As a result of an earlier inquiry, I have received many different answers to "what kind of sand to mix with peat for a standard CP mix?"
I have been told: play sand, quartz sand, pool filter sand, sandblasting sand, etc.
I ended up buying a bag of sandblasting sand from an auto parts store, which was pricey. The salesman said it was silica sand used for sandblasting cars. It is pretty fine.
I took it home, and being the airhead I am wont to be, in my excitement mixed it with peat moss and distilled water to pot up all my new acquisitions. Fortunately, I received a note from the indispensable Lauraz5 just before potting up my plants - warning me to rinse the sand, which I had not done. I also took her suggestion to do the “vinegar test” on the sand, which was negative…no foaming/bubbling. For the next batch, I rinsed the sand, which was surprisingly very clean…the water ran essentially clear even with the first rinse. I’m wondering if perhaps they wash this type of sand (for using to sandblast cars) before they bag it up. My question is…do you think it is safe to use the original batch that I had mixed without rinsing the sand?
One more question regarding LFS vs. live sphagnum: Is there any difference between bags of dried LFS off the store shelf and live sphagnum from our bog…other than one is dried and the other living? Can the two mosses be used interchangeably?
OK, I promise not to ask any more questions...at least for tonight!
John
I have been told: play sand, quartz sand, pool filter sand, sandblasting sand, etc.
I ended up buying a bag of sandblasting sand from an auto parts store, which was pricey. The salesman said it was silica sand used for sandblasting cars. It is pretty fine.
I took it home, and being the airhead I am wont to be, in my excitement mixed it with peat moss and distilled water to pot up all my new acquisitions. Fortunately, I received a note from the indispensable Lauraz5 just before potting up my plants - warning me to rinse the sand, which I had not done. I also took her suggestion to do the “vinegar test” on the sand, which was negative…no foaming/bubbling. For the next batch, I rinsed the sand, which was surprisingly very clean…the water ran essentially clear even with the first rinse. I’m wondering if perhaