Potting Mix / Soil Mix
 

Hi,

Was wondering whats everyone's recommendations on a good soil mix,

Was wondering what people where using as potting mix, at the moment mines john innes no3. compost and some standard compost.

I have recently good some pertile, Vermiculite, quarts sand & top soil, for my Palms. And wondered if this could improve the soil.
or if any ones good a good mix for potted bananas?

Re: Potting Mix / Soil Mix
 

The mix needs to be a very fast draining. ... Generally a 50/50 mix of commercial potting soil & perlite will do as a fast draining mix (but not very fast).



Last year I changed to a course pine bark mix with 10% peat & 10% sand. This is a mix that is used by nurseries in North Fla & South Ga. It's very fast draining an retains very little water. ... MY bananas are doing great in this and I have no worries of over watering. ... I like to see water draining from a10" or 12" pot about 15 to 20 seconds after pouring on top.


Peat holds water like a sponge thus causing the mix to retain too much water and the bottom of the pot to be soggy & stagnate. So does compost. Bananas need fresh water and air for the roots. So I recommend deleting the compost from your mix and add the perlite or course sand (makes pot heavy) to reduce the amount of peat in the mix from the commercial potting soil.


There is much discussion in the forums about potting soils. Use the forum search function to find those threads/post to find other opinions.

Re: Potting Mix / Soil Mix
 

course pine bark mix with 10% peat & 10% sand, sounds good, I like the idea of not having to worry about over watering.

Might get some bark and try something like :

50%: commercial potting soil
40%: pertile
10%: sand

I will have a look for some good soil mixes on the forum,

Thanks