Perfect timing on this video - I have some pots I was about to plant with foxfarm mixed with the cactus mix stuff - I’ll change that up for the ones I haven’t planted yet! Thanks so much!
I just created a mock up of his mix. I didn't have sand so I put in vermiculite and Maifan stones for drainage. In less than two weeks I had to repot two plants because the roots had grown out of the potholes. They were only five-inch pots but that was amazing. I put a tag on them yesterday to time how long it takes. I will not use vermiculite, and I will try to find decent sand. I ordered some Bonsai mix with different stones just in case I can find the right type of sand. The sands I ordered were potting sand and they turned to cement when wet and I could not blend my mix. I have had them in bottles for over two weeks and they are still wet from when I washed them to get out the extra stuff. Yes you can wash sand with borax.
Gary’s videos are a huuuuuge wealth of knowledge. He’s been in commercial agriculture industry, has owned and operated a small successful nursery and grows at home so his knowledge base is so balanced to just growing things well. Not trying to sell BS fast fixes because he knows a 10 year customer is so much more valuable than a one time cash in. There’s a lot of either lemming culture just following blind in farming mixed in with stout unyielding in ways. Gary has a happy median of using what works even if it strays from industry norms. Glad to get him and his nursery any and all good exposure because I’ve been going there for about three years now and they’re a model of consistency and knowledge! Good selection of staple crops while also having some of the tropicals and also has a knowledgeable passionate staff!
Also despite how much I’ve listened to Gary he still teaches me new things. pH matters more to chemical fertilizers as they’re more dependent on the ionic bonds than the biological process organics get broken down in.
Gary is arguably the biggest hidden gem in the plant nursery world working with knowledge and information. He described why in a few weeks I lost several Citrus, had problems growing everything other than tomatoes, and made everything make sense.
Thank you for the great video. The high light is the “Top Pot” recipe at 15:40. Gary’s Top Pot Recipe Perlite 20% Pumice 30% Sand 10% Peat Moss 35% Biochar 5%
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT how do you make a 20gallon Top Pot with his ratios ? would it be Perlite 20% =4gallon Pumice 30% =6gallon Sand 10% = 2 gallon Peat Moss 35% =7 gallon Biochar 5% = 1 gallon
Thanks for this. You have me rethinking my potting soil now. All of my trellises have fox farm but now that I've seen this video, I need to reevaluate. What do you recommend doing to replace the soil? For example, slowly dig out the fox farm mix and replace it with what you and Gary recommended? Any help/recommendations is greatly appreciated.
Fox Farm is great for a top dress. Marijuana growers love it, but they change it out every year... So short term great, long term bad. Gary recommends a full repot and said you can't fix messed up soil. Just got to start over. I'd say it's not urgent, but start watching your plants and if they start to look unhealthy... Change it up.
Gary's top pot is suppose to be a forever soil. When the peat decomposes, the soil level shouldn't drop much but what material will have the role of holding water? Would it make sense to add some vermiculite since that won't decompose and it holds water?
Grafting Dragon Fruit and Epic Gardening recommend Ocean Forest or Happy Frog. Both are mainly compost. You are better off using Sunshine Mix #4, pumice, and sand.
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT thank you! I was just thinking of top dressing with fox farm like Gary said. So, sounds like either one of those would work. They have one called Strawberry Fields for flowering and fruiting. I might try that cause I have some.
Cool video Paul. We are fortunate to have Gary M. right in our backyard, he is so knowledgeable. Paul, do you know where you can get perlite, pumice, charcoal, etc at a discount?
Thanks, I agree! I go to my local hydroponics store. I can also find it at many gardening centers too. Peat Moss from Lowes is my favorite. Call the closest hydroponics shop as see what they have.
Very informative video. Can cinders (red or black) be used as a component of a potting mixture? They are a bit more dense than pumice but are abundant here in Hawai'i. Also does it matter if one uses black volcanic sand or white coral based sand. I will save my foxfarm for top dressing from now on. thanks so much for sharing Gary's knowledge
Thanks. I would assume cinders would work, check with a few local nurseries. I believe the mineral based black sand would be better. Course is what I prefer. I feel lucky that Gary agreed to this interview.
