Ever evolving mix, totally relatable. I use a similar aroid mix, but experienced nutrient lock out from the coco coir/ husk. Did some research and found that if not buffered, the coco will suck up all the calcium and magnesium leaving little to none for the plant. I've given CalMag supplement to existing potted plants til deficiency reversed and have begun rinsing/ hydrating my coco coir with CalMag to prevent future nutrient lock out from my aroid mix. The more you know 🌠 😹
Hey Chris! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with an aroid mix. I am glad that you mentioned that creating an aroid mix is an art, not a science, and should vary based on the plant that you are planting. Thanks for sharing.
I am new to growing aroids, the first ones will be arriving on Monday - Anthurium clarinervium and Anthurium veitchii seedlings. I grow a large variety of plants (orchids, succulents, non-desert cacti, African violets...) so I have many different media available for growing. Would you advise starting these young plants in straight sphagnum moss?
I tend to agree with you but I have one thing I have noticed since I have plenty of plants. I have noticed that since I have repotted with a chunky mix my plants are not growing as fast as before. A good soil with perlite and barks are enough in my opinion
@@prettyingreen I would say that I keep more or less the same frequency as before, around every 10 days fertilized with Formulex. But my question would be, in nurseries shops they also grow Monstera Thai only in coco and yet they grow fine. That's why I am a bit confused even if what you say in your video makes sense.
I wish I had seen this video before I did the 3-2-1 Aroid mix which killed my PPP 😩. But glad to see your honest opinion. Hope you make a video showing how to make a better Aroid mix aka a upgraded version please or a good Aroid mix for PPP which I’ve gotten into a lot, they’re beautiful plants 🙏👍🏼☺️.
We still use 3-2-1 Aroid mix on a bunch of our plants! It’s all about how much water you add into the medium! But every root ball is different and is best to adjust based upon health, size, plant type etc 😄
Hey Chris! Thanks for all your great videos, I just binge watched about 30 of them. I got a question if you don't mind. How would you change the mix for a Monstera large form? And how for a Alocasia Black Zebrina? Thanks a lot and keep the great videos coming!
Hey Canis! Thanks for watching the videos 😃 Large form Monstera works really well in this mix. Probably closer to 5/2/1 ratios of coco husk/perlite/coco coir. Or even 5/3/1-really letting those roots dry out, avoiding the water holding ingredients. Alocasia would be closer to the 3/2/1, needing to hold onto more moisture than Monstera, and keeping the humidity higher! Hope this helps 🤗
That's absolutely right.. I use extra chunky like leca balls, #3 perlite & coarse fir bark when I'm dealing with thick rooted around like monstera. That's pretty it: standard 321 mix for most aroids & the coarser mix for monsteras.
There have another issue, which is using perlite in potting mix. I tend to have a habit to flood my pot medium from time to time, so that can control pests growing, and wash out excessive fertilizer. When flood the pot which using potting mix with perlite, the perlite will be floated on top of the medium, and the distribution become unequal, perlite no longer sit in middle of soil to provide the aeration as intended. I definitely not going to perform re-potting every time I flood my pot.
I'd recommend more perlite, and chunky pumice - a lot of garden centers & hardware stores sell bags of fine or course pumice - Perlite does the 'fine' job best - so if you can, get yourself some course or chunky pumice.
@@simonjohnston9488 i did try some "seramis clay" chunks that are very very similar to pumice, and that i had lying around, so far my albo seems to like it :)
Use an air stone in the water with an A B fertilizer if you have roots ua-cam.com/video/utHZPvZMhos/v-deo.html prettyingreen.com/products/leca-kit?_pos=1&_sid=895a364cb&_ss=r
I followed your 3-2-1 Aroid mix and it killed my PPP 😩. What you mentioned in this video is very true. Hope to see you make a video with an upgraded Aroid mix ☺️👌
💚 Informative video Chris. Isn’t this mix proportion basically a semi hydro mix? I’m using a similar mix, and using about half strength nutrients. Wonder if you’re feeding at every watering or not? Maybe not if you’re going with slow release fertilizer vs liquid nutrients for this airoid mix recipe. *On another note, I would love to see a video on using air stones and/or pumps- you link a pump on your Amazon list below. I tried this, and the stalks of my Adansonii Laniata molded out!
Yes this is basically a semi hydro / soil-less mix. Using half strength you should be good feeding at every watering. Just maybe every 3rd or 5th, water with just plain water! Odd to hear about the rotting even with the airstone! Maybe not enough air for that volume of water. We’re you putting h202 or bleach in the water?
@@prettyingreen I only put a ph adjusted nutrient solution in the water; silica-Protekt, Foliage Pro, and Azos. Right at the point the stalk petrified from the water’s surface, it molded there. I did a bleach soak, and returned it to the water but to no avail. I lost the battle. Same thing with my mature Cuprea. Perhaps I should have only exposed the roots themselves to the water, and avoid the stalk making contact with the mist from rolling water.
