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Sand
Apr 16, 2008 9:00:37 GMT -5
Post by Rick Hillier on Apr 16, 2008 9:00:37 GMT -5
I am so fed up using sand... I've tried so many different types... nothing seems to really thrive in it, and I have lost quite a few to boot. I am thinking of just going to a peat/perlite mix and see what happens.
>>> Rick <<<
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Sand
Apr 18, 2008 20:11:51 GMT -5
Post by PingKing on Apr 18, 2008 20:11:51 GMT -5
have you tried river sand from the petshop? i have success with it.
later
Xavier
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Sand
Apr 19, 2008 0:21:49 GMT -5
Post by kd on Apr 19, 2008 0:21:49 GMT -5
I use Silica sand, and get it at Rona. I haven't seen Rona mentioned on any posts yet, but it seems like good sand. No problems yet. I use it for Sarracenia, Drosera, Pinguicula and VFT (don't have much else anyway). It's about $9 for a 40kg bag.
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Sand
Apr 19, 2008 14:32:44 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 19, 2008 14:32:44 GMT -5
kd, how coarse is the Rona Silica Sand? I'm looking for something around 0.8 mm or so (Mesh or grit #18 or so).
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Sand
Apr 19, 2008 20:53:37 GMT -5
Post by titom on Apr 19, 2008 20:53:37 GMT -5
What is quartz sun, used for tuberous sundews? Where can I have it? Talking about soils, what is vermiculite? Its made with what? It is natural or not?
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Sand
Apr 19, 2008 22:17:49 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 19, 2008 22:17:49 GMT -5
Quartz is SiO2=ordinary sand. Vermiculite is sort of puffed mica bits just as perlite is puffed up volcanic glass.
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Sand
Apr 20, 2008 23:43:33 GMT -5
Post by kd on Apr 20, 2008 23:43:33 GMT -5
lloyd - don't know the size. I haven't measured it. The bag says SIL-4 D.S. 2000 I have no idea what that means, but it has worked for me. It is not super fine, and is fairly easy to see, if that gives you any indication. Has anyone else used this sand? It seems the most accessable for me, and since it is from a nation-wide chain, most should have access to it.
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Sand
Apr 21, 2008 13:00:55 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 21, 2008 13:00:55 GMT -5
I think most people are into the coarser sand ~ 0.8 mm in diameter and sort of angular that aerates the soil more than the fine sand. SIL-4 is fairly fine, I think.
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Sand
Apr 21, 2008 13:09:52 GMT -5
Post by mabudon on Apr 21, 2008 13:09:52 GMT -5
the first bag of sand I ever got was pretty darn fine, almost like sugar, but it worked okay from me, tho it is true, the coarse stuff is by far the best choice.
One thing I like to do sometimes (when I think of it anyways) to make the mix a bit looser for the less fussy plants like sundews, is to shop up pine needles into bits and mix them in, I did that with a lot of stuff for a while and it made my plants pretty happy, tho it will break down eventually but then repotting things every couple years is always a good idea
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Sand
Apr 21, 2008 17:25:59 GMT -5
Post by lloyd on Apr 21, 2008 17:25:59 GMT -5
Sounds like a good idea, lots of pine needles in the back yard, may keep the animals away too.
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Sand
Apr 27, 2008 15:58:53 GMT -5
Post by gregory on Apr 27, 2008 15:58:53 GMT -5
I am so fed up using sand... I've tried so many different types... nothing seems to really thrive in it, and I have lost quite a few to boot. I am thinking of just going to a peat/perlite mix and see what happens. >>> Rick <<< Rick: I like to use peat and perlite in place of peat and sand, using a standard 2:1, or 1:1 mix, depending on the species I am growing. It keeps great drainage, and is a lighter mix (especially in dealing with larger pots) Greg
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Sand
May 11, 2008 13:06:59 GMT -5
Post by jonnybee7 on May 11, 2008 13:06:59 GMT -5
I think most people are into the coarser sand ~ 0.8 mm in diameter and sort of angular that aerates the soil more than the fine sand. SIL-4 is fairly fine, I think. I too have used the SIL-4 sand. I'd say at its biggest, it is about .5mm. I ended up finding sand that is about 1mm in size. The brand name is Unimin Silica Sand and I found it at a local drilling supply store. Its sometimes used when they drill for water wells. It came in 50lb bags for a little over 10 bucks.
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Sand
Feb 2, 2009 7:26:00 GMT -5
Post by prmills on Feb 2, 2009 7:26:00 GMT -5
If anyone in the Edmonton area is interested, I found 55lbs bags of "Premium Play Sand" by Quikrete, about 1 mm in diameter. Bought it from Home Depot just north of the West Ed mall by Chapters, they were about $6.50 each. Still have to wash it like you won't believe though
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Sand
Feb 18, 2009 8:32:19 GMT -5
Post by Rymah on Feb 18, 2009 8:32:19 GMT -5
so i found some "Glass sand" at a local nursery basically it look like a smashed glass bottle the pieces are pretty big probablly 3 or 4 mm x 2 mm, would this work for cps??
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Sand
Feb 18, 2009 10:19:41 GMT -5
Post by mabudon on Feb 18, 2009 10:19:41 GMT -5
I think that is the new "reuse" of "recycled" glass, it is to replace silica in sandblasting apps.
If it is finally on the market and is truly smashed glass, it should be excellent I would think for sundews- any other thoughts? Besides the particle size sounding a bit on the large size it would not hurt your plants I wouldn't think
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