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT What kind of sand do you use? I ordered from two vendors on Amazon and the sand was potting sand and it was absolutely too dense. Turned hard like wet cement. Almost three weeks later, the jugs I had them in is still wet and I live in the south.
So you mentioned quickcrete which I thought of using too but I noticed it has a prop 65 warning for containing silicia I know plants like silicia but I wonder if it’s at a toxic level?
I can’t find the one I get online. It’s the washed sand that specifically says for use in potting soil. Nurseries sell it too, but it’s cheaper at Home Depot. The warning is not to breathe the dust. It’s the same for pumice and perlite
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT I’ve never seen that I’ll look for it I was talking about the all purpose gravel it looks like pea gravel and it’s really really cheap which is awesome
Good question, probably if it's been washed really well., but I'm not sure. Also, make sure the grains are not too fine. Bigger the better in my opinion. I use the washed stuff from Home Depot that says it's safe to use in garden beds.
Do NOT use briquettes. Look at the bags of chunk charcoal and make sure nothing has been added to make it burn more evenly… (briquettes have petroleum products in them).
🌎❤️🕊😊 😊 Hello! Thank You So Much For Sharing Your Skills! This is My First Time Watching You On UA-cam Videos. I Really Don’t Know About Dragon Fruit. I would like to learn more. I hope you will make more Videos specially people do not know how to grow dragon fruit. Like me! I am moving to Florida Two , Three years. I would love to grow dragon fruit in Florida. Thank You So Much! God Bless. Stay Safe!
Thats what I do...it seems to work..but I might change it up a little. Charcoal is a new one for me..I'll try that in there. It looks like I'm getting close to the proper soil.
I don't disagree that sand will last the longest but I'm not convinced it is the best for dragonfruit. If it was so good, then why are my dragonfruit growing in DG alone not taking off like my potting soil mixture? My experience is that DF loves high nitrogen soil. It's likes soil that that is moist, but not soaking wet. Something that holds water for a while then dries out mostly. Perhaps adding more sand would be beneficial, but the more sand the less nutrients? Not saying sand is bad, heck I might add some in to reduce costs, but it does not have the moisture retention of potting soil and coco coir. I'm not adding coir because they plants love it, I'm adding it to help hold in moisture without trapping too much, while still allowing for oxygen. As far as peat moss, well it's great too, but does not hold as much water as coir The combo of both should be great. Let us know how your new media works. I think whatever you decide on it will eventually need to be changed out, or holes cut to allow the roots to grow into the ground. My 2 year old plants are already root bound in those 20 gallon pots. I'm thinking with mostly Sand you will need to water more often and rely more on fertilizers for nutrients. I'm no expert but just looking at the science behind it. As space plants, glass makes sense, but the experiments are probably much more similar to using hydroponics.
It depends on the type of sand in my opinion. Peat moss has much of the traits that dragons like. I think around 10-15% coarse sand is good for dragons. As I pull apart my pots, I am noticed how much the roots bonded to coconut coir chunks. They really like the chunky chips, so I will add about 5% to my version 3 soil.. I like it so far.
Yes I was thinking the same exact thing, regarding having to Water it and Fertilize the dragon fruits more because it doesnt hold water and nutrients as well as a regular potting mix. Im also thinking about the Beneficial Micro organisms and Fungi that would normally be found in organic potting mix that I dont think mostly sandy soil would be able to provide in the same capacity. Would Love to hear your thoughts or Gary's on this!!!😊
Bigger grains. Stay away from Playground sand. I use Quickrete silica based sand from HD or Lowes. Read this…mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/10/exactly-what-is-and-where-do-i-find-coarse-sand-for-rooting-cuttings/
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT oh I see you say you already used it I think it’s a great and cheap material it’s between sand and pumice but I just didn’t know what to think of the prop 65 warning
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT Thank you Paul. I live right next to the beach and I always wondered about growing in Sand. I think I will do this sand/ compost combo moving forward. Now to calculate how much sand I need for about 500 30 gal pots LOL
Been a gardener all my life. Have not been sold on potting mixes. Seems to me that you would have to put in nutrients anyway. So why not start with some good old garden soil. 1/3 soil. My soil is super clayeee and dries to a rock. 1/3 compost. Store bought $8/3cf 1/3 sandy loam. This is hard to find.