@@prettyingreenwelp I thought I was clever adding a little bit of a tropical soil to my aroid mix. I’m using 30% coco chips, 30% charcoal, 30% perlite, and about 10% soil with sand, peat moss and lava rock. I was growing my monstera In water (my aquarium) but it was getting too close to the ceiling. I just repotted it in the above mix with a wooden pole behind it. How screwed is this plant? And can I bottom water it with the shoe string method I have set up? Or should it be top watered to ensure all the substrate material gets wet? Thanks for any help. Really hope I don’t kill my monsteras
Is it best to keep all the ingredients separate and only mix as needed, or is it fine to mix a big batch all together and use it as needed over time ( maybe months)? Thanks so much for your amazing videos!
No, we don't get Pythium from peat moss. In fact adding peat moss to a mix increases its resistance to Pythium, although it does not prevent it completely. And no, there is no need to oven sterilize peat moss. Nothing harmful for our soils grows in it. The anecdotes mentioned here are likely from just those persons crafting too-wet of a mix for their conditions (easy to do with peat), which is actually what led to their root rot
Ever evolving mix, totally relatable. I use a similar aroid mix, but experienced nutrient lock out from the coco coir/ husk. Did some research and found that if not buffered, the coco will suck up all the calcium and magnesium leaving little to none for the plant. I've given CalMag supplement to existing potted plants til deficiency reversed and have begun rinsing/ hydrating my coco coir with CalMag to prevent future nutrient lock out from my aroid mix. The more you know 🌠 😹
Hey Chris! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with an aroid mix. I am glad that you mentioned that creating an aroid mix is an art, not a science, and should vary based on the plant that you are planting. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely! I feel like I’m always changing it-and I even vary what I’m putting in each pot depending on stage of rooting etc. Definitely an art 😅
I got excited about stepping up my soil game and wouldn't you know I put way too much coir. I killed two plants doing it.
Thanks for this
I am new to growing aroids, the first ones will be arriving on Monday - Anthurium clarinervium and Anthurium veitchii seedlings. I grow a large variety of plants (orchids, succulents, non-desert cacti, African violets...) so I have many different media available for growing. Would you advise starting these young plants in straight sphagnum moss?
Are orchid barks not good for aroids?
I tend to agree with you but I have one thing I have noticed since I have plenty of plants. I have noticed that since I have repotted with a chunky mix my plants are not growing as fast as before. A good soil with perlite and barks are enough in my opinion
Hmmm are they being fertilized? Are you waiting for a dryer mix before watering? My LECA still out grows the aroid mix, but only by maybe 20%
@@prettyingreen I would say that I keep more or less the same frequency as before, around every 10 days fertilized with Formulex. But my question would be, in nurseries shops they also grow Monstera Thai only in coco and yet they grow fine. That's why I am a bit confused even if what you say in your video makes sense.
Amazing video!!! Keep them coming
Thank you! Will do!
Can you explain baking the mix to sanitize the 321 mix?
Thanks for the tips!
Always, Carol! 🤗
I also sterilize my bark, and any organic matter. Smells a bit but prevents the nastys.
Thank you for sharing ....
🤗
I wish I had seen this video before I did the 3-2-1 Aroid mix which killed my PPP 😩. But glad to see your honest opinion. Hope you make a video showing how to make a better Aroid mix aka a upgraded version please or a good Aroid mix for PPP which I’ve gotten into a lot, they’re beautiful plants 🙏👍🏼☺️.
We still use 3-2-1 Aroid mix on a bunch of our plants! It’s all about how much water you add into the medium! But every root ball is different and is best to adjust based upon health, size, plant type etc 😄
@@prettyingreen ahhh ok 👍🏼. Love your video keep them
Coming! I always check to see if you posted any new videos! 🥰👌 Thank you
I’d recommend adding half the coco coir and maybe adding handful of tree bark.
Hey Chris! Thanks for all your great videos, I just binge watched about 30 of them. I got a question if you don't mind. How would you change the mix for a Monstera large form? And how for a Alocasia Black Zebrina? Thanks a lot and keep the great videos coming!
Hey Canis! Thanks for watching the videos 😃 Large form Monstera works really well in this mix. Probably closer to 5/2/1 ratios of coco husk/perlite/coco coir. Or even 5/3/1-really letting those roots dry out, avoiding the water holding ingredients. Alocasia would be closer to the 3/2/1, needing to hold onto more moisture than Monstera, and keeping the humidity higher! Hope this helps 🤗
That's absolutely right.. I use extra chunky like leca balls, #3 perlite & coarse fir bark when I'm dealing with thick rooted around like monstera. That's pretty it: standard 321 mix for most aroids & the coarser mix for monsteras.
