Watering citrus in a RepiBark 5-2-1 Rapid Draining Medium

[Millet]

Watering schedule:  6 rotation routine (using rain water) in a ReptiBark 5-2-1 rapid draining medium.   

1. Fertilizing with Jack's 25-5-15 / TM
2. Rain water only
3. Rain water only
4. Water with Calcium Nitrate (pH 7)
5. Rain water only
6. Rain water only

Then start routine over.

Normal daily summer months temperatures 95-F +-  During June July & August.   Water every 2 or 3 days.

[Vlad]

Thank you for your schedule. Is this a daily schedule? I use 5:1:1 mix and only water when necessary. I have a problem with your one size fits all schedule.
When I water depends on:
-the individual plant
- the pot size. (I find that smaller pots dry faster thane large pots.)
- type of pot, e.g., Rootmaker pots require more frequent watering.
-and, of course, the weather (rain, wind and temperature.)

[Millet]

Vlad, currently I have eleven 13-gallon air root pruning containers, that I have planted in ReptiBark 5-2-1,  all new re-pots in the last 10 days.  All are looking extremely healthy, and currently in an additional flush.  Like you suggest, I could extend the interval between watering by 2 or maybe even 3 days. However, as root zone moisture decreases, the energy out put required by the tree to extract enough water increases. Of course as the summer fades into fall and winter, the intervals in between watering lengthen.   Using a 5-2-1 medium there is not much worry  concerning the perched water table.  Therefore, for these 11 trees, I prefer to keep them closer to this stress free schedule. It is not so much the amount of water that causes root damage, as it is the lack of root zone oxygen. This type of watering can only occur with rapid draining mediums. I add the Calcium Nitrate as the water used is rain water.  As always, the best to you and your trees.

[Vlad]

Millet, thank you for your reply. One more question: do you water by hand or do you have an irrigation system? If the latter, then how did you set it up?
I ask because I just set up an irrigation system for my numerous figs (in containers) but have been reluctant to use the system for irrigating my citrus because some citrus I water about every 3 days, some 5 days and some 7 - 8 days.
Best to you , too!!!!

[Millet]

I water by hand

[containerman]

I water by hand

same here and I have 300+ plants/trees in containers in my backyard.