Citrus potting soil qestion

[Plantinyum]

Hi, i have theese 3 ingredients that i make a potting soil for my other plants, will it be also good for citrus?
1 part peat based potting soil
1 part vermicompost, or slightly less than the peat
- alot of perlite, a generous ammount

The ressulting media is very light with a very good drainage, the other plants seem to love it as of now..
Thanks a bunch!

[brian]

I had to look up vericompost, but it sounds to be heavy and water reataining like peat.  It sounds like you would need to use an expensively-large portion of perlite to keep it free draining.  But if you are already satisfied that it is free draining it should be fine.

I assume vermicompost is not highly salty, right?

[Plantinyum]

I had to look up vericompost, but it sounds to be heavy and water reataining like peat.  It sounds like you would need to use an expensively-large portion of perlite to keep it free draining.  But if you are already satisfied that it is free draining it should be fine.

I assume vermicompost is not highly salty, right?

Yes i am adding alot of perlite, vermicompost does tend to hold abit of excess water. When mixed with the peat and perlite, the soil stays moister only at the bottom, but once the plants get their roots going in there, the water retention stops. I planted watermelons in the same soil and the bottom holes stay just moist and not wet. The perlite is the important thing here, i will have to buy more of it.
I think vermicompost should not have high salt content, i just hope, the person who i bought it from, said that a year before it was essentially animal manure, so i quess it could have some salts in it.

[cassowary]

Where’s the nutrients???

Adding a bit of SRP (soft rock phosphate) or seabird guano and Lime or gypsum would help give the mix a bit higher EC (electric conductivity) 200-500 microcSiemens is good. And it won’t leach out fast like if you where to add non polymerised compound fertiliser. I add a bit of ozmocote (polymerised compound fert) slow release.
But starting to use poultry manure now since it’s even more slow releasing and easier for myco to use.
Adding a bit of healthy compost innoculates your mix, citrus form symbiotic relationship with microorg.

Vermicompost, it depends on what the worms ate!
But should be low, I use 100% wormcastings for starting some seeds.
No issues ever.

Perlite is useless and expensive as a potting mix additive IMO.
Better add a bit of zeolite or other clay that actually can hold on to some cations and anions.

[poncirsguy]

Where’s the nutrients???



Perlite is useless and expensive as a potting mix additive IMO.
Better add a bit of zeolite or other clay that actually can hold on to some cations and anions.

I am with you on that.

[Plantinyum]

Perlite works for me idk, ive also used zeolite but its more expensive that perlite .
Perlite does increase drainage and aeration, my experience anyway.
The nutrients are from the potting soil, the peat has npk + micronutrients added, i assume that the vermicompost should be quite rich also, i also fertilize them with a water soluble fert for citrus

[brian]

My biggest problem with perlite is that it is light enough the plant pots blow over in the wind.  I end up putting iron weights or rocks in the bottom of my pots when they are too light. 

If you have BIG pots that you need to move, lighter soil might be a good thing.

I've read the "ideal soil" book and while I don't feel I have a good grip on the chemistry of it, it seems fairly convincing and would suggest that perlite isn't a good medium, but it certainly works well to improve drainage

[Plantinyum]

My biggest problem with perlite is that it is light enough the plant pots blow over in the wind.  I end up putting iron weights or rocks in the bottom of my pots when they are too light. 

If you have BIG pots that you need to move, lighter soil might be a good thing.

I've read the "ideal soil" book and while I don't feel I have a good grip on the chemistry of it, it seems fairly convincing and would suggest that perlite isn't a good medium, but it certainly works well to improve drainage

Hmm, yes ,they(plants) will be subject to tipping over i quess, the soil is quite light in weight. I will have to put bricks on some of the bigger canopy plants , but only on wind events probably.
Does this book point out if theres any chemical side effect to perlite? Ive never encountered information staiting that it releases unwanted chemicals into the soil, hopefully not
I may start incorporating more of the zeolite.

