HumbleTrees
Yamadori
What are the recommended top and bottom end sieve sizes for sieving soil mixes?
What size sieves?
- Thread starter HumbleTrees
- Start date
nathanbs
Omono
Ryan Neil recommends 1/16"-1/4" for our core soil. He adds that you would want to take out the 1/16" if you want a soil that stays drier. A lot of people will recommend larger than 1/4" but i learned the hard way this is not ideal for some species in my hot climate. Tridents seem to like it but my Japanese Black Pines hated it to death 
Keep in mind he is in Oregon that stays pretty wet and he still recommends no larger than 1/4". A drainage layer of approx. 3/8"-1/2" is ideal and a top dressing made of grated spaghnum moss and shredded green moss is best for a complete soil system. Unless their is a shallow root system the top dressing isn't recommended for conifers
Keep in mind he is in Oregon that stays pretty wet and he still recommends no larger than 1/4". A drainage layer of approx. 3/8"-1/2" is ideal and a top dressing made of grated spaghnum moss and shredded green moss is best for a complete soil system. Unless their is a shallow root system the top dressing isn't recommended for conifers
nathanbs
Omono
so i sift with 1/4" first and everything that doesnt fall through is my drainage layer and the rest gets sifted with 1/16", everything left in the sieve at this point is my core soil and i then sift the fines with window screen and keep the particles in the sieve for cuttings and such.
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
I use the following seives:
1/2", 3/8", 1/4", 1/8"
Resulting in the following fractions:
For thirsty plants, I use the fine soil (bald cypress, fukien tea, etc) and for the rest, I use the coarse soil. You also have the choice to adjust your soil components as that also has a big impact on the water retention in soil components.
Scott
1/2", 3/8", 1/4", 1/8"
Resulting in the following fractions:
- >1/2" I discard
- 1/2"-3/8" for the drainage layer
- 3/8"-1/4" coarse soil
- 1/4"-1/8" fine soil
- <1/8" I discard
For thirsty plants, I use the fine soil (bald cypress, fukien tea, etc) and for the rest, I use the coarse soil. You also have the choice to adjust your soil components as that also has a big impact on the water retention in soil components.
Scott
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
This is a true learning experience for you, and is really very personal to your watering habits, and climate. The others have given you good guidelines, but you will have to work out what works for you and the individual trees. It will depend a lot as well on the type of soil you are using. I think that once you learn this, you are on the way. Blending your own soils to fit the requirements, really teaches you a lot.
HumbleTrees
Yamadori
I am using 50% pumis, 35% coarse sand, 15% pinebark compost. I haven't been sieving my compost, but I am still getting pretty good drainage... I think..
On a few trees I added those red round clay balls that hydro growers use for media. 10% or so. They are in the 1/2" range. Not sure if they are going to help or hurt.
I am a classic over waterer...
On a few trees I added those red round clay balls that hydro growers use for media. 10% or so. They are in the 1/2" range. Not sure if they are going to help or hurt.
I am a classic over waterer...
Poink88
Imperial Masterpiece
Talking to Colin Lewis, he mentioned using regular window screen (probably yielding 1/16" min or even smaller). No discussion about maximum size though. My personal ideal max would be 1/4".
I personally do not sift but that is because I am in a very hot place and need higher soil retention. I even add peat moss to my soil for some of my plants since I cannot water more than once a day. So it really depends on various factors; species, location, weather, watering, pot size, tree size, foliage, roots, etc.
I think this is the reason why there is no accepted best soil mix...same reason you might never find a generally accepted best sieve size.
Good luck on your quest.
I personally do not sift but that is because I am in a very hot place and need higher soil retention. I even add peat moss to my soil for some of my plants since I cannot water more than once a day. So it really depends on various factors; species, location, weather, watering, pot size, tree size, foliage, roots, etc.
I think this is the reason why there is no accepted best soil mix...same reason you might never find a generally accepted best sieve size.
Good luck on your quest.
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