To 'build' an effective and permanent soil mix primarily for 35 litre self-watering pots with indoor Kentia Palms and other tropical plants, might the following soil mix maintain a good balance of moisture/drainage/nutrients/aeration?
- 60% Expanded Clay Pebbles
(Either 8-16mm Hydrocorn http://www.goldlabel.nl/91/Hydrocorn.aspx, or
4-10mm Hydroleca http://www.clifton.co.uk/hydroleca/) Which size might people recommend?
- 30% 5mm Coco Husk Chips, fine grade SSS recommended for growing orchids.http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0089155MU/?tag=mrfood-21
- 8% organic worm humus castings
- 2% Plagron Bio Supermix (slightly redundant, but a mix of various supplemental fertilizers).
http://www.plagron.com/nl-nl/product/1/46/41/bio-supermix.aspx
I'm trying to follow the principles from the Stickied threads on Water Movement and Retention in Containers here - although I don't have Turface available here in London, UK. I also wasn't sure about adding gypsum though, as that seems to be advertised as breaking down clay, which may not be ideal while using clay pebbles!
The self watering pots have a screened reservoir at the bottom with a water-level indicator, and are thus refilled just 1-2 times a month. And hopefully this will help overcome my previous tendencies of drowning/dehydrating my houseplants!)
Would this soil be too dry though if it's not top-watered regularly, and the water is at the bottom only? Are the Coco Husk Chips redundant, and I should instead stick with just the clay pebbles? And are the smaller clay pebbles preferable, as they might help keep the soil uniformly mixed instead of it settling?
Expanded Clay Pebble Soil Mix for Self-Watering Containers?
Anyone have any advice on this please??