Gary's Top Pot & Fertilizer Plan

R

RedSkip

Well-known member
Plan on making this blend for some potted trees that are in 4x9 tree pots. Open to criticism...

Top Pot Recipe
(35%) Sunshine Mix #4 - Only because I have an extra bale on hand.
(30%) Course Pumice
(20%) Course Pearlite
(5% - 10%) Decomposed Granite
(5% - 10%) Charcoal

The volume of charcoal is dependent on the amount of granite I can find at the HD, likely only 5%. May substitute course sand for the Decomposed Granite if I get in a pinch.

Top Dress Blend:
Mushroom Compost
Azomite powder
Bone Meal
Osmocote+
Citrus Tone

Fertilizer Schedule:
Following MJ's recipe by feeding 3/4 strength Jacks 3-2-1 weekly.

Thanks for looking!
 
That mix looks super light and well-draining, I hope you have an irrigation system to keep up with water needed during the hot spells.
 
DCallahan said:
That mix looks super light and well-draining, I hope you have an irrigation system to keep up with water needed during the hot spells.
Click to expand...
Thanks for asking, plan is to have the drip irrigation system setup on timers... It's 3/4 built out, waiting on tree pots to get up potted to determine the final placement of the emitters.
 
RedSkip said:
Plan on making this blend for some potted trees that are in 4x9 tree pots. Open to criticism...

Top Pot Recipe
(35%) Sunshine Mix #4 - Only because I have an extra bale on hand.
(30%) Course Pumice
(20%) Course Pearlite
(5% - 10%) Decomposed Granite
(5% - 10%) Charcoal

The volume of charcoal is dependent on the amount of granite I can find at the HD, likely only 5%. May substitute course sand for the Decomposed Granite if I get in a pinch.

Top Dress Blend:
Mushroom Compost
Azomite powder
Bone Meal
Osmocote+
Citrus Tone

Fertilizer Schedule:
Following MJ's recipe by feeding 3/4 strength Jacks 3-2-1 weekly.

Thanks for looking!
Click to expand...
I follow Gary's Top Pot Mix as well. However, he calls out for 35% Peat Moss (not SM #4). I use little to none Biochar (charcoal) since Garden Fundamentals uTuber calls it a Myth and his argument makes sense to me. Instead of granite I use washed sand.

I use similar top dress...however I follow RKfigs fertilizer schedule. I'm leary about MJ fertilizing all the time for every watering.
 
DELFIG said:
I follow Gary's Top Pot Mix as well. However, he calls out for 35% Peat Moss (not SM #4). I use little to none Biochar (charcoal) since Garden Fundamentals uTuber calls it a Myth and his argument makes sense to me. Instead of granite I use washed sand.

I use similar top dress...however I follow RKfigs fertilizer schedule. I'm leary about MJ fertilizing all the time for every watering.
Click to expand...
I figured SM #4 is all peat with small pearlite, perhaps I'm misunderstanding the product. I only follow the strength protocol with MJ and not feeding every watering. Watering daily but feeding once a week with water soluble fertilizer.
 
RedSkip said:
Plan on making this blend for some potted trees that are in 4x9 tree pots. Open to criticism...

Top Pot Recipe
(35%) Sunshine Mix #4 - Only because I have an extra bale on hand.
(30%) Course Pumice
(20%) Course Pearlite
(5% - 10%) Decomposed Granite
(5% - 10%) Charcoal

The volume of charcoal is dependent on the amount of granite I can find at the HD, likely only 5%. May substitute course sand for the Decomposed Granite if I get in a pinch.

Top Dress Blend:
Mushroom Compost
Azomite powder
Bone Meal
Osmocote+
Citrus Tone

Fertilizer Schedule:
Following MJ's recipe by feeding 3/4 strength Jacks 3-2-1 weekly.

Thanks for looking!
Click to expand...
This mix looks dope. Keep us apprised of your results.
RedSkip said:
I figured SM #4 is all peat with small pearlite
Click to expand...
That's what I thought, too, but I've never actually used the product. I've never actually seen a bag of it in a store. Pro Mix is hard for me to find as well.....
 
cdh said:
This mix looks dope. Keep us apprised of your results.

That's what I thought, too, but I've never actually used the product. I've never actually seen a bag of it in a store. Pro Mix is hard for me to find as well.....
Click to expand...
I’ve never used ProMix but from what I’ve read SM #4 is very similar. It’s light, fluffy, and inert but with some mycorrhiza.
 
