MsDoe said: A long time ago I read a lengthy article about container plant soil and perched water that was a great eye-opener for me. I can no longer locate the article, but the bottom line was a succulent soil called "Al's Gritty Mix".
Al, are you out there? Thanks for the information, it has really improved my container plants, especially cactus and succulents. I'd like to re-read the article, is there someplace I could find it?
Does anyone use that mix, or have any comments on it?
Thanks, great topic!
I have known Al/tapla for over 10 years through another garden forum that is quite popular. I am a regular user of his famous Gritty Mix and his other bark based 511 mix. He has recently been active on this site again and I joined recently too. He has posted some of his very detailed articles on soil mixes, properties here too. I guess over time you will see more from him. I have learned an immense amount from him.
I do grow a bunch of succulents in the gritty mix. It is composed of granite grit (actually chicken grit grower size between 1/16 and 3/16 in size), turface (1/16 to 1/4) and pine bark (1/8-1/4). To do this epsom salt and gypsum is added at 1tbsp each per gallon to provide the initial Ca and Mg. This is the basic mix.
The mix is designed to provide ample air space, decent water retention and near zero perched water. In fact all bonsai mixes are designed based on the same criteria. The thing to note is that all bonsai mixes are designed to maximize the potential of the plant to grow robustly and healthy. And that may as well entail frequent watering and fertilizing. Growers convenience or inconvenience is secondary.
The ingredients changes from region to region and specific adaptation to a plant species. For most of US these three are easy to find but one also make use of lava rock, pumice, haydite, etc if they are cheaper and more readily available.
I use this mix for many different types of plants from junipers, maples, elms, azaleas, etc to tropicals like succulents, cacti, ficus, bougainvillea, serissa, and even citrus, plumeria, etc. I do adjust the ratios a bit depending on their water needs. It is a versatile mix but does require one to be on top of watering and fertilizing.
The mix is quite adjustable. For some succulents I use 2/3grit and 1/3 turface to reduce water retention. Similarly one can increase water retention by changing the grit to turface ratio.