The challenge for dragon fruit is something long term 6+ years if possible. I'm having much more success using a ratio similar to Gary's Best Top Pot and agree with Gary's methods. I'm sure your ratios will last several years and even longer with plenty of worm castings.
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT mine is a poor man’s ratio which is accessible and doable to many amateur gardeners like me. I appreciate new info you guys have shared. My son likes the gopher
anyway, no top pot available here. no pumice available here. coir not that great. so, besides adding some paver sand to and worm castings, to happy frog and ocean harvest, what do we use now? according to your studies.
Perfect timing on this video - I have some pots I was about to plant with foxfarm mixed with the cactus mix stuff - I’ll change that up for the ones I haven’t planted yet! Thanks so much!
Thanks 😊
Damn same here! Dumping those pots now!
I just created a mock up of his mix. I didn't have sand so I put in vermiculite and Maifan stones for drainage. In less than two weeks I had to repot two plants because the roots had grown out of the potholes. They were only five-inch pots but that was amazing. I put a tag on them yesterday to time how long it takes. I will not use vermiculite, and I will try to find decent sand. I ordered some Bonsai mix with different stones just in case I can find the right type of sand. The sands I ordered were potting sand and they turned to cement when wet and I could not blend my mix. I have had them in bottles for over two weeks and they are still wet from when I washed them to get out the extra stuff. Yes you can wash sand with borax.
Gary’s videos are a huuuuuge wealth of knowledge. He’s been in commercial agriculture industry, has owned and operated a small successful nursery and grows at home so his knowledge base is so balanced to just growing things well. Not trying to sell BS fast fixes because he knows a 10 year customer is so much more valuable than a one time cash in. There’s a lot of either lemming culture just following blind in farming mixed in with stout unyielding in ways. Gary has a happy median of using what works even if it strays from industry norms.
Glad to get him and his nursery any and all good exposure because I’ve been going there for about three years now and they’re a model of consistency and knowledge! Good selection of staple crops while also having some of the tropicals and also has a knowledgeable passionate staff!
Also despite how much I’ve listened to Gary he still teaches me new things. pH matters more to chemical fertilizers as they’re more dependent on the ionic bonds than the biological process organics get broken down in.
Yes sir! Well said
，
This video reallly needs a LOT more views! Going to share it around. Thanks for a truly eye-opening video! Grow the way Mother Nature intended.
Yes, Thanks for watching
Gary is arguably the biggest hidden gem in the plant nursery world working with knowledge and information.
He described why in a few weeks I lost several Citrus, had problems growing everything other than tomatoes, and made everything make sense.
Yes. you are 100% correct
Great information. Keep on the good work Paul
I appreciate the kind words.
Great info
35% peat moss
30% pumice
20% perlite1
10% sand
5% charcoal
Thanks!
Where are the nutrients from? Fertilizer? Top dress of compost?
@@geeyoupee fertilizing/composing/natural mulching on top
The charcoal, can I use lump charcoal bought from walmart ?
@@nokianx400 I don't think so, that might have added ingredients that aren't good for the plants. The charcoal to use is usually labeled biochar.
Gary's knowledge literally changed my life. I will never buy composted potting soil again.
Thank you for the great video. The high light is the “Top Pot” recipe at 15:40.
Gary’s Top Pot Recipe
Perlite 20%
Pumice 30%
Sand 10%
Peat Moss 35%
Biochar 5%
Thanks!
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT how do you make a 20gallon Top Pot with his ratios ? would it be
Perlite 20% =4gallon
Pumice 30% =6gallon
Sand 10% = 2 gallon
Peat Moss 35% =7 gallon
Biochar 5% = 1 gallon
@@argetni119 did you ever get an answer to this question? I need to know as well
Great stuff Paul! Sand is the KING.
Yes, just make sure it’s the correct type of sand that clearly states it’s safe for use in potting soil. Washed is important too in my opinion.
So Medium sized granulars from KwikCrete from big box store are fine? Just not the Ultra fine play sand right?
Really enjoyed this. Thank you. Our home gardening efforts are successful b/c of Gary. He’s a master 💕
So true! Thanks for watching.
Amazing and very informative thank you.......
Thanks 🙏
One of your best videos
I agree!
Estaba apunto transplantar y este video es oro para mi, gracias por compartir información, algunos se la guardan 😂 gracias
Great work!
Thank you 🙏
Thanks for this. You have me rethinking my potting soil now. All of my trellises have fox farm but now that I've seen this video, I need to reevaluate. What do you recommend doing to replace the soil? For example, slowly dig out the fox farm mix and replace it with what you and Gary recommended? Any help/recommendations is greatly appreciated.
Fox Farm is great for a top dress. Marijuana growers love it, but they change it out every year... So short term great, long term bad. Gary recommends a full repot and said you can't fix messed up soil. Just got to start over. I'd say it's not urgent, but start watching your plants and if they start to look unhealthy... Change it up.
@@RAREDRAGONFRUITHow much % of Top soil relative to main growing medium? Just 10- 25% Compost/ Organic Top Soil?
Oh nice. I liked this one before watching it
Lol
This is mind-blowing! Now I have something new to research and experiment with 👍
Great to hear!
Thanks, great 👍🏼 information!! 🤙🏼🤙🏼
Thanks for watching.
Thank you! Wish I had viewed this before potting my plants. Preemptive Happy New Year!
Me too! I've been repotting my pots for the last 2 months.
Nice video,thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching
very helpful and appreciate sharing to us. is liquid fertilizer good for container or potted plants?
Yes, it works, but I prefer using Dr. Earth Bud and Bloom. I use 1-2 handfuls and have excellent results.
yes yes.... yes...
🐉🐉🐉
Gary's top pot is suppose to be a forever soil. When the peat decomposes, the soil level shouldn't drop much but what material will have the role of holding water? Would it make sense to add some vermiculite since that won't decompose and it holds water?
Pumice holds water
@@hennesseyme9112 perlite and pumice don't really hold water from what I've read.
Awesome..this is an awesome video ..this really explains a lot.
Thanks Technoraptor
Which Fox Farm product are you referring to? They have several.
Grafting Dragon Fruit and Epic Gardening recommend Ocean Forest or Happy Frog.
Both are mainly compost. You are better off using Sunshine Mix #4, pumice, and sand.
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT thank you! I was just thinking of top dressing with fox farm like Gary said. So, sounds like either one of those would work. They have one called Strawberry Fields for flowering and fruiting. I might try that cause I have some.
So Paul are you going to mix everything up. Or are you going to layer materials. Or do a little of both.
I mix it up. A cheap and easy mix is Sunshine Mix #4 and pumice. It’s a video we did recently.
will silica sand for fire pit work too?
Not sure, I like coarser sand and use paver sand or washed sand from Home Depot.
Cool video Paul. We are fortunate to have Gary M. right in our backyard, he is so knowledgeable.
Paul, do you know where you can get perlite, pumice, charcoal, etc at a discount?
Thanks, I agree! I go to my local hydroponics store. I can also find it at many gardening centers too. Peat Moss from Lowes is my favorite. Call the closest hydroponics shop as see what they have.
I have been watching for a while now and Im very impressed. I'd like to buy cuttings are there any for sale?
Gary sells some and they had some on sale!
Nice video, can please provide your source of bio-char? I use to get carbon at Armstrong Nursery however they have been out for 6 months.
Sure. Here you go! spvsoils.com/our-products/#bag
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT thank you!
Very informative video. Can cinders (red or black) be used as a component of a potting mixture? They are a bit more dense than pumice but are abundant here in Hawai'i. Also does it matter if one uses black volcanic sand or white coral based sand. I will save my foxfarm for top dressing from now on. thanks so much for sharing Gary's knowledge
Thanks. I would assume cinders would work, check with a few local nurseries. I believe the mineral based black sand would be better. Course is what I prefer. I feel lucky that Gary agreed to this interview.
