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bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #51 
for '5', i use something called nature's helper. per label, it's 50/50 pine bark fine and compost. for me, it works fine. but, it breaks down fast. about 2.5 yr, 10 gal tub was packed with broken down soil mix and roots. water and air will have hard time getting to roots.
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
susieqz

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Posted Reply with quote  #52 
the tractor supply stuff might be doable. this is an ag community.
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susie 
wish list:  nothing. i can't grow cuttings  . right now, i have  6 trees showing no signs of fmv. i'd like to keep it that way' 

i was told that if i couldn't deal with fmv, i should grow peaches, so i got a peach tree to live with my clean figs.
omotm

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Posted Reply with quote  #53 
Sue,

Don't know if you know about this site, check it out.  Figs in NM!

http://www.landofenfigment.com/
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Steve
Houston, TX
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Zingarella
susieqz

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Posted Reply with quote  #54 
oooh, pete! that sounds like fun stuff to have,. where did you get it? i like the idea of some compost and yearly repotting is fine for a while.
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susie 
wish list:  nothing. i can't grow cuttings  . right now, i have  6 trees showing no signs of fmv. i'd like to keep it that way' 

i was told that if i couldn't deal with fmv, i should grow peaches, so i got a peach tree to live with my clean figs.
susieqz

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Posted Reply with quote  #55 
cool, steve. he's only 250 miles from me [out of the new desert] i bookmarked his page.
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susie 
wish list:  nothing. i can't grow cuttings  . right now, i have  6 trees showing no signs of fmv. i'd like to keep it that way' 

i was told that if i couldn't deal with fmv, i should grow peaches, so i got a peach tree to live with my clean figs.
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #56 
our local HD stock them in early spring.. sometimes they have some left over till fall. it's used to add to the ground to conserve water. sometime ago, i was looking for pine bark mini, but couldn't find them and this was the only thing available.
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
greg88

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Posted Reply with quote  #57 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rafed
Quote:
Originally Posted by omotm
Agreed Rafed, just like the best way to start cuttings.


That's a whole different can of worms bud. LOL
I'll need a couple of Pete's dark beers to start a discussion on that.


Rafed,

I know it has been discussed before but what is the soup de jour for cuttings ??  ;o)
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Greg North West Arkanasas Zone 6b
Wish list: any SPECTACULAR cold hardy figs, and/or perhaps a Niagra Bl., Laradek EBT, Kathleen's Bl, Hunt, a great UNK or anything anyone wants me to have???
FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #58 
Susie...I know how you feel.  I'm currently using the 5:1:1 mix with my first year plants and they're very slow to grow compared to everyone who posts pictures of their trees.  I just recently started to add dolomitic lime and MG every couple weeks and it seems to help, but I might get an inch of growth every 2 weeks, and some trees are still stagnant.  They're all in 1 gallon pots.
I planted some 1st year cuttings in the ground which is red clay, and pretty hard.  No fertilizer or babying.  Some have added about a foot of growth in just over a month!  Go figure.
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Frank
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timclymer

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Posted Reply with quote  #59 
By no means am I an expert but I thought I'd weigh in that the 5-1-1 mix (large batch recipe with added granular limestone for the figs plus some time-release fertilizer) has worked well for me in the batches I mixed up.  I'm watering with an automated drip system though so I don't have to worry too too much about the mix drying out too quickly.

Tim
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susieqz

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Posted Reply with quote  #60 
frank, did you add lime to your mix when you made it? how much more are you adding now?

thanks tim, 5-1-1 would be easiest for me.

pete good tip, but the nearest HD is like 90 miles away. i'll lok next time i'm there.
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susie 
wish list:  nothing. i can't grow cuttings  . right now, i have  6 trees showing no signs of fmv. i'd like to keep it that way' 

i was told that if i couldn't deal with fmv, i should grow peaches, so i got a peach tree to live with my clean figs.
Rob

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Posted Reply with quote  #61 
Suzie,

Here are my thoughts on pine bark in your situation.  I can buy it here for $5 for a 2 cubic bag, which I still consider expensive.  On the other hand, I have many dozens of fig trees, so it adds up.  These are the attributes of pine bark that are sought after and the reason people (myself included) use it in their mix:

