Virtually all clays are made of aluminum phyllosilicates - the aluminum is locked into insoluble layered crystals. In fact, turface is calcined montmorillonite / illite, both of which are aluminum phyllosilicate clay minerals. It's only soluble aluminum ions that cause phytotoxicity, the form in clay is essentially inert. Attapulgite as a turface substitute is discussed by Al in the link below. Its not clear if the product you bought is calcined - perhaps you could call and ask. Or just do the water test - soak it in water for a couple days and see if it stays hard, intact, and stable. If you have freezing temperatures, you may want to try freezing/thawing as well. Calcining converts the clay to a hard, stable, inert ceramic - making it useful as a growing media. The upshot of the linked thread is that surface area, porosity, and nitrate retention of attapulgite are inferior.

I just tracked everything down. Here's what I found: Turface or Calcinated DE: Ewing Irrigation, many locations. I was quoted $15 per bag at the Plano store. I've elected to use calcinated DE because of weight in large containers, $$$. I also figured I could use a little extra moisture retention during our summers. A 25lb bag at Napa auto parts (part 8822)was $8, and they had plenty at the Harry Hines location near NW Hwy. Pine Fines: I got the Scotsman's choice Landscape mix at the Lowes on 75 and Spring Creek in Plano for around $3 per bag. Crushed Granite: This was the hardest thing to find--I called a few feed stores near me in Plano that didn't have it. One of those steered me to Southwest Feed Mills on Scyene Rd & Buckner in Dallas. They had Gran-I-Grit Grower size in 50lb. bags for $8ish each. They were very nice and didn't even look at me too funny when I told them what I was using it for. It was a bit of a drive for me, but worth it to not have to screen DG. Here is a link that might be useful: Dig on 4 Victory!

Lol - because they grow so fast, I use the 5:1:1 mix for brugs & datura. There is no way I would go 2 years with these plants in the same soil. They really need root work beyond potting up every year. Those are also one of the few plants that I give a little extra Mg to - both in the ground and containers (I grow them in the ground as annuals & take cuttings every summer to winter over for next year's plants). The 5:1:1 mix is very good for houseplants and holds up much better/longer than peat/coir/compost-based soils, but the gritty mix would still perform a little better. I always judge what soil to use by how long the plant will be in the same soil. Even though the 5:1:1 mix is much more durable than most packaged soils, I still hold pretty tight to the rule: 1 year in the same soil = 5:1:1. 2 or more years in the same soil = the gritty mix. In the end though, it's whatever you feel is the best choice for you. I'm not selling (you on) soil recipes, I'm selling the importance of aeration and durability in your soils, and showing you various ways to achieve those ends. After I've helped folks understand those points, it really doesn't matter to me what they choose to grow in, though it always pleases me to learn of people having improved their effort:reward ratio because of something I might have shared. ;o) Take good care. I know you'll do well! Al

No Clue, This link may help you... Remamber to moisten the mix before you add to the pot. I take my mix that is nmake and add water and mix it all around to make sure the bark and the turface has some moisture in the mix, I dont soak , but i will mist the roots before i pot up. When i screen my turface, i do use a kitchen strainer and it does a great job sifting out the smaller fines fron the Turface, I save these little fines for seeds.. The 1/4 in screen can be found at any hardware dealer;;box stores etc. TYou dont have to buy a huge roll either. They seell smaller bags of screen for repaalcement screens and such. MY DH made screen like AL's. He made them a little larger than AL's, lol nut he did a great job. You dont even have to go through that process if you dont want to. you could lay the screen over a container, like a wheelbarrow and sift over that to collect the fines or fir bark that fall thr the 1/4 screen. This would be for the gritty Mix. I would suggest that you go back and reread the above link that AL wrote ..it took me several times to finally get it and it also has pics of his screen too! I hope this helps.. I dont fertilize until a couple of weeks in the new mix. then i reduce it by half and then the following week, i start at the normal amount of Foliage Pro. Always take your newly planted trees and keep them from direct light..you want then to acclimate them to the new surroundsing and not cause any stree, Then after several weeks, put them back into the sun. Goofd Luck..learn how to watch the mix as it drys.. you want to use the wet /dry cycle on all of your Plumeria. in any mix that you choose. O awwoden skewer is a great tool to use.. put it in..if it is wet dont water..it is is dry..,water..if ur not sure..then water lightly... Take care, Laura Here is a link that might be useful: Taking A Bare Rooted Tree And Planting into The Gritty Mix