Regarding sand/gravel replacements:

"John T. Jarrett" wrote:

How about the Oil Dry they sell at Tractor Supply real cheap?

John -
Oil-Dri is not a sand-equivalent for bonsai soil, but rather a
Turface-equivalent. Like Turface, it is baked clay granules, and is
water (or oil!) absorbent. It does not "clump" like kitty litter which
has a clumping agent (typically sodium bentonite) added to the clay
granules.

Be careful, tho, Oil Dry's typically not kilned at the high
temperature that Turface and Terragreen are, and may break down more
quickly in soil, especially when kept wet. Also, since it is made for
floors not trees, it's possible that some batches could have
contaminants that would be bad for plant growth. Definitely don't
reuse what you sweep off your shop floor

Anita

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