bags for $10.00. Our fire department has commercial chipper, used for our fire wise program. I’ll run those bags through it onto the back of a pickup truck. I am good for the year, about 36 large containers. Fill up my two large wheelbarrows with small chips and let it sit outside in the rain/snow whatever with high nitro fertilizer. Go from there to finish my soilless stuff.