Jeeze your video blew my mind. I learned what exactly I thought about doing.
There have another issue, which is using perlite in potting mix. I tend to have a habit to flood my pot medium from time to time, so that can control pests growing, and wash out excessive fertilizer. When flood the pot which using potting mix with perlite, the perlite will be floated on top of the medium, and the distribution become unequal, perlite no longer sit in middle of soil to provide the aeration as intended. I definitely not going to perform re-potting every time I flood my pot.
You can change perlite with pumice or lava rock if your area has them available
Use leca too
Thanks for this informative video 😊 I thought I’m tripping after seeing your lamps move in the background 😂
Hahahaa yeah it usually trips people out. But yup, they’re on a light mover!
what would you recommend in stead of coconut husks ? i live in a country where its sadly rather difficult to come across husks
I'd recommend more perlite, and chunky pumice - a lot of garden centers & hardware stores sell bags of fine or course pumice - Perlite does the 'fine' job best - so if you can, get yourself some course or chunky pumice.
@@simonjohnston9488 i did try some "seramis clay" chunks that are very very similar to pumice, and that i had lying around, so far my albo seems to like it :)
What of coco chios are you using?.🙏
prettyingreen.com/products/coco-husk?_pos=1&_sid=d3cecd9e4&_ss=r
Please let me know what I have to put in the water for the Leca because I put some plants in leca and they all dried up
Use an air stone in the water with an A B fertilizer if you have roots ua-cam.com/video/utHZPvZMhos/v-deo.html
prettyingreen.com/products/leca-kit?_pos=1&_sid=895a364cb&_ss=r
I followed your 3-2-1 Aroid mix and it killed my PPP 😩. What you mentioned in this video is very true. Hope to see you make a video with an upgraded Aroid mix ☺️👌
I buy Foliage Focus Will that do
Can you use wood mulch?
Yup!
Was I supposed to sterilize the 321 ingredients before using them?
Don’t bigger chunks allow for more airflow ?
They DO! But.. if they get too water soaked, they become sources of rot :/
💚 Informative video Chris. Isn’t this mix proportion basically a semi hydro mix? I’m using a similar mix, and using about half strength nutrients. Wonder if you’re feeding at every watering or not? Maybe not if you’re going with slow release fertilizer vs liquid nutrients for this airoid mix recipe. *On another note, I would love to see a video on using air stones and/or pumps- you link a pump on your Amazon list below. I tried this, and the stalks of my Adansonii Laniata molded out!
Yes this is basically a semi hydro / soil-less mix. Using half strength you should be good feeding at every watering. Just maybe every 3rd or 5th, water with just plain water! Odd to hear about the rotting even with the airstone! Maybe not enough air for that volume of water. We’re you putting h202 or bleach in the water?
@@prettyingreen I only put a ph adjusted nutrient solution in the water; silica-Protekt, Foliage Pro, and Azos. Right at the point the stalk petrified from the water’s surface, it molded there. I did a bleach soak, and returned it to the water but to no avail. I lost the battle. Same thing with my mature Cuprea. Perhaps I should have only exposed the roots themselves to the water, and avoid the stalk making contact with the mist from rolling water.
@@prettyingreenwelp I thought I was clever adding a little bit of a tropical soil to my aroid mix. I’m using 30% coco chips, 30% charcoal, 30% perlite, and about 10% soil with sand, peat moss and lava rock.
I was growing my monstera In water (my aquarium) but it was getting too close to the ceiling. I just repotted it in the above mix with a wooden pole behind it. How screwed is this plant? And can I bottom water it with the shoe string method I have set up? Or should it be top watered to ensure all the substrate material gets wet?
Thanks for any help. Really hope I don’t kill my monsteras
Great guy the best bro love
Is it best to keep all the ingredients separate and only mix as needed, or is it fine to mix a big batch all together and use it as needed over time ( maybe months)? Thanks so much for your amazing videos!
Omg made it mistake 2 years ago, I put too much coco coir
No, we don't get Pythium from peat moss. In fact adding peat moss to a mix increases its resistance to Pythium, although it does not prevent it completely. And no, there is no need to oven sterilize peat moss. Nothing harmful for our soils grows in it. The anecdotes mentioned here are likely from just those persons crafting too-wet of a mix for their conditions (easy to do with peat), which is actually what led to their root rot
Hi frend, do you use ro water ?
Nope! All tap 😄
@@prettyingreen do you check ph and tds for semi hydro or not ?
@@laserdiy5026 I do in my recirculating systems. In semi hydro, where it drains off, my A + B nutrient balances around 6 pH and the appropriate TDS
my goodness everyone has a different mixture for the same.. bark no bark.. 😂
Hahahahaha no bark anymore for me. Coco husk!
Thanks for the tips!
Absolutely!!