Always fun to experiment. For the mix that is entirely a gritty mix, did you sift out the fines and larger reptibark? It's important for the size of the particles to be similar in gritty mixes.

1. I have tried several different gritty mixes but all of them have equal parts turface and granite. I started off with bark but didn't like it, switched to perlite and liked it okay, now I am making a 1:1:1 of turface, granite, and pumice. All of it gets sifted to the same size and measured out.

2. I got my last bag of turface MVP from ebay. It was the cheapest source I could find online including shipping costs. If you can get it locally it's MUCH cheaper. I got a 50lb bag of granite off a website that I now forget, but there was a thread about it on here and I will try to dig it up for you later. It was much easier than buying small bags of chicken grit to which the sizes were never consistent and I lost a lot of excess. I got my pumice from General Pumice Products online and I highly recommend them.

Here is a good thread about pumice: Does Pumice Interest You? thread.

3. Perlite, bark, and turface can lighten things up a bit. I found the heaviest ingredient to be granite.

4. I use DynaGro Foliage Pro 9-3-6 fertilizer at half strength almost every time I water. I will do a flush after a few waterings.

5. I use a gallon water jug to mix the fertilizer in that I need then pour it into my favorite watering can. It has a smaller spout so I can easily control the amount of water that comes out of it to where I want it to go. If the pot I am watering has a hole that can easily be stopped, I let the water soak in a bit before letting it out. I prefer this method and am trying to get away from pots that I can't do this with. When plants are inside I water them at the sink and let them dry a bit in the dish rack before putting them back in their place.

-Erica

I did rinse the bark fines using a metal kitchen sieve to get the really small bits and hand pulled the really big bits. I probably could have done a better job with the right tools though. :/

Thanks for your answers!

I did wash everything. I only made up enough to fill a pint ice cream container. When I'm ready to make a big batch, I'm going to borrow my dad's sifters. My dad says he's checked everywhere for chicken/poultry grit, but when I asked if if he checked Ace Home Helpers he said no, so obviously he hasn't looked EVERYWHERE, lol! I don't think he's been looking for turface as he said he'd never heard of it....

It doesn't answer a single question of yours, but Crassula exilis subs. cooperi? Also called subs. picturata, but that's not the official scientific name.

Very cool project!

I got a big bag (I think 15 lbs?) of 1/8" pumice from General Pumice and was very happy with it. For chicken grit, did you try Amazon? I had found a 5 lb bag for $11 and had it shipped with Prime (it ended up getting lost in mail and I found a 5 lb bag for $5 at a feed store). I know $11 for 5 lbs is not even that cheap compared to what other people here can find, but it's not TOO crazy I don't think.

Here is a good place to get granite in large quantities:

Cherry Stone

-Erica

Yes, I wasn't sure of the variety (label said "Crassula Asst"), but hadn't really researched it yet. Thanks for saving me the trouble!

Amy

What is Caladama? I googled it but didn't get good answer, it was spelled Calidama in one place...and another said it's a nickname? (I am familiar with Akadama)

My answers to your questions:

1. chicken grit+perlite+turface

2. farm supply stores- I don't buy on line since I get all within reasonable distance and I don't like to pay for shipping...but would if it was free :) Chicken grit is just under $10/50lb. Turface just under $20/50lb. I buy perlite in large bags (I believe it is 4cu ft) for about $38/bag - I believe prices are lower for you guys in US :(

3. don't have succulents in hanging baskets except for sedum morganianum, used same mix but with more perlite to make it lighter

4. I use MG 24-8-16 liquid (available in powder too). I would use DynaGro if it was easy to find in Canada

5. I use small plastic bottles, lol, and collected rain water as much as possible. If outside, often a garden hose, sometimes watering can (I prefer rain, but it can't be ordered :)

Gah, I just noticed the typo in my title and I can't figure out how to edit it. :/

Caladama or calidama or cali-Dama is "California Akadama". It is crushed hardpan from Califronia. I find it to be harder than akadama. If you squeeze akadama between your fingers, it crumbles. Caladama doesn't.

Also, what is your process for removing nursery soil?

Amy

Thank you...I think the original post can be edited only for about 1hr (?) after posting - I did some of my posts in the past, but within less than 1hr. After that, edit button disappeared. Posts within the thread can be edited for at least days if not longer.

Not sure to whom your question about removing nursery soil is directed?

I unpot the plant, shake off soil. Tease it out gently with chopstick or similar. If too muddy or too hard, I swish the root ball gently in bowl of water. Outdoors, I spray it with a water from hose. If peat has dried to a hard ball around roots, it is difficult to re-wet. I use tepid water, and sometimes leave plants roots soaking until it is soft enough.

ps: I added some prices I pay for different ingredients to my previous post.

Ah, that explains why I remember editing a post before!

I was asking in general. I've been using a chopstick and an ultra soft tooth brush. I haven't had the muddy problem yet.

If you're still looking for Turface, you can check their find-a-distributor site: http://www.turface.com/find-a-distributor

Here's my answers!

1. Mix? 60%+ white granite grit, remainder Turface and fir bark.

2. Buying? Farm feed store, garden centers, pet stores.

3. Light mix? Sometimes I mix in perlite to lighten a pot. Never done hanging before.

4. Fertilizer? Miracle Gro 12-4-8 liquid with micronutrients.

5. Watering? Tub for soaking, faucet sprayer, two small watering cans with squished heat shrink on the end to restrict water flow (one has a bigger stream than the other), and one large watering can with a bonsai rosette.

I also have the same issue. I love hanging pots, and I find the gritty mix to be way too heavy. I won't use perlite because I hate the way it floats.

Bonsai Jack's sells 1/4" pumice and 1/4" pine bark. Love it mixed 1:1 for developing roots, and it's lighter than granite, but I find myself watering daily in the summer, and approx twice per week in the winter. Looking for a smaller particle size so I don't have to water as often. Thinking about BJ's 1/8" pine bark for shohin and General Pumice Products' 1/8" pumice as a mix(again 1:1). I fertilize each watering, Bonsai Pro 7-9-5.

ez

Bonsai Jack is awesome but their quantities are too small for my needs. I get my mesh squares from them for the bottom of my pots. It always comes with a free metal chopstick!

I usually just use a chopstick to remove soil. If it's compacted it just takes me a little longer to chip away. The toothbrush is a good idea, Maybe I'll give that a try sometime.

-Erica

Bonsai Jack is one of the sites I've been pricing out.

Bonsai Jack, while pricey in volume, fits my lower volume needs :-]. I find both the pumice and pine bark clean and uniform. Only three orders from them, but 5/5 stars thus far. I also like the detailed component description of their ready-made soil mixes, and the easy method of ordering 'build your own' components.

ez

I wanted to order the sampler, but it doesn't say what you are getting!