anyone grow in old wine barrels?

[Worth1]

Anytime I put soil in containers I put it in a big tub first and let it soak up water.
It is almost sopping wet when I use it.

Any type of peat is a nightmare to get wet after you put in it a container with a plant.

Worth

[dmforcier]

Yep. You gotta work at getting it wet, and keeping it wet.

A good "mix" in a container with proper drainage will make it quite difficult to drown your plants (a real possibility that the mix should be designed to avoid). The G&B stuff that you're using doesn't look too bad. I'd add some perlite, and make a judgement about the net result of the "bark fines" (something I can't do without some of it in hand), but assuming that you have a decent dirt, learn how to use it.



I am slightly mystified about your contention that "My local store doesn't really offer anything else..". You're in LA!! the Choice capital of the world! If your local store doesn't have anything else, FIND ANOTHER STORE! Wot?