Darn, non of these locations are close to Toronto. The Brampton one was close but now does not sell it (as you mentioned).

Agreed, the locations can be pretty troublesome. For me, it's mostly the hours that are the toughest part.

I picked up extra bags for a friend of mine who lives on the East end of the city. Definitely saved her a lot of effort.

Thanks! I'll keep an eye out if I see any and can update this thread accordingly.

I just get the diatomaceous earth from NAPA which is very cheap for a big bag. Though recently I was in Miami and there is a kind of Turface called Profile Green Grade which is ultra fine and looks really awesome.

I'm in Montreal and might just have the company deliver a few bags to me this summer. It's 10$ for delivery but I have no car.

Thank you, Ewwmayo. Do you also have a source for composted fir bark fines? I called Gro-Bark a few weeks ago, but they would not sell smaller quantities. They transferred me to a retail company which only had coarse fir bark ;-(.

I also got DE from NAPA, and I am happy with it.

Anything worth getting from this pic? Right click and open image in new window to zoom in.

There is also Qualisorb and Oil Dri but both are iffy I think. I can post pics of their bag and ingredients.

Can't read label on the bottom left?

Why is there no quote function on this site? They didnt stop at spamming stuff to make it look like a shopping site.

Bottom left is black cedar mulch. I see thin, long pieces in that.

I am afraid not :-(. The mulch needs to be evergreen bark, be it fir, pine or cedar. The only bark there is far to coarse. For granite, I found chick grit, grower size, at a feed store. That is perfect instead of Gran-i-grit. I combine it with the DE for gritty mix.

Agree with gdinie. Some gravel there could be used for topdressing, that's all. Unless you want to crush big bark...

Nametaken - I agree with Rina and Gdinie. Doesn't really look like any of that is very useful. The bark appears to be sapwood, which is also not good to use. Was that at Terra?

Feel free to post photos of the Qualisorb and Oil Dri that you used.

Gdinie - Have you tried Sheridan Nurseries? They carry Gro Bark products, I'm just not sure in what kind of quantities. Last time I was there, they had two clear fishing-tackle type boxes filled with little samples of all their different bark types.

For different gravels, you can try landscaping supply companies. However, most of them are a total bust. I visited 20+ landscaping supply places on the East and West ends of Toronto last year with no luck at all for bark, grit, and Turface.

Coldeuphorb - Thanks for mentioning NAPA. There's at least 9 or so NAPA locations around the GTA so that's a bit more accessible.

eww I still have to make my new mix so have not used anything yet.

The bark photo is from Lakeside nursery in Brampton. I visited Humber nursery and it didnt have much of use either. I actually didnt see perilite either.

I dont have ingredients for oil dri but Im sure I can google it. Here is for the sorb. If I remember correct this is Canadian Tire.

ewwmayo: I didn't realize the shopping trip had been even more work than it used to be! I definitely owe you a Burger's Priest or burrito sometime soon! Thank you again!

There are some small pet stores and garden centres out my way (Beaches). I will update here if I find any aquatic soil, soil conditioner, bark, etc.

Melamalie - It was quite the adventure! We'll have to grab lunch for sure. =)

No problem!!

Wanted to see if there are any updates. I honestly dont know what to do to make my next soil mix. I have a bucket left of Flourite, Ill use that in place of turface. I used it for a few years to feed my aquatic plants. Flourite absorbs nutrients from the water and releases it slowly to the plant roots. I can buy succulent soil from anywhere, I think its the same price everywhere. I still need to call humber to check for periite, I went there a few weeks ago and didnt see any perilite. I also cannot buy it in cu ft because I dont have the space. Bark, Ive not seen bark anywhere where its not an inch in size. Same thing for crushed granite, no idea where they will have it.

Why don't you check out hydroponic stores - they all carry perlite and you can get large - you won't find that in PW or Humber ar any other garden center. But if you are only looking for small amount, HD, Rona, Lowe's, Wallmart and any place that sell plants & soils (even CT, Loblaws now at garden space they have open now) will have it in small bags. And Qualisorb from CT should work too, it was what I used before I found turface.

I don't remember where you live (if you posted before), but chicken grit is available in farm supply stores.

Nametaken - Usually I see bags of perlite near the pesticides in hardware stores. The quality is mediocre, lots of small bits and dust. But the hydroponics stores offer good stuff. Now that it's gardening season, every place is starting to stock up on supplies/products.

Plant Prod in Ancaster has very chunky perlite shown in their catalog, but I don't remember what quantities it comes in.

Rina - Thanks!

Thanks guys. Good idea, it didnt occur hydro stores would have it. I called the closest hydro store and they have preilite that is 17 lb for $10. I think thats a good price. Ill go check them out in a few hours.

Ok so perilite is covered, Quality Sorb is covered, getting c&s soil is no problem, what else am I missing? QSorb absorbs water, so it will help keep the soil moist for a bit and not instant dry. Perilite is to airrate. Now I need something innert like chicken grit, crushed grainite or something. I have slow release ferts as well.

I live north of Brampton Trinity Common. Basically its all farm area when I look north from my street.

Nametaken - I know Rina got her grit elsewhere, but here is where I got mine: Sharpe's Farm Supplies

Do NOT bother going to Tractor Supply Co. It is not the same in Canada as in the USA and you will waste your time.

I got chicken grit in Newmarket (there is also place in King I got some few years ago - not sure if I can find address...).

NM is too far for me, but other members close by might benefit from the address.

I have posted it many times :) - even remember mentioning it to you about year (?) ago.

here it is again:

North York Farmers/TRU Country & Garden

17435 Leslie Street South, Newmarket, ON L3Y 9A3
(905) 895-5172

Call before you go - they may not have appropriate size on particular day (but will always be able to buy it)

Sorry Rina, I probably didnt remember because it was too far for me so I just booted it from memory :)

I couldnt visit the hydrophonics today to get the perilite, emergency came up. Ill try again this weekend. I dont think Ill find a better price without travelling too far.