DO NOT USE THE FIRST RECIPE (3-1-1). I'm almost sure it has been changed since then to 5-1-1. I used it and it did not drain well enough. I had losses.

It could have been my Pine bark fines were too fine, as I could not find any fines and used Lanscapers Mix from Lowe's.

If I wasn't having problems I would not change to this. You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

bk

Thanks Moc for the reminder about the clippings. It is very easy to forget about them and the wealth of information stored there.

I am interested in potting soil. It is a challenge to find out what works best and pine bark fines are not that readily available. I find that the chucks are usually too big. Others seem to be poor quality.

I don't use the potting mix suggested in the clippings---yet. I do think they are work a try. I find that Miracle Gro potting mix with the addition of pine bark fines is the easiest mixture for me to make. Most of my hostas seem to be doing well with it.

The following recipe does look interesting:

5 parts pine bark fines, dust - 3/8 (size is important)
1 part sphagnum peat (not reed or sedge peat please)
1-2 parts perlite (coarse, if you can get it)
garden lime (or gypsum in some cases)
controlled release fertilizer (if preferred)

I am always willing to learn and enjoy other's viewpoints.

Great to learn that BK. And, NHL, it looked interesting to me as well.

Yeah, the clippings most popular are good to browse now and then