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  Re: Soil mix - grit - aquarium gravel?
From: Dan Levin levin at pixar.com> on 2002.04.05 at 16:24:04(8475)
> My main concern was just to make
> sure that there was no harm in using the stuff.

Don,

I'd like to interject one caveat with regard to using "aquarium"
or other graded sands/ gravel... Rinse them very well before use!

It's not uncommon for some of these materials to have a high salt
content when new if they originated from coastal deposits or mines
(even ancient sea beds... ). Such is the case where I live, anyway.

I have personally used graded sand/ aquarium gravel* in my aroid
mixes, but no longer. I find it's nowhere near as effective as small
3/8" clean lava rock or pumice for increasing porosity. At this
point (for me) the only value added in using graded sand is in adding
ballast to the pot for otherwise top-heavy plants.

-Dan

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