Specialty Gardening: Container Soils - Water Movement and Retention III , 0 by tapla

tapla wrote:
Linda - nickle size pine bark is fine for the 5:1:1 mix - no problem - as long as there are lots of finer particles, too.

Hoosier - hdwe cloth comes in lots of sizes. I have two sets of screens (different sizes), & I think they are insect screen, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2' sizes. See picture.

No dust in the gritty is the best course.

Most people use a calcined DE (diatomaceous earth) product if they can't find Turface. Perlite doesn't retain much water, so would be better as a replacement for the granite.

Each of the ingredients in the gritty mic are selected for a reason, and they are the best at what they do, according to what I've been able to come up with. You can get Turface at Harrell's Inc. in Whitestown (800) 966-1987, Cisco in Indy (800) 888-2986, Tenbarge Seed Company in Haubstadt (812) 768-6157, John Deere Landscapes on Castlegate Dr. in Indy (317) 576-1888 ..... that should be enough to get you on the right track. Ask for Turface MVP or Allsport.

The Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 has ALL 12 essential nutrients (including Ca & Mg, commonly missing from soluble fertilizers) plants get from the soil, in the right NPK % AND in a favorable ratio to each other (the same ratio in which plants actually USE the nutrients). It doesn't get any more foolproof than that.

You can use the CRFs if you choose, but you pretty much give up control over your fertilizing program. I rarely use them.

Thanks very much for the kind thoughts - a nice compliment. ;o)

Al