Best Soil Mix

[Jon]

Hi,

I was wondering if somone might know the best soil mix I can make myself ?

[kris]

Hi Jon,

I use a 70 % Miracle-grow potting soil 30% perlite mix.  You really need to add either perlite or sand to commercial potting mixes because they are a bit heavier and have poorer drainage than hibiscus like.  Ive also used cactus mix  with a little peat added to increase the water retention because cactus mixtures drain too well!  The most important thing to look for in mixes is to make sure you have good water retention and the right amount of air in the soil to promote healthy root growth.  Hibiscus don't get much nutrition from potting soil, so it is important to fertilize regularly.  I have also found that mixing a bit of slow release palm and citrus food in addition to regular fertilization works well too. (Any plant food will do find just make sure it has a medium amount of nitrogen, low phosphorus and high potassium, the palm citrus mix I use is 10-5-17)  Also since I have slow release food in the soil I like to use organic fertilizers when I water because I want to avoid fertilizer burn.  I personally use Bio Grow (2-.1-6) mixed with seaweed extract for extra potassium.  HVH sells these fertilizers on their website, but I also found them at hydroponics stores.  I just bought a bag of miracle grow today and it was almost 10 dollars, I think that I might just start adding HVH's own mix with my plant orders if the price is almost the same.  However the mix above has worked great!  Hope this helps

[Charlie]

Did you get this worked out, Jon.

If you go to mix it yourself you need:

1. A material that serves to anchor the roots and to hold water and nutrients. The well tested ones are peat moss, coco coir, and composted bark. You can mix these or use any one of them. All are available but the quality differs so going with a reputable brand is wise. Peat moss has to be adjusted for pH which may or may not have been done before you buy it - check to see if the bag says it contains limestone which is what is used to raise the highly acidic material to normal pH ranges. Coco coir can contain too much salt but most companies sell a good quality these days. Bark must be fully composted or the decomposition of it will rob the pot of needed nitrogen.

2. A material to aerate the mix to the degree that works best for hibiscus. These are typically perlite, vermiculite, and clean river sand. Perlite weighs next to nothing while sand is very heavy. In windy areas sand is used to help keep pots from blowing over.

3. The above is all that is needed for basic potting mix, but it will not be a living soil containing beneficial microorganisms that help plants in many ways. To achieve a living potting mix add worm castings, good quality compost, or other organic ingredients such as bat quano and blood meal.

That's pretty much it. Good luck and have fun!

Charleiie

[Jon]

Thanks Kris and Charlie,

I think I have it about right but just wanted to make sure. They only thing I have missed is adding worm castings and bloodmeal.

Thanks again

Jon

[luthienj]

Do you have any suggestions for ratios of each component and how much blood meal to add? I don't want to give my plants too much phosphorus.
 I am experimenting right now with my own mix and will post any successes!

Jessica

[Charlie]

Hi Jessica, not sure which ingredients you want to use in your potting mix but if you list them out we can try to help with a ratio. Most potting mixes start with either peat moss or composted bark as the main ingredient. We like to add some coco coir to peat moss to improve re-wetting capabilities. Then a generous amount of perlite is use to lighten the mix and keep it aerated and draining well. Finally, you can add any number of organic type products such as worm castings, blood meal, bat guano, high quality compost, and so forth. If you went with this type of potting mix a typical formula is:

70 percent peat moss or composted bark
20 percent perlite
10 percent organics

Note: be sure that the peat moss used has been pH adjusted using limestone or similar because peat moss in its natural form is very acidic. Any good mix that you would buy from a garden center has already been pH adjusted.

This formula should be adjusted depending on conditions where the plants are grown. For instance, in a very hot and dry place more peat moss and less perlite but for indoor or cool places more perlite and less peat moss. If you live in a high wind area you can also add some clean sand to the mix to give it more weight so the pots are not falling over all the time.

There are a lot of variations on the above that will grow good hibiscus, just remember that the plants need both a lot of water and good drainage. That means the components must hold water well, as does peat moss, coco coir, and composted bark, but also drain which is what perlite and sand help with.

Organic material helps plants in lots of ways such as providing "good" microorganisms that protect hibiscus from disease and help with nutrient uptake. You can also add some specialty products made up of microorganisms that plant scientists have found to be the most beneficial organisms and that are isolated and concentrated into products that are now available. More on this last topic later as we are currently trying one of these products to see if we can see any differences while using it.

Good luck with the mix!

Charlie