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT thanks Paul. I learn so much from all your videos and experience.
Red cinder is toxic to all plants.
@@danielnaberhaus5337 Daniel thank you, I will stay away from the red cinders,
According to Gary. Does he recommend perlite no.3 instead of perlite no.2 ?
Not sure, I like Perlite #4 the most.
Use what you have.
Do you know where I can buy charcoal in Southern California?
Bio Char? I like the black Owl brand and get it in Escondido
Am I able to use those suggestions mixtures in the ground?
Yes, it will help drainage and allow the roots to spread in the potting soil faster.
Was his top pot the best soil you tried for your dragonfruit? Also how did the one planted in pure sand do?
I make my own and it’s similar to his ratios, sand is excellent! Sunshine mix #4 and sand is great too
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT could you please give me your potting recipe for dragonfruit.
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT What kind of sand do you use? I ordered from two vendors on Amazon and the sand was potting sand and it was absolutely too dense. Turned hard like wet cement. Almost three weeks later, the jugs I had them in is still wet and I live in the south.
So you mentioned quickcrete which I thought of using too but I noticed it has a prop 65 warning for containing silicia I know plants like silicia but I wonder if it’s at a toxic level?
I can’t find the one I get online. It’s the washed sand that specifically says for use in potting soil. Nurseries sell it too, but it’s cheaper at Home Depot. The warning is not to breathe the dust. It’s the same for pumice and perlite
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT I’ve never seen that I’ll look for it
I was talking about the all purpose gravel it looks like pea gravel and it’s really really cheap which is awesome
@@THROTTLEOLOGY that would probably be fine, I’d wash it really well
I just use 75%compost and 20% sand 5%cocopeat.....best mix i tried so far..... Every 30 days i use bone meal.....
Be careful with compost, especially if its from ground up dead trees.
Would love to hear an Update on your mix @monodolsuraj5661
He said to never put compost on the roots. If you are using it on top then it's ok.
Great topic and video. Personally I use organic coffee grounds, fish leftovers, chicken manure, cow dung, wormcastings
Nice. I recommend keeping it on the top for the long term.
Can we substitute the sand with beach sand?
Good question, probably if it's been washed really well., but I'm not sure. Also, make sure the grains are not too fine. Bigger the better in my opinion. I use the washed stuff from Home Depot that says it's safe to use in garden beds.
No, too much salt in beach sand
That is illegal.
Could you use bbq charcoal from a bag?
Good question... I use this at the bottom off the webpage. It's much different.: spvsoils.com/our-products/#bag
Do NOT use briquettes. Look at the bags of chunk charcoal and make sure nothing has been added to make it burn more evenly… (briquettes have petroleum products in them).
No, get biochar or activated charcoal.
🌎❤️🕊😊
😊 Hello! Thank You So Much For Sharing Your Skills! This is My First Time Watching You On UA-cam Videos. I Really Don’t Know About Dragon Fruit. I would like to learn more. I hope you will make more Videos specially people do not know how to grow dragon fruit. Like me!
I am moving to Florida Two ,
Three years. I would love to grow dragon fruit in Florida.
Thank You So Much!
God Bless.
Stay Safe!
Thanks for the idea. I will work on an dragon fruit introduction video this summer.
Using cement sand /coarse sand ?
Get the sand by the cement in big box stores.
The sand should say it’s safe for potting soil or garden beds
Donde consigo el fertilizante que sigo el señor
Gary M. lo vende el fertilizante
Dr. Earth Flower Girl Bud and Bloom
I use a soil mix that I get here on my island and boiler ash
Nice!
Would compost tea solve this problem?
It may, but it would probably need more over time.
Can’t you do a mix of sand and fox farm?
Thats what I do...it seems to work..but I might change it up a little. Charcoal is a new one for me..I'll try that in there. It looks like I'm getting close to the proper soil.
Keep Fox Farms on the top. It is good for a few years, but changes overtime.
