Now I have come across Tapla's Gritty Mix. This is a new twist to my whole container gardening experience. I'm really excited to start moving all my plants into the Gritty Mix and I have some questions.

1) Is it worth replanting the Kumquat in the Gritty Mix? Is the the Gritty Mix the right Mix or is the 5-1-1 better? It has no leaves at all but I'm not sure how to tell if it is completely dead.

2) I haven't had any luck finding the Pine Bark Fines or the Turface locally. I have tried Home Depot, Lowes, and a local gardening store. I did find the below website that has both the Turface and Pine Bark Fines. Turface Standard Bag $26.00 2.5 gallons (10 quarts) in a resealable bag.

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-potting-media/Turface.html

They also have these Bark Fines, but again I am not sure about the price and if they are the correct size/product.
Small Orchiata Monterey Bark Standard Bag $28.40
2.5 gallons (10 quarts) in a resealable bag

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-potting-media/Monterey-Pine-Bark-Small.h tml

Combined Shipping is an additional $19.

Basically $74 total. Is the price reasonable for this quantity?

Otherwise, any recommendations on where I can buy the Turface and Pine Bark Fines in the Merrimack Valley area?

3) Lastly, I also have a couple of Snake Plants in 4" containers that I want to move into the Gritty Mix. Is there a rule of thumb for container size I should move into? I was thinking I should at least double it.

Thank you for your help and all the helpful information.Hello all, I'm New to the forum and I have already found tons of useful information. Which is leading to a lot of questions/confusion. I have read a lot about Tapla's Gritty Mix and I'm about to start moving my container plants into it and I have some questions.
I have a Kumquat tree that has been on a steady decline for the past few months. At this point, it has lost all its leaves. About a month ago, I tried adding fertilizer sticks (no luck) and 2 weeks ago I added grow lights. The light has always been sufficient but I wasn't sure what else to do. It is still not showing any signs of life/improvement.

Now I have come across Tapla's Gritty Mix. This is a new twist to my whole container gardening experience. I'm really excited to start moving all my plants into the Gritty Mix and I have some questions.

1) Is it worth replanting the Kumquat in the Gritty Mix? Is the the Gritty Mix the right Mix or is the 5-1-1 better? It has no leaves at all but I'm not sure how to tell if it is completely dead.

2) I haven't had any luck finding the Pine Bark Fines or the Turface locally. I have tried Home Depot, Lowes, and a local gardening store. I did find the below website that has both the Turface and Pine Bark Fines. Turface Standard Bag $26.00 2.5 gallons (10 quarts) in a resealable bag.

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-potting-media/Turface.html

They also have these Bark Fines, but again I am not sure about the price and if they are the correct size/product.
Small Orchiata Monterey Bark Standard Bag $28.40
2.5 gallons (10 quarts) in a resealable bag

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-potting-media/Monterey-Pine-Bark-Small.h tml

Combined Shipping is an additional $19.

Basically $74 total. Is the price reasonable for this quantity?

Otherwise, any recommendations on where I can buy the Turface and Pine Bark Fines in the Merrimack Valley area?

3) Lastly, I also have a couple of Snake Plants in 4" containers that I want to move into the Gritty Mix. Is there a rule of thumb for container size I should move into? I was thinking I should at least double it.

Thank you for your help and all the useful information.

Sansevieria will absolutely thrive in a Gritty Mix, but you'll need to water and fertilize
more regularly. If you can post a pic here, pot-size recommendations will be easier.

Josh

Just found Turface Athletics Pro League Heritage Red at a local John Deere. This was the only Turface they had in stock. Will this work in the Gritty Mix?

Agway has the perfect bark and Dodge Grain in Salem N.H has the Turface, although the M.P.V coarse one is the one you want. NOT the Atletics Pro, too fine.

You can also get fir bark from another area if you ask.

I would follow Josh's and Al's advice and try to make best of the mix your tree is in until it's a better time.

Have you tried using a wick? Have you checked for mites with a magnifying glass?
I would not not fertilize if your mix is already holding to many disolved salts.
Have you flushed your mix?

Welcome to New England citrus growing.

Thanks for the feedback.
The tree is indoors. What would the windbreak screen do? When you mention the mulch around the base, do I just drop some mulch on top of the existing soil?

Thanks Mike. I tried the Dodge Grain last week and had no luck. Looks like I will have to wait a few more weeks.

Is this the correct Agway mulch? They have a few different types?

http://www.agway.com/catalog/home_and_garden/mulches/pine/10202313_agw ay_pine_bark_mulch_3_cuft.html

What about the crushed Granite. The guy at Dodge Grain said they do not carry it. I have also checked John Deere, Home Depot and Lowes with not luck.

I will be following the rest of the above tips over the next few weeks. If all goes well I will post pictures of progress.

By the way, that is exactly the bark I use in my mixes! It is southern pine.
That is why it's a bit expensive if you hadn't noticed.

Looks like it might be time to start over again in the spring with a good tree since I think you are aware of the concepts of a great mix:-)

Mike