Supplies by State/Region: Al's Gritty Mix
greyslate
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (189)
jojosplants
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agophongdor
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Supplies by State/Region: Al's Gritty Mix II
Comments (3)An update for any forum members in the UK: Moler clay: sold as Moler/Terramol, 25 litre bags, Kaizen bonsai. (they also sell pumice). Pine bark: BHGS Ltd, Evesham and ask for Melcourt Propagating Bark, 70 litre bags. Also, if you don't want to make your own gritty mix, and you just want to buy something ready-made, take a look at Kaizen bonsai Premium Bonsai Compost No. 3 - it looks very, very close to Al's gritty mix!!...See MoreQuestion for Al mix for a lemon tree
Comments (8)I found I can get all the ingredients on ebay individually. Then I found a place that will mix stuff for you, and they don't have the granite however, but the turface and fir bark they have. Now, I wonder what would be most ideal for a lemon tree, now I can see this huge menu of choices. I would like it if they would screen it for me, as long as I am spending big bucks to have someone else mix it for me. I bet I could have saved my tropical Cristo Rey Rhododendron if I had potted it up the winter we got snow in San Francisco. But, I was afraid to pot it up, since it did so poorly in traditional potting soils. It needed good drainage. Here is a link that might be useful: orchid things...See MoreSubstitute shredded pine for pine bark?
Comments (17)I understand your frustration, Kathleen. I have been able to find all of the products (well, with some "authorized" substitutes) for the gritty mix, but have been unable to find the pine bark fines for the 5:1:1 mix. I can't find pine bark mulch or shredded pine bark mulch here. I haven't checked at Walmart, but according to Walmart's web site, my local Walmarts don't sell ANY sort of mulch, just various Miracle-Gro bagged products. None of the big box stores in my area have pine bark mulch; they do sell pine bark nuggets, but those, of course, are way too big. In fact, none of the nurseries in the area at which I have checked sell pine bark mulch, either - it used to be available, but I haven't seen it in the last few years. Shredded cedar mulch seems to be the mulch of choice around here - there's plenty of that! I haven't been able to find any sort of pine bark soil conditioner, either. I guess we both just live in the wrong parts of the USA to make finding the supplies easy - or even possible! And the cost of shipping if ordering supplies on line would be prohibitive - I can't even contemplate doing so because I don't have the $$$ to spare. I have read some posts where people say that the Repti-Bark can be used for both mixes, but this product is definitely not partially composted so I have my doubts that this is what Al meant should be used in his 5:1:1 mix. Here is a quote from a post Al made in 2009 in reference to the bark in this mix: I like bark best, and the best size for the 5:1:1 mix is sawdust to 1/4" pieces and partially composted, with most of the particles concentrated in the 1/16-3/16 size. I'm NOT suggesting you go out looking for bark that fits this description, but it will give you an idea of what works best. Sigh. Holly...See MoreState/Region: Al's Gritty Mix Part 2
Comments (11)Here are two possible substitutes for the crushed granite IâÂÂve found near Northwestern Indiana (but they are probably fairly widespread): Nature Wise Poultry Grit -- Rural King (Niles, MI); $6.49 for 7 lbs (~$1/lb) Insoluble crushed granite. Particulates are white-ish and measure 1/16 -" 3/16 inches so a little smaller than ideal. Also, fairly dusty so they will definitely need to be sifted and/or rinsed. (This is just another brand for the same product as from Manna Pro, I believe.) Akasha Natural Coarse Sand -- LoweâÂÂs (South Bend, IN); $3.94 for 4 lbs (~$1/lb) Particulates are more colorful (orange-pink to brown-black with some white) and measure about 1/8 -" ü inches so a little bigger than ideal. It looks pretty clean and consistent in size so IâÂÂd say it is probably good to go without sifting. At $1/lb, they're both fairly pricey in the long run (think $50 to match the same amount of turface from John Deere at ~$20/50lb bag). IâÂÂm only planning a small batch for now to experiment with so I was ok paying a bit more. IâÂÂm definitely leaning toward the sand for the colors, cleanliness, size, and consistency. I hope that since LoweâÂÂs and Rural King are pretty widespread this may help people who are also in the market for making more small scale batches of the mix. Cheers, Nathan...See MoreMaggieMags
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agomudnut
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agofidgety
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRotareneg
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoCEFreeman
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agorysmithjr
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoZamp
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoesox07 (4b) Wisconsin
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoKrista Shaffer (Philly 7b)
8 years agoGenesis WoodWorks
8 years agomblan13
8 years agoealdwood (10a)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoJohn
8 years agopcurtsf
8 years agoealdwood (10a)
8 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
8 years agocareli00
7 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agocareli00
7 years agoYoly Garcia
7 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
7 years agoAllison
7 years agolitterbuggy (z7b, Utah)
7 years agoAllison
7 years agoDee SENDEROONEO
6 years agoMegan L
6 years agocalamondindave
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoTim in Colorado (5b)
6 years agoesox07 (4b) Wisconsin
6 years agoTim in Colorado (5b)
6 years agoesox07 (4b) Wisconsin
6 years agogaidzahg
5 years agoAllison
5 years agoErika
5 years agoErika
5 years agoSaypoint zone 6 CT
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agomblan13
5 years agoSaypoint zone 6 CT
5 years agoSaypoint zone 6 CT
5 years agoSkip1909
5 years agoval rie (7a - NJ)
5 years agoSaypoint zone 6 CT
5 years agomblan13
5 years agoSaypoint zone 6 CT
5 years agoval rie (7a - NJ)
5 years agomblan13
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
Related Stories
ARCHITECTURECity View: New Orleans Style Mixes It Up
Always ready for a party and a parade, this Louisiana city also counts history, varied cultures and a resilient spirit among its influences
Full StoryARCHITECTUREStates of Style: Alabama’s Icons Leave Their Mark
In the first of a new series, discover the natural beauty, the architectural icons and some of our favorite homes deep in the heart of Dixie
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNDisplaying Kitchen Supplies — Hot or Not?
Do some kitchens just beg for a cozy row of canisters and gear for all to see? Have a look and let us know what you think
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Find Your Garden’s Voice
Incorporate plants native to your region for a memorable space that brings back the landscape’s ‘regional accent’
Full StoryGARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIESGardening for the Bees, and Why It’s a Good Thing
When you discover how hard bees work for our food supply, you may never garden without them in mind again
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: Industrial-Edged Comfort in Pittsburgh
Copper, cantilevers and a cat named Mr. Martin come together in this contemporary homage to regional style
Full StoryFARMHOUSESHouzz Tour: German Tradition Deep in the Heart of Texas
Rooted in architecture from the 1800s, this award-winning home mixes history with the vernacular of today
Full StoryEARTH DAY‘Terroir’ Brings a Sense of Place to Your Landscape
Species native to and characteristic of your region firmly root your garden and landscape
Full StoryFALL AND THANKSGIVINGCelebrate the Season With Colorful Visions of Fall
Houzz readers share what autumn looks like in the United States and beyond
Full StoryVACATION HOMESHouzz Tour: Rustic Cabin Meets Country Cottage in North Carolina
Scrumptious fabrics, the homeowners’ antiques and works from regional artists cozy up this vacation home in the mountains
Full Story
Marie Tulin