I make a similar mix with turface, pine bark and Grani-grit. Any
feedstore with battered pick-up trucks parked in front of it will
carry grani-grit, at least in spring (it is a granite gravel that
comes in several coarseness levels to be used in different ages of
chickens). I get the coarsest type. My only criticism of it is that
the color (a bluish white) clashes with the turface a little bit.

It's always entertaining for me to buy grani-grit, because the owner
of the store always wants me to discuss my chickens.

Nina

In a message dated 11/4/2004 11:08:47 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

Any
feedstore with battered pick-up trucks parked in front of it will
carry grani-grit, at least in spring (it is a granite gravel that
comes in several coarseness levels to be used in different ages of
chickens).

Chicken grit varies by where you live. In Florida it is very likely to
crushed oyster shell as opposed to granite. Crushed oyster shell will be high pH
and possibly, if not well washed, very salty.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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In a message dated 11/4/2004 11:08:47 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

Any
feedstore with battered pick-up trucks parked in front of it will
carry grani-grit, at least in spring (it is a granite gravel that
comes in several coarseness levels to be used in different ages of
chickens).

Chicken grit varies by where you live. In Florida it is very likely to
crushed oyster shell as opposed to granite. Crushed oyster shell will be high pH
and possibly, if not well washed, very salty.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Billy: I get my Granni-grit from the N. Carolina Granite Co. They market it
from granite chips removed from large slabs which have been cut and
polished. Incidently, Grani-grit is their registered trade name, so if it
appears on the package, you can be sure that it's granite, not oysters.


marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "Billy M. Rhodes"
To:
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 4:12 PM
Subject: [IBC] Help: locating coarse sand as a soil component


In a message dated 11/4/2004 11:08:47 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

Any
feedstore with battered pick-up trucks parked in front of it will
carry grani-grit, at least in spring (it is a granite gravel that
comes in several coarseness levels to be used in different ages of
chickens).

Chicken grit varies by where you live. In Florida it is very likely to
crushed oyster shell as opposed to granite. Crushed oyster shell will be
high pH
and possibly, if not well washed, very salty.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++


************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Billy: I get my Granni-grit from the N. Carolina Granite Co. They market it
from granite chips removed from large slabs which have been cut and
polished. Incidently, Grani-grit is their registered trade name, so if it
appears on the package, you can be sure that it's granite, not oysters.


marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "Billy M. Rhodes"
To:
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 4:12 PM
Subject: [IBC] Help: locating coarse sand as a soil component


In a message dated 11/4/2004 11:08:47 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

Any
feedstore with battered pick-up trucks parked in front of it will
carry grani-grit, at least in spring (it is a granite gravel that
comes in several coarseness levels to be used in different ages of
chickens).

Chicken grit varies by where you live. In Florida it is very likely to
crushed oyster shell as opposed to granite. Crushed oyster shell will be
high pH
and possibly, if not well washed, very salty.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++


************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Here in India it was a perpetual headache to find coarse sand or fine grit.
One cumbersome method was to crush the well backed clay bricks into grit and
then sifting it through different sieves and getting the desired stuff.
Brick backing is a sizeable industry in India and because of the cheap
labour cost ($2 per day!) and low infrastructure cost (Brick Kilns are 100%
labour oriented and no machine/power is used), it does not cost much.

But lately we have found other alternatives. Quarry sand (something like
Grani-grit) and mountain river sand is quite coarse and available in nearby
areas. However the brick-grit has an advantage. It absorbs water and is
also light weight. So many Indian Bonsaiests use it. I wander if this can
be a
substitute in the West!

Anil Kaushik
Bonsai Club (India)
Chandigarh "The City Beautiful"



I make a similar mix with turface, pine bark and . Any
feedstore with battered pick-up trucks parked in front of it will
carry grani-grit, at least in spring (it is a granite gravel that
comes in several coarseness levels to be used in different ages of
chickens). I get the coarsest type. My only criticism of it is that
the color (a bluish white) clashes with the turface a little bit.

