Quote:
Originally Posted by drew51
In potting soils though the bark is always composted (check the bags). So fresh bark is a different beast.
|
For commercial bagged potting mixes, that may be true. Sometimes I wonder if they do that to force you to buy more potting mix sooner.
Al's 5-1-1 and Ray's Earthtainer mix, for example, do not require composted fines. That was initially the suggestion, but over time, it has seemingly been deemed to be unnecessary.
I use uncomposted pine bark fines in all my SIPs and containers. No issues. I use a 1:1:1 mixture of PBF/Peat/Perlite
Before I became convinced that the bark fines didn't need to be composted, I used to layer PBF and alfalfa hay in a large garbage can, and activate it with urine. To be perfectly honest, I haven't seen any difference in the composted and uncomposted, so I run with it... Other's mileage may vary.