I'm in Melboure, FL and I want to use the Gran-i-grit as landscape gravel in a Japanese style garden. As per the following from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Record, Plants & Garden 1961-62 (new series vol. 17 no. 4) The "Sand Gardens" Of Japan ...there are centuries-old "abstract" gardens in Japan in which sand or gravel are used more frequently, because it can be raked in meaningful patterens. In constructing the replica of the Ryoanji Temple Stone Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the gravel problem required a satisfactory solution. Washed gravel cannot satisfactorry be raked into surface patterens. Crushed gravel of uniformly-sized particles can be raked into patterens, but if it is to hold the pattern and at the same time present a satisfactory appearance (texture, light and shadow, etc.), it is necessary to combine two or three sizes of gravel particles. After several experiments, it was found that poultry grit from the North Carolina Granite Corporation, Mt Airy, NC came closet to giving the effect obtained by the Japanese in their Ryoanji Garden in Kyoto. Of the many size combinations we tested, one of the best proved to be: 2 parts "Grower" size 1 part "Turkey" size 1 part "Turkey Finisher" The different sizes were thoroughly mixed, applied evenly over a flat surface, and raked into a the "wavelet" pattern. The mixture can be recommended both for texture and holding quality. The wavelet pattern holds its form for several weeks, depending on the weather. While mixtures with a higher percentage of small grit held the pattern very satisfactory, they were chaclky in appearance and did not resemble the orginal Ryoanji mix. --- Landon H. Winchester, (Assistant Horticulturist, Brooklyn Botanic Garden). I added the following: http://www.ncgranite.com/gritmailer.pdf grower: 3/32 - 3/16 inch (2.3813 - 4.7625 mm) turkey: 5/16 - 7/16 inch (7.9375 - 11.1125 mm) turkey finisher: 7/16 - 5/8 inch (11.1125 - 15-8725 mm) Here is a link that might be useful: Gran-i-grit broucher

OMG, I can't stand up straight or straighten my fingers anymore! I've been outside all day and haven't eaten a thing since breakfast. I made one batch (6 gallons) of gritty and ran out after re-potting about 2/3 of my succulents. I made a 2nd batch of gritty, but ran out of daylight before I could pot up the rest. I learned one thing today - sifting sucks! Maybe it's just using the small bonsai screens I have, but I think larger screens would be too heavy to shake for me. I did end up tying a bandanna around my face to keep from breathing the dust. I'm sure my neighbors really think I'm crazy now. For the pine fines, I started with a large-sized 1/2" screen that I placed over my wheel-barrow. Then I used the 1/4" bonsai screen followed by the 1/8" screen. I kept what went thru the 1/4" but not the 1/8" screen. For the All-Sport and the Manna Pro chicken grit, I sifted using the 1/16" screen. Then I rinsed it all, mixed it up, added gypsum and started re-potting. The re-potting took a long time because I had to remove all of the soil from the roots. After all, I didn't want to contaminate my gritty with that nasty old potting soil! I was shocked to see how much moisture was trapped in the soil, it's no wonder why the plants were struggling. I was wondering, can I use the pine fines that were 1/4" in any mixture or will the particle size be too different from the other ingredients to make it useful? Either way it won't go to waste, I just figured it would save me on having to sift more. I'll post pictures after I finish tomorrow. This post was edited by ifionlyhadabrain on Sat, Sep 14, 13 at 21:44

Hello Gardev, I understand your frustrations with finding the materials you need at a price that makes it worth all the effort! I would recommend not using the limestone! Because of its chemistry, you would have an extremely high pH which would be unsuitable for most plantings unless you were willing to constantly check and amend the soil. I know of people who have used the aquarium gravel and it DOES work, but it can be expensive. I am not sure what kind of access you have to construction materials around you, but I have had success at stores such as Home Depot or Lowe's ( I am sure there are many more that carry it) with products such as concrete gravel. It takes screening as well, and you want to make sure to purchase the bags that are only gravel. but they are around $5 per 23KG (50lb) bag. I will include a link for you so you can get an idea of what material I am talking about. I have used it for citrus before and it works pretty well for the price you pay! Link to gravel I hope that this helps you! Justin

Not dense, quite opposite. Using fine soil or fine sand would make mix dense and water-retaining. Only 'negative' - if large container and you add lots of grit, it gets heavy :). I use it anyway and struggle with moving big (quite big) pots indoors in fall....dolly helps. And that is another reason why I use lots of perlite, it is feather light. My pots have much less, if any, soil.