Type of sand?
Silica based, larger grains the better. Home Depot Sells some by the gravel and concrete. It says its used for potting soil and is washed.
Copilot A1 search said coco coir takes longer to decompose than peat moss, so it should be better.
It becomes more acidic as it breaks down and it breaks down fast.
I don't disagree that sand will last the longest but I'm not convinced it is the best for dragonfruit. If it was so good, then why are my dragonfruit growing in DG alone not taking off like my potting soil mixture?
My experience is that DF loves high nitrogen soil. It's likes soil that that is moist, but not soaking wet. Something that holds water for a while then dries out mostly. Perhaps adding more sand would be beneficial, but the more sand the less nutrients?
Not saying sand is bad, heck I might add some in to reduce costs, but it does not have the moisture retention of potting soil and coco coir. I'm not adding coir because they plants love it, I'm adding it to help hold in moisture without trapping too much, while still allowing for oxygen.
As far as peat moss, well it's great too, but does not hold as much water as coir The combo of both should be great.
Let us know how your new media works. I think whatever you decide on it will eventually need to be changed out, or holes cut to allow the roots to grow into the ground. My 2 year old plants are already root bound in those 20 gallon pots.
I'm thinking with mostly Sand you will need to water more often and rely more on fertilizers for nutrients. I'm no expert but just looking at the science behind it.
As space plants, glass makes sense, but the experiments are probably much more similar to using hydroponics.
It depends on the type of sand in my opinion. Peat moss has much of the traits that dragons like. I think around 10-15% coarse sand is good for dragons. As I pull apart my pots, I am noticed how much the roots bonded to coconut coir chunks. They really like the chunky chips, so I will add about 5% to my version 3 soil.. I like it so far.
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT Find a good source that is budget friendly?
Yes I was thinking the same exact thing, regarding having to Water it and Fertilize the dragon fruits more because it doesnt hold water and nutrients as well as a regular potting mix. Im also thinking about the Beneficial Micro organisms and Fungi that would normally be found in organic potting mix that I dont think mostly sandy soil would be able to provide in the same capacity. Would Love to hear your thoughts or Gary's on this!!!😊
12:16 go watch Charles Dowding and say that again
They should have a discussion.
What kind of sand? Beach sand or river sand?
Great question.
Bigger grains. Stay away from Playground sand. I use Quickrete silica based sand from HD or Lowes. Read this…mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/10/exactly-what-is-and-where-do-i-find-coarse-sand-for-rooting-cuttings/
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT oh I see you say you already used it I think it’s a great and cheap material it’s between sand and pumice but I just didn’t know what to think of the prop 65 warning
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT its 4 dollars too which is awesome!!!
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT Thank you Paul. I live right next to the beach and I always wondered about growing in Sand. I think I will do this sand/ compost combo moving forward. Now to calculate how much sand I need for about 500 30 gal pots LOL
Good 👍
Thanks
Been a gardener all my life. Have not been sold on potting mixes. Seems to me that you would have to put in nutrients anyway. So why not start with some good old garden soil.
1/3 soil. My soil is super clayeee and dries to a rock.
1/3 compost. Store bought $8/3cf
1/3 sandy loam. This is hard to find.
The challenge for dragon fruit is something long term 6+ years if possible. I'm having much more success using a ratio similar to Gary's Best Top Pot and agree with Gary's methods. I'm sure your ratios will last several years and even longer with plenty of worm castings.
@@RAREDRAGONFRUIT mine is a poor man’s ratio which is accessible and doable to many amateur gardeners like me. I appreciate new info you guys have shared. My son likes the gopher
anyway, no top pot available here. no pumice available here. coir not that great. so, besides adding some paver sand to and worm castings, to happy frog and ocean harvest, what do we use now? according to your studies.
Sand, peat moss, volcanic rock, decomposed granite, sand safe for potting soil. Top dress with fox farms.
How is FF available but not pumice?
lmao just use sand.
Camera guy... DON'T TALK!!!!
I'll relay the message
Scott's voice is fine! He's a great grower too.