This may help a little. When mixing the mix must be moist because it needs to react with the lime for a week to let the ph ballance. Heat and moister will determin how long the lime will take to react. I think that the 5-1-1 is the best mix I ever used. You ask what can be planted in it? Well if you ballance the ph for the specific plant it will grow everthing. Most soilless mixs are peat/perlite based but This mix is cheaper and has better drainage!!!

5-bark
1-pelite
1-peat
1 tb sp of lime per gal of mix.
Then macro/micro nutrients.

Hi Jenny,
Yes, it helps if both mixes are moistened as they are made. If I don't use before they dry out, I mist them again before planting in them.

The bark and peat will repel water if they become too dry, so being moist from the start is a big help to your plants.

As far as what works best for what plant...

In general the gritty mix is for woody and long term plantings, including house plants, and succulents.

The 5-1-1 is used alot for annuals and short term planting.. Tomato's , Peppers, fruits and veggies, and flowers and such.

The Jade would do best in the gritty mix (1-1-1) and probably the christmas cactus (I haven't actually grown that one).

I'm not sure about the begonia.

JoJo

This is what I mean, I would love it if all this great info was in ONE spot. I don't remember reading the add lime then let it sit a week. I also just yesterday saw something about getting it wet BEFORE planting in it. No wonder my plants looked so sad until I put them outside and it rained a couple inches!

I am going to have to start a note book to keep all this information in one spot to refer too.

Jenny P

Hi Jenny,
I'm glad you got some of the help you needed.
I copy and print bits and pieces I feel will be helpful to me. :-)

JoJo

I do copy and paste, but I wonder what else I missed! If you search for Al's mixes there are hundreds of references. Which is why I wondered if it was all compiled into one place. I DID see the one where he described WHY his mixes work. But that one just confused me more. I am looking more for a HOW TO.

Jenny P

Jenny,
This old post might help. I refer to it often. However, I have notes, too.
Gail

Here is a link that might be useful: Container Soil Basics: a compilation