Just so you know that mix calculates out to about 24.5% moisture retention and 75.5% aeration. You will have to water a lot every day. If you often get summer rain, it may not be a big deal.

I’ve made a version of Gary’s Top Pot with Sunshine Mix #4 and it can work, you just need to calculate it as 30% perlite and 70% peat per bale. It is small perlite but still counts.

It is over-fertilized, the osmocote should be sufficient. I would choose between MJ’s or osmocote.
 
RosyPosy said:
Just so you know that mix calculates out to about 24.5% moisture retention and 75.5% aeration. You will have to water a lot every day. If you often get summer rain, it may not be a big deal.

I’ve made a version of Gary’s Top Pot with Sunshine Mix #4 and it can work, you just need to calculate it as 30% perlite and 70% peat per bale. It is small perlite but still counts.

It is over-fertilized, the osmocote should be sufficient. I would choose between MJ’s or osmocote.
Click to expand...
Appreciate the heads up, I’ll add some coir for the moisture retention!
 
RosyPosy said:
Just so you know that mix calculates out to about 24.5% moisture retention and 75.5% aeration. You will have to water a lot every day. If you often get summer rain, it may not be a big deal.

I’ve made a version of Gary’s Top Pot with Sunshine Mix #4 and it can work, you just need to calculate it as 30% perlite and 70% peat per bale. It is small perlite but still counts.

It is over-fertilized, the osmocote should be sufficient. I would choose between MJ’s or osmocote.
Click to expand...
Gary's alternative to Top Pot, Acid Mix, is 50-50 Peat-Perlite, I believe. I think the goal of making that product was to make it lighter and have more water retention. In case anyone wants to know.

@RedSkip , Since you're going to have this on irrigation, it seems like several small waterings throughout the day would be optimal for keeping even moisture.

I'd be interested in seeing how this all turns out for you if you care to check back in with us down the road.
 
RosyPosy said:
Just so you know that mix calculates out to about 24.5% moisture retention and 75.5% aeration. You will have to water a lot every day. If you often get summer rain, it may not be a big deal.

I’ve made a version of Gary’s Top Pot with Sunshine Mix #4 and it can work, you just need to calculate it as 30% perlite and 70% peat per bale. It is small perlite but still counts.

It is over-fertilized, the osmocote should be sufficient. I would choose between MJ’s or osmocote.
Click to expand...
It’s interesting that the fine perlite in Sunshine Mix #4 throws off the ratios, since it makes up roughly 30%. I had to rework my math this morning and remove the course pearlite. I suspect the granite offers more benefits because of its mineral content, so I decided to keep it and remove the coarse perlite.

Recipe below... (48% Retention & 52% Aeration)

1775737273388.png
 
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RedSkip said:
It’s interesting that the fine perlite in Sunshine Mix #4 throws off the ratios, since it makes up roughly 30%. I had to rework my math this morning and remove the course pearlite. I suspect the granite offers more benefits because of its mineral content, so I decided to keep it and remove the coarse perlite.

Recipe below... (48% Retention & 52% Aeration)

View attachment 21362
Click to expand...
I think you’ll be happier with those ratios. Good on you, I hope it all works well!
 
RedSkip said:
It’s interesting that the fine perlite in Sunshine Mix #4 throws off the ratios, since it makes up roughly 30%. I had to rework my math this morning and remove the course pearlite. I suspect the granite offers more benefits because of its mineral content, so I decided to keep it and remove the coarse perlite.

Recipe below... (48% Retention & 52% Aeration)

View attachment 21362
Click to expand...
This mix is essentially a hybrid of Gary's mixes. It has the variety of materials of Top Pot but the retention:aeration ratio of his Acid Mix. Nice work!
 
SnoopyFiggy said:
roughly: retention = "organic" material like coco, peat, compost, etc. Aeration = inert, not living material like perlite, pumice, sand, rock dust etc.
Click to expand...
Yeah, this works. The only things I can think of that don't fit this model are charcoal (which is organic, but essentially inert, and aerates--I think?) and certain clay products that, while inorganic, provide retention. Oh, rice hulls are also a kind of weird in-between. They're organic, though mostly inert silicon, and provide both retention and aeration.
 
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