1.  Well draining.  You can water and water and water and you won't get any perched water table at the bottom, because the particle size is large enough to allow the water to drain out.  This is important if you get a lot of rain.  However, if you're in new mexico, I doubt that is a concern for you.
2.  Takes a couple years to break down, but "Uses" less nitrogen then hardwood mulch or bark.  The organisms that break down hardwood use a large amount of nitrogen in the process, rendering it unavailable to a growing plant.  This is why it's good mulch, not so great in large quantities in potting soil.  Pine bark breaks down somewhat more slowly due to a higher lignin content, so there's more nitrogen available for the plants.  You may still need to add liquid fertilizer, depending on how well aged the pine bark is.  Mine is not aged or composted at all, so I use a liquid fertilizer every couple weeks or so.  I get enough rain that any excess salt will be washed out, so I don't run any risk of over-fertilization.
3.  Since it's organic, eventually it will provide nutrients/minerals for the plants.  This will take awhile since breakdown is slow, but is one differentiator from a mineral ("gritty") mix.  A mineral mix will never break down, but you will have to add all required nutrients in liquid form on a regular basis. 
4.  Cheap, compared to some of the alternatives.  This one obviously doesn't apply in your case. 

The drawbacks are often a low pH, which needs to be addressed, and the frequent watering required. 

In your dry climate, I would probably use one of the other mixes, since they will hold more water.  If you go out of town for even a few days in the summer, your fig tree might shrivel up.  But if you only have one tree, you could probably put a bunch of those drip watering things in it, and you'd be OK. 

If you are going to use it, make sure you adjust pH if necessary.  I've never had much luck doing this scientifically, as I have trouble reading pH tests or meters, and don't trust them.  So I just add some lime and hope it's enough.  Some people say the pH of the water is more important than that of the soil, whatever that means.  Doesn't make much sense to me, since pH is defined as the acidity of an aqueous solution.  Presumably, the question is, what is the ph of the solution of water that is saturated in the soil or mix.  So even if you add lime, and it temporarily counteracts the acidity of the bark, what happens after the lime washes out?  Then you're back to where you were.  OK, I digress, but that's what I think about when I think about pH.  And if you use anything other than a commercial mix, you should at least think about the pH.  Presumably in a commercial mix, a well paid chemist has already done the science and you get something that's right for most plants, which should be between 6 and 7.  What happens after 6 months in a commercial mix after the additives have washed out?  I also wonder about that.  They want to sell more product, so they have an incentive for the plants to grow well for a period and then stop growing well, thereby creating demand.  OK, now I really digress. 

In summary, if you use the pine bark, make sure you water enough, and watch your pH.  Good luck.
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Rob
Maryland Zone 7
http://rbfigs.webs.com/
nullzero

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Posted Reply with quote  #62 
My vote goes for the 5-1-1 mix, however replace the peat moss with coco coir instead. I am liking a mix close to 40% pine bark 25% coir 25% perlite 10% biochar.
FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #63 
Quote:
Originally Posted by susieqz
frank, did you add lime to your mix when you made it? how much more are you adding now?


No, I simply took a handful of pellets and sprinkled them on top of the soil.  When watered, they melt into the soil instantly.
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Frank
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Posted Reply with quote  #64 
guess im lucky when it comes to ph here in illinois. i mix my compost up, make my soil. never look at ph anymore. i used to all the time when i was growing blueberries but no matter what i do i come out nutral. so i just quit looking. my vdb was up potted 1 month ago into a 3 gal pot from a 1 gal and its got about 2 foot ove new growth. the rdb is growing even faster. some of my figs have put on 5 foot or more of new growth sence april so i think im going to stick with what im doing. seems to be working here atleast.
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Dave Zone 6b Illinois

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susieqz

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Posted Reply with quote  #65 
thank you rob. that was very informative. but how much lime is  needed. 1 gentleman said 1 cup of lime per 5 gals, which is more than i ever thot to use' i looked up the gardening method he uses, but didn't understand it.

i need something fast draining because i keep killing jasmines, as i'm a compulsive over waterer.

YOW, dave!  i'm lucky to get 1 inch/month. i guess i have more problems than i knew!

frank, if the stuff leaches out, do i need to add lime regularly? i use pelleted lime.

sue
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susie 
wish list:  nothing. i can't grow cuttings  . right now, i have  6 trees showing no signs of fmv. i'd like to keep it that way' 

i was told that if i couldn't deal with fmv, i should grow peaches, so i got a peach tree to live with my clean figs.
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