[IBC] Oil-Dri, Turface, etc.
 

I won't recommend Oil-Dri after trying it this spring for the first
time. I have noticed on some trees that didn't make the repot, (it
couldn't have been my fault), the Oil-Dri was already breaking down.
Some had started turning to dust and som were breaking down into fine
size particles. In a word, junk. I'll never use it again. One clay
type particle I am experimenting with is an aquatic gardening substrate
called Flourite. It is a harder clay than Profile, also heavier. The
kicker is that the plant actually feeds off the clay particles. The
roots, when touching the particle, receives Iron and trace elements. In
aquaria, I have verified the substantial growth improvement of Flourite
over sand and even Profile, which is very good. I had extra last spring
and put it in with a ficus benjamina. I then watched it outgrow
everything else and was very healthy. I have recently started some more
controlled experiments. Will share them when I have some results.
Brian Tucson, AZ Sunset Zone 12

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[IBC] Oil-Dri, Turface, etc.
 

One clay type particle I am experimenting with is an aquatic gardening
substrate called Flourite. It is a harder clay than Profile, also heavier.
The kicker is that the plant actually feeds off the clay particles.

I have been using Flourite as a top dressing where moss is not available or
doesn't work. It makes an attractive ground cover. I would like to know from
your experiments if it is better than Turface as a soil ingredient.
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)