Home made native potting mix?

[Hornet]

I recently repotted 4 natives, 2 casurina's and 2 melaleuca's, all bar one of the casurina's appear to have died, assuming because of the potting mix, just a regular potting mix. Not a huge fan of commercial potting mixes apart from regular potting mix, seed raising mix and cacti mix, most of the time i just use them as a base from home made mixes. Anyone have a good recipe for natives?

John

[Grant Bowie]

Probably more the wrong time and handling rather than the mix.

Explain what you did and we can help.

Grant

[Pup]

I agree with Grant, most natives are not fussy as to soil mixes, having said that most prefer, a slightly Acid mix that is free draining.


Pup

[Hornet]

Repoted about a week ago, minimal root disturbance, just teased the roots slightly and dropped on to a larger pot. Gradually the leaves started turning grey/green but not dropping and eventually brown

[Bretts]

Is it really too early though? I thought you had started repotting a few melaleuca's as well Pup

That soil sounds pretty cloggy to me maybe too much root removed as well as not quite the right time then in a wet soil. But really just grasping straws till we get more info?

Sorry Posted before last post

[Hornet]

i'm sure i've never been fussy with what time of year to repot before with eucs and other natives, was also never fussy with mix, just regular potting mix. Possibly these species just dont like being repotted at this time

[Bretts]

You have two of the best in Grant and Pup helping ya here Hornet so take my advice with a grain of salt but often a big factor is after care. It sounds hard to kill them with what you did so all I can think of is that something went haywall after the repot?

[63pmp]

When you say "just regular potting mix" what brand did you use? Did you sieve it?

I ask this because potting mixes in Aust all contain plant pathogens, nearly all of them have low air filled porosity. Some have excessve salt build up from added controlled release fertilizers like osmocote. Combine all three; pathogens, low air filled porosity and excess nutrients, and plants will die very quickly.

Paul

[kcpoole]

Earlier this year ( mid Autumn), I had 2 Natives, 1 M. decussata, and a Callistimon both cark it afer repotting and both for no apparent reason.

I did root work on both, but not too much I thought, Both were healthy. Both were repotted into Diatomite / Zeolite ( which they were already growing in).
They got Seasol in watering forthe next few weeks, but just did not Grow again

Strange thay were

Ken

[Grant Bowie]

These days I tend to pot natives for the first time once it has started to warm up; say October down here. Even if growth has started.

I usually trim the tree as necessary and then leave for a week or two. The buds get a head start and then i pot.

If it is a repot they are less fussy as they already have a good root system.

Grant

[Pup]

I have been re-potting during the last month and will keep going with trees that need it. Some have popped all their leaves other still to start. Bretts has said it after care is always a priority.
As for standard potting mix, never used it on its own always get rid of the large particles, and added carnarvon river gravel. You will have to find something else as I don't think you can get that in Qld.

Without actually seeing the plants, we are only trying an educated guess.

Cheers Pup

[Hornet]

I use brunnings brang potting mix (the dirt cheap stuff) and searles premium potting mix, depending what i'm growing. Never had any issues before and never sifted it in the past. I normally add sand, perlite, coco peat in varying quantities depending what its for but this time just used it straught which is what i normally do for natives

[Craig]

What about a picture Hornet ,of the affected trees/ soil

[Hornet]

I'll get one up sortly

[Craig]

This is a fantastic thread- viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6714&hilit=walter+pall#p76298 - ,take what is said and apply it to your way of growing, and you will like the results, ...