About 5 years in the root pouches I use. I’m still learning too.
I use a 3-1-1 1/2 soil mix
3 parts pine bark fines 1/4 inch diameter is about perfect, but larger and powder will work too. 1/4 pebbles of bark is the ideal.
1 part compost. I like to use compost in peat, or my own compost.
1 part potting soil, any type, I use Promix all purpose
1/2 DE which is mostly silica and contains silicon which is super beneficial to plants. Often sold as a supplement for plants. Diatomaceous earth holds 120% of it’s weight in water. So many studies point to how great this stuff is for gardening. Disney uses it in all of it’s gardens and many major league diamonds use DE in the soil to prevent puddles. The best brand to use is Optisorb as it has the largest particles. This is not a clay product btw. The best price is at Grianger’s. Order and pick up at nearest store, to avoid any shipping costs.
DE is great for rooting cuttings too. Roots can grow right into the DE to suck water out.
Here is an excellent study when using DE with strawberries.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260133195_Effect_of_diatomite_on_growth_of_strawberry
I only use pure DE to root cuttings.
Negra d’agde fig cutting. Leave that DE on the roots, it’s a natural water reservoir for the roots.