It's always entertaining for me to buy grani-grit, because the owner
of the store always wants me to discuss my chickens.

Nina

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Here in India it was a perpetual headache to find coarse sand or fine grit.
One cumbersome method was to crush the well backed clay bricks into grit and
then sifting it through different sieves and getting the desired stuff.
Brick backing is a sizeable industry in India and because of the cheap
labour cost ($2 per day!) and low infrastructure cost (Brick Kilns are 100%
labour oriented and no machine/power is used), it does not cost much.

But lately we have found other alternatives. Quarry sand (something like
Grani-grit) and mountain river sand is quite coarse and available in nearby
areas. However the brick-grit has an advantage. It absorbs water and is
also light weight. So many Indian Bonsaiests use it. I wander if this can
be a
substitute in the West!

Anil Kaushik
Bonsai Club (India)
Chandigarh "The City Beautiful"



I make a similar mix with turface, pine bark and . Any
feedstore with battered pick-up trucks parked in front of it will
carry grani-grit, at least in spring (it is a granite gravel that
comes in several coarseness levels to be used in different ages of
chickens). I get the coarsest type. My only criticism of it is that
the color (a bluish white) clashes with the turface a little bit.

It's always entertaining for me to buy grani-grit, because the owner
of the store always wants me to discuss my chickens.

Nina

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

In a message dated 11/5/2004 6:36:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

However the brick-grit has an advantage. It absorbs water and is also
light weight. So many Indian Bonsaiests use it. I wonder if this can be a
substitute in the West!


Basically that is Turface. Turface is a fired clay particle, but it is
made directly not broken down from bricks. In the US Turface is used on
athletic fields and golf courses to adsorb moisture in wet areas. It is relatively
available in most parts of the US.
However, the "course sand" being discussed here is used as a drainage
component of the soil and we don't want it to hold water.

Bonsai soils in the US are frequently made up of three components in
varying proportions depending upon the preference of the grower and the plant
being grown.

1. A moisture retentive component such as Turface.

2. An organic component such as composted pine bark.

3. A drainage component such as "course sand," pea gravel or pumice.

Billy on the Florida Space Coast

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

In a message dated 11/5/2004 6:36:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

However the brick-grit has an advantage. It absorbs water and is also
light weight. So many Indian Bonsaiests use it. I wonder if this can be a
substitute in the West!


Basically that is Turface. Turface is a fired clay particle, but it is
made directly not broken down from bricks. In the US Turface is used on
athletic fields and golf courses to adsorb moisture in wet areas. It is relatively
available in most parts of the US.
However, the "course sand" being discussed here is used as a drainage
component of the soil and we don't want it to hold water.

Bonsai soils in the US are frequently made up of three components in
varying proportions depending upon the preference of the grower and the plant
being grown.

1. A moisture retentive component such as Turface.

2. An organic component such as composted pine bark.

3. A drainage component such as "course sand," pea gravel or pumice.

Billy on the Florida Space Coast

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

In a message dated 11/6/2004 1:02:01 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

But Jay's question was about what to ask for. Blasting sand
is a start. Otherwise, he needs to know WHAT grade of coarseness
to ask for, and nobody seems to know or be volunteering what the
standards are for coarseness (if there are such standards), e.g.
#1, #2 or grade A, grade B.



I have used sandblasting sand for years in my soil mixes. The supply house
from which I get my sand has 3 grades and I simply get a bag of the most
coarse and it works fine. Very inexpensive too. One does need to sift it though to
get the fine material out.

On Turface (calcinated clay), again, for years, I have used the "oil dry" or
similar which is available from auto supply and chemical businesses. It is
significantly less expensive than Turface and because I repot annually, its
break down is not a problem in my containers.

Thomas L. Zane
100 Gull Cir N
Daytona Beach, FL 32119-1320

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
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