RE: Potting soils

Hi Chick,

I started off using ProMix BX (80% peat, no bark) with disastrous results
relative to overwintering rot. Am currently using ProMix BRK (45% peat, 40%
bark) with good results. I checked with Fafard and their Mix #52 is 24% peat
and 60% pine. (The balance in each case is perlite and vermiculite.)

There seems to be a delicate balance between water holding capacity (i.e.
the peat) and good drainage (i.e. the bark). Here's my question. How much
more frequently do you have to water with such a high bark content mix? 

As a reference point I water my one gallon container stock about twice a
week in the dead of the summer using the ProMix BRK.

Thanks,
Rob in KC

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Chick [SMTP:chick@bridgewoodgardens.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, July 24, 2002 12:54 PM
> To:	hosta-open@hort.net
> Subject:	Re: Potting soils
> 
> Fafard makes a number of different mixes. We use Fafard #52 and I think
> it's excellent for hostas.  They also have a mix called "nursery mix" or
> something like that, and it has even more bark.  We would use it but it's
> much heavier and hard for the ladies to handle the bags.  Hard for old men
> too, but it's more manly to blame it on the ladies. 
> 
> We use Fafard #3B for annuals and pot plants.  It's a good mix but much
> too light for hostas.  I've used it for hostas in the past but got way too
> much rot.  
> 
> I've tried mixing very fine pine bark with the Fafard to make it drain
> even faster and save a little money.  I was just experimenting so I just
> built a big bin and did it with a shovel.  It's far more work than you
> would think and very difficult to get a uniform mix.  One real advantage
> to the bagged mix is the wetting agent that's incorporated.  Especially if
> you have any peat in your mix, it makes life a lot easier.
> 
> There are some local companies around here that will mix to order by the
> dump truck load, and their prices are very reasonable, but I've heard some
> horror stories and I wouldn't take the chance.  I don't see anything wrong
> with using all bark as long as you can supply enough water.  I suspect
> it's going to dry out very quickly.
> 
> As to Marie's question about long term use in pots, I would think that
> something besides peat would be even more important over several years.  I
> three years the peat is going to rot and be much too heavy.  
> 
> Chick
> 
> Dan & Lu Nelson wrote:
> 
> 
> 	Thanks Chick and thanks to everyone else who offered us help
> deciding what potting mix to use. We had about 10 responses including some
> very good private ones.
> 	 
> 	We bought some bagged Fafard mix that is peat, perlite and pine
> bark. It's a light mix. The 70 yards of aged ground pine bark comes in
> next Tuesday. We plan on using some of the bark and comparing the bark and
> the Fafard . One local hosta grower uses 100 ground pine bark and seems to
> do really well. The rest of the pine bark we're going to cover with a tarp
> to keep weed seeds out and let it age some more. It looks like if we took
> Chick's advice we could just mix a little pine bark in with the Fafard and
> it would make the Fafard go a little further.
> 	 
> 	We talked to the people at Fafard about buying in bulk......it cost
> $3,250 for a 90 cubic yard load...which is both more money and more soil
> that we need at the moment. By the bag cost more but we can get just how
> much we want......and not ten years worth.
> 	 
> 	Dan & Lu
> 	 
> 	----- Original Message ----- 
> 	From: Chick <c*@bridgewoodgardens.com> 
> 	To: hosta-open@hort.net <h*@hort.net> 
> 	Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 10:17 PM
> 	Subject: Re: Potting soils
> 
> 	I know this topic goes back a while, but a salesman just brought us
> some new potting mix to try and since the fact sheet just happened to have
> the ingredients listed, here goes:
> 	
> 	65% aged pine bark
> 	21% peat moss
> 	7% perlite
> 	7%vermiculite
> 	
> 	It seems like a fairly decent mix, though I wouldn't mind an even
> higher percentage of bark.  I'm not sure what good the perlite and
> vermiculite do in a mix that would normally only be used for a year or so.
> Frankly, I think if I was doing it, I'd probably go 75-80% bark and the
> rest peat.  If you're going to do 70 yards, I sure hope you've got a
> mixing machine of some sort, cause doing it by hand is going to be a bear.
> Don't forget a good wetting agent.
> 	
> 	I still think you'd be better off buying it bagged.
> 	
> 	Chick
> 	
> 	Dan & Lu Nelson wrote:
> 	
> 
> 		Lu and I are going to start selling hostas next spring and
> we are going to start digging and potting up soon.
> 		 
> 		We would love some feedback on potting soils. I can get 70
> cubic yards of ground pine bark for $850 delivered. It is available fine
> ground and 1/2 inch ground. Which to use? Add compost and sand? or not?
> 		 
> 		I'm looking to the professions growers on this list for some
> feedback. We will be potting into one and two gallon pots.
> 		 
> 		Any tips on pH testing of potting soils, lime, gypsum and pH
> of irrigation water would be greatly appreciated.
> 		 
> 		We promise we won't run anyone out of business!
> 		 
> 		Thanks,
> 		 
> 		Dan & Lu Nelson
> 		Pixie Forrest
> 		Auburn GA
> 
> 
> 	
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