4 Months - Soil VS Soilless Potting Mix Test Mandarin Orange (PT.2)

In part two of the outdoor potting soil test we check out some of the differences showing up between the organic plant based potting mix "soil", and the homemade "soilless" mix inspired by Gary Matsuoka's "Top Pot".
I used two Owari Satsuma Mandarin orange trees to get a better idea for how citrus fruit trees react to different soils in pots. Which potting mix is better? Follow along for future updates!
Soilless Mix Ingredient list:
19% Sphagnum peat moss (1cu ft bag) amzn.to/3SbaLk7
19% Coconut coir amzn.to/3zIoCIi
19% Sand
19% Perlite amzn.to/4cNgDZ8
19% Horticultural Pumice amzn.to/3zMaXzU
5% Biochar amzn.to/3Sbbkuf
Soil Mix:
Kellogg Patio Plus

[@rauljimenez8132]

I think the biggest difference will be long term with rot in the potting mix.

[@DadsRadPad]

This could for sure happen. Will be interesting to see if it does. Im guessing that the less oxygen going to the roots the more the growth is stunted.

[@MegaMegs-vd1ye]

You sure are dirt-ermined about your potting mix!

[@DadsRadPad]

😂

[@ThrillSeeker23]

I wonder how the different mixes effect the taste of the fruit, the soil-less seems like it'll have better taste based on what you showed, but I wonder if the organic matter helps that in some way.

[@DadsRadPad]

I hadn’t really thought of this, but now I wonder the same. Should get my first taste test by the next update. Will let you know!

[@spicaofla]

the soilless mix in the pot attracts ants to make home there and they plants scale bugs or other pests damaging the plants.

[@DadsRadPad]

I haven’t seen any pest or scale activity on either plant yet. Currently minimal to no ant activity on these as well but I’ll definitely be on the lookout and update in the next video.
Why do you think the soilless mix will have more pest activity?

[@spicaofla]

@@DadsRadPad Once the potting soil gets old, the decomposed wood product creates larger void spaces and organic material for ant colony to thrive and doing their milking business. I notice that when i did the re-potting. On the other hand, you can irrigate the sand pot everyday without rotting the plants and ant colony cannot stand the daily irrigation.