So, after posting this(below), I was told that I should try skype. Well, I do have skype and a microphone so if you're willing to give me a little demonstration e-mail me your info and tell me what times work for your. I'll try to find a time that works for us both. I'm determined to get this right!! I tried to make Al's gritty mix several years ago, and failed miserably. Getting the ingredients was someone costly, so if I attempt this again, I intend on getting this right. I would like to meet with someone and watch in person how this is done. I don't know why I'm not getting this, but I thought that maybe if I could watch someone do this, I might be able to better understand what I'm doing wrong. I'm having a houseplant mailed to me in a couple months, and I want to be ready when it arrives. Anyways, I'm in northern Illinois, only about 15-20 minutes away from the Wisconsin border. If anyone is willing to meet with me, please send me and e-mail so we can chat. someguy00273952@yahoo.com

These are some tips for making Als gritty mix. I hope people on the forum and others who googled there way here will find it helpful. Screening  I would buy a large 18 gallon rope tub container which is only around $5-10. Then put an insect screening on top of it and use holding clips to secure the screen onto the tub. Make the screen concave down to the tub so the materials wonÂt fly out when screening. I believe all insect screening is 1/16 inch. Hardware cloth  I bought mine at Orchard hardware supply for around $2 bucks a foot. I bought 2 foot each. They fit perfectly on top of the tub with the insect screen right below it (see photo). I use 1/4 inch to screen out the pine barks. Fine bark  leave these laid outside in the sun so they will dry. Mix them around every few hours as the barks underneath will still be wet. Drying the barks will make it easier when removing the dust and powder when screening. Preparing to mix the soil - I would wash the granite really well, I can basically smell the salt coming out of it from the brand I was using (A1 granite grit #10). Mix your batch up first then wash it again really well before moving them into the pot container. Use insect screen to cover the holes inside the containers so the mix wonÂt fall out. Supplies  Use google map to find stores locally and just call the stores to find your supplies. Use "feed stores" for granite grit. (Gran-I-Grit  grower size, is the best). For turface, use this link, http://www.turface.com/distributors/state/. John Deere stores will carry Turface Allsport which is the same as MVP. "Allsport Pro" will be too fine for use in the gritty mix. Gypsum  if you plan on using a lot, just buy a 50 lb bag, I got mine for 6 dollars. Fertilizer  I am using a 9 month slow release fertilizer, brand = Dynamite. Some of these slow release fertilizer will also have the micronutrient you need so you wonÂt have to buy it separately. Remember to buy a few empty buckets to store your supplies.

â¢Posted by succulent_succotash Paul_, are you using gritty mix solely for your terrariums? Any other type of soil mixture? Actually for all 3 of my large terrs, It's a 2-3inch layer of sphag over lava rock. Reason being is it makes for a lighter weight tank should I need to move it, and the plants I have in them are more moisture lovers. I don't do succulent terrs as they do not make good long term terr inhabitants. IME, any organic material will grow mold -- especially in a terr. You may not notice some types as not all are light colored, but they are there nonetheless. What will greatly reduce the presence of many fungi -- at least the white fuzzy types -- is good air circulation ... something many terrs lack. Once I installed a couple pc fans in my 90gal terr, mold issues abated.

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