[1rainman]

I earn you. A small amount of perlite will help drainage. A massive amount or pure perlite doesn't drain well. It gets soggy though plant will grow faster due to light soil. A touch of sand is good in the mix if you can get it. I have both clay and sand in my mix. Clay for dry spells cuz it holds water sand for wet spells because they are outside along with normal perlite peat potting soil. Seems to work better than potting soil alone. But my citrus seeds seem too wet they might lean more towards drier sandy soil.

[Daintree]

I really like perlite, I also use my own worm compost, and I also use really good, peat-based potting soil (already has bark, guano, and other nutritious stuff in it).

I usually use 5 parts potting soil, 2 parts perlite (really cheap for me, we have a perlite mine here in Idaho), and 1 part worm compost. Lately I have used a suggestion from Millett and mixed in some Turface MVP. I like that stuff!

Because I grow everything in pots, a mucky bottom layer in my pots is usually a death knell for my trees. So the big thing is drainage, drainage, and more drainage.

Everything seems really happy, and a lot of my trees over over a decade old, produce fruit, and seem like they are enioying life.

Carolyn

[Plantinyum]

I really like perlite, I also use my own worm compost, and I also use really good, peat-based potting soil (already has bark, guano, and other nutritious stuff in it).

I usually use 5 parts potting soil, 2 parts perlite (really cheap for me, we have a perlite mine here in Idaho), and 1 part worm compost. Lately I have used a suggestion from Millett and mixed in some Turface MVP. I like that stuff!

Because I grow everything in pots, a mucky bottom layer in my pots is usually a death knell for my trees. So the big thing is drainage, drainage, and more drainage.

Everything seems really happy, and a lot of my trees over over a decade old, produce fruit, and seem like they are enioying life.

Carolyn

I also have some plants that are doing very good, growing in a petlite rich soil for several years. I was actually surprised that so many folks gave a thumb down to perlite, well there are better alternatives for sure, here perlite is unbeatable for what it does and for what it costs.

Never heard of this material, i will have to give it a try, being clay it probably absorbs nutrients and releases them, when fertilizing, kinda like zeolite ?

I changed my soil proportions ,i think its better to use less of the vermicompost, as it holds alot of water, so instead of 1to 1 ration, i will do 2 parts peat and 1 or possibly lower parts of the compost.
One interesting thing that i have experienced regarding soil drainage, at first some soils i do seem to hold too much water , but after several days the drainage significantly improves, i think its due to the soil developping a better contact between its particles, thus alowing a better water conduction. 

[1rainman]

What I'm saying perlite makes plants grow fast due to being light weight. They get more air, roots don't have to work hard to push soil. But if your problem is drainage which perlite is alway advertised as improving drainage. It does to some degree but perlite can get soggy. If your roots are too wet sand is the answer. Cactus and pineapple for example won't grow good no matter how much perlite you use. Even if it's 100% perlite. They need sand in the soil it's the only way to get the drainage they need. Though cactus dirt is usually peat moss and perlite compost just like normal potting soil but with five percent sand maybe ten. If you have really soggy conditions sand is the answer or growing cactus type plants. But for most conditions perlite works.

[curiouscitrus123]

After extensive experience one basic fact has become clear to me. Citrus, and most basic plants don't intend to grow in organic type medias. All plants in nature grow roots in mineral soils which are overlaid by organic material which leeches through the soil. I agree with a few of you who claim that sand improves the conductivity of perlite by narrowing the pore spaces which help pull the liquid through capillary action. What I don't see much of in the plant world is the understanding of what roots should grow in and how they should be nourished, which is from above. Planting your citrus in a mineral type soil such as perlite, pumice, sand, or loam, with a nutrient source located above works great. I have my containers filled with a sandy soil covered in a three inch compost layer which I incorporate fertilizer and micronutrients. Sand and perlite would work just as well with varying levels of moisture retention depending on mix particle size.

[Plantinyum]

Thanks for all the advices, i will start adding some sand to my citrus soil also!