Gardeners' World grit

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Ivan
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Gardeners' World grit

Post by Ivan »

Can anyone please tell me what ''grit'' specifically is used in Gardeners' World? What mineral is it? Here, limestone is readily available and very inexpensive in large quantity. I can also get marble used for chicken grit but it is more expensive and I find it is very heavy. As far as aquarium stones, they too are pricey and heavy and most are tumbled and too rounded for my liking. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: Gardeners' World grit

Post by FaeLLe »

It is not limestone, you need something inert that does not dissolve or affect pH.
Crushed quartz will be exactly what you need.
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Re: Gardeners' World grit

Post by DaveW »

Most of the potting grit sold around here is flint grit, hence neutral PH. I would avoid any alkaline grit for South American cacti, including chicken grit that contains oyster shell. It is debatable if any North American cacti need alkaline grit either, even if they grow on limestone in habitat. I seem to remember Marlon Machado saying cacti growing on limestone only grew when they received acid rain and stopped growing immediately the rock turned the water alkaline.

http://succulent-plant.com/soil_ph.html

http://ralph.cs.cf.ac.uk/Cacti/Cactus%2 ... linity.pdf
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Ivan
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Re: Gardeners' World grit

Post by Ivan »

DaveW wrote:Most of the potting grit sold around here is flint grit, hence neutral PH.
Thanks, Dave. That looks like the right stuff. It appears to be chicken grit but without oyster shells. That will give me a staring point when I search for it. At least chicken grit comes in smaller sizes not like the construction stones and gravel I have seen around here.
FaeLLe wrote:Crushed quartz will be exactly what you need.
I would love quartz but alas it is not easy to find around here.
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Re: Gardeners' World grit

Post by JaneO »

I use this. It looks great and most succulents grow readily in it. Price reduction now too....
https://www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/do ... g-3mm.html

I think I bought five or six bags to avoid delivery charge.
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Re: Gardeners' World grit

Post by RAYWOODBRIDGE »

Hi Ivan
Don't know which part of Canada you live in ,but Lava rock 3-5mm grit would be fine, and you would not need to add clay pellets ( cat litter ) as the lava would do both jobs.
Just don't know if it is available near you, here in Britain we can get it from Germany ( the product is from Iceland ) for one 25kg sack. Cost was £18.95 with free delivery.
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Re: Gardeners' World grit

Post by JaneO »

Hi Ivan,
I took Gardeners World as TV programme! Did not look where you live! Hope you find something suitable. There is quite a lot of aquarium grit which I have found agreeable, even if it needs washing first!
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Re: Gardeners' World grit

Post by ralphrmartin »

I use granite grit from the local quarry. I've seen quite a few C&S growing on granite in habitat...
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Re: Gardeners' World grit

Post by iann »

Granite, flint, quartz, its all pretty inert stuff. Usually depends what is available locally. Up here it is quartz. Just avoid limestone and all its variants, such as marble, chalk, or oyster shell. You can always test a small sample in vinegar, any noticeable fizzing is a bad sign (unless you're trying to grow authentic-looking Mexican calciphiles!).

Then make sure you choose a sharp grit. Smooth stones don't help drainage as much. Pick a size to suit your pot size, but probably 2-5mm in most cases.
Cheshire, UK
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Re: Gardeners' World grit

Post by DaveW »

I also got granite grit from my builders merchants since it is used on steps to help make them non slip and in paving stones etc.
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