Where to buy soil components

[rnoble]

I looked across the board index and searched for this, so I hope it's not a redundant question. Does anybody have good sources for organic and inorganic soil components? I like to use a combination of haydite, turface, pine bark and fir bark. I have been buying it mixed at 25% of each component from a somewhat nearby club (1 hour away), but that is inconvenient. I was hoping find sources to buy in bulk (20 - 50 lb bags). I've looked at the online retailers but of course their prices are ridiculous from what I've seen. Any suggestions/ideas would be appreciated!

Rod
Bowling Green, Ohio
Zone 5b

[jpaulhamus]

Yeah trying to find a local supplier can be tough and it's usually your cheapest option. Getting stuff online can be expensive (shipping a 50lb bag of something isn't cheap). I'm interested in seeing if anyone knows of any good online suppliers for the pine bark. Every place I've looked at locally that carries pine bark it's basically a mulch (big, chunky, etc) and not small like I want. So if anyone buys pine bark online please post the info. I wouldn't think that would be as bad on the shipping either. So back to your question I would look around locally to see what you can find. Turface is used on athletic fields so check ag or feed stores, sports stores, etc to see if they carry it or can get it in. A 50 lb bag should run you around $15. I like to put granite grit in my soil and that's easy to get at ag stores. A 50 lb bag runs around $10. Haydite is tough to find. I'm not sure what it's main use is outside the bonsai world (anyone know?). I got some from a local club 2 years ago. You can also look around for alternatives. Lots of people use oil dry (very similar to turface) and that can be found at any automotive store. Lots of people use Dry Stall too, I guess that's like pumice. It's used to dry stuff up in barn stalls, so it's available at ag and feed stores. I would think you could find fir bark locally. I believe orchid potting soil at like Lowes is fir bark (I'm sure I read that on a package once). You can also try reptile bark, which is made up of 1/4 inch or so chunks of fir bark, found at local pet stores for like $8 a bag. I hope that helps you out some. Jason

[rnoble]

Thanks Jason. I'll keep searching. Haydite is used in the construction industry in concrete and asphalt. It's lightweight and strong.

[jpaulhamus]

Yeah good hunting. Thanks for telling me what haydite is used for. I wonder if a contractor could get any in. I'm sure it's one of those things where it's really tough to get in small amounts of it, like a few hundred pounds or something. The local club that got some in around here ordered in 10,500 lbs of the stuff!

[trix]

Check your local redi-mix company for haydite. They may call it "light weight". You should be able to buy in bulk, just carry your own container or trailer.

[jpaulhamus]

Thanks for the info about the haydite!