511 mix in a SWC

rudylr · January 9, 2016

I'm thinking of trying the 511 mix, 5 parts pine bark fines 1 part peat and 1 part perlite in my self watering containers this year. Some people like the mix and some people say it self drains a little to much. In a swc would it matter? Or would it not wick up as much as one with more peat.

dfollett · January 10, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudylr

I'm thinking of trying the 511 mix, 5 parts pine bark fines 1 part peat and 1 part perlite in my self watering containers this year. Some people like the mix and some people say it self drains a little to much. In a swc would it matter? Or would it not wick up as much as one with more peat.

I've not used a 5-1-1 mix in a SWC (I have used it in pots I top watered), but I don't think it would wick enough - needs more peat. I use something close to Raybo's 3-2-1 mix. If you want to use it, perhaps you could try it and put in an actual wick to pull water from the reservoir.

pecker88 · January 10, 2016

I agree, I doubt the 5-1-1 mix would wick enough water with the standard SWC net cup design. I use Raybo's 3-2-1 mix and it works great.

rudylr · January 10, 2016

The reason I ask is I am going to be doubling my tomato and pepper plants this year. I have 22 new tomato seed packs and20 pepper seed packs so far and i'm still six weeks away from planting my seeds. I need to stay off this forum for awhile.

But anyway the more pine bark fines I use in the mix the cheaper it will be. I got 2 cu. ft. bags for 3 bucks each. I could do some testing. Keeping the container size, pre wetting water amount and same size net cups the same. Testing with a moisture meter. I would like to have one of those anyway. This would keep me busy rather than looking at more tomato varieties also.

sprtsguy76 · January 11, 2016

I used to grow all of the above in swc's. I found that increasing the peat by one or two parts was perfect.

Damon

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ifmacdonald · February 28, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprtsguy76

I used to grow all of the above in swc's. I found that increasing the peat by one or two parts was perfect.

Me too. Did it last year with no problems.

JaxRmrJmr · March 20, 2016

Previously, I had done a 2-1 mix of peat moss to perilite. It worked fine.

This year I did a 3-2-1 mix of peat moss - pine bark fines - perilite. The plants took off much earlier. In years past they would sit and sulk for 2 weeks after transplant before starting to grow. This year it is about a week and they start taking off! I thing this mix is easier for the roots to expand into.

fonseca · March 29, 2016

I don't think the 5-1-1 mix will have any upward capillary action. Remember, that mix is designed to minimize the perched water table. But you could top water until the plants get their roots deep enough and then it would be fine.

I use a mix close to 5-1-1 (with some compost) for my herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano. They love it. They get top-watered.

rudylr · March 30, 2016

I made a 3-2-1-1 mix to transplant my seedlings to. Used a potting mix instead of peat moss for the 3 part then bark fines screaned thru 1/2 inch and perlite and vermiculite.
Right now i am thinking of using this for my final containers, promix all purpose 3 parts. bark fines 2 parts and a 1 or 1/2 part for the last two. Promix all purpose isn't that much more than peat moss here.
What would be good to use in this mix other than fertilizer?

January 9, 2016	#1
rudylr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: nebraska Posts: 30	511 mix in a SWC I'm thinking of trying the 511 mix, 5 parts pine bark fines 1 part peat and 1 part perlite in my self watering containers this year. Some people like the mix and some people say it self drains a little to much. In a swc would it matter? Or would it not wick up as much as one with more peat.

January 10, 2016	#3
pecker88 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 192	I agree, I doubt the 5-1-1 mix would wick enough water with the standard SWC net cup design. I use Raybo's 3-2-1 mix and it works great.

January 11, 2016	#5
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	I used to grow all of the above in swc's. I found that increasing the peat by one or two parts was perfect. Damon Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

March 20, 2016	#7
JaxRmrJmr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Jax, FL - 9A Posts: 172	Previously, I had done a 2-1 mix of peat moss to perilite. It worked fine. This year I did a 3-2-1 mix of peat moss - pine bark fines - perilite. The plants took off much earlier. In years past they would sit and sulk for 2 weeks after transplant before starting to grow. This year it is about a week and they start taking off! I thing this mix is easier for the roots to expand into.

March 29, 2016	#8
fonseca Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 205	I don't think the 5-1-1 mix will have any upward capillary action. Remember, that mix is designed to minimize the perched water table. But you could top water until the plants get their roots deep enough and then it would be fine. I use a mix close to 5-1-1 (with some compost) for my herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano. They love it. They get top-watered.

March 30, 2016	#9
rudylr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: nebraska Posts: 30	I made a 3-2-1-1 mix to transplant my seedlings to. Used a potting mix instead of peat moss for the 3 part then bark fines screaned thru 1/2 inch and perlite and vermiculite. Right now i am thinking of using this for my final containers, promix all purpose 3 parts. bark fines 2 parts and a 1 or 1/2 part for the last two. Promix all purpose isn't that much more than peat moss here. What would be good to use in this mix other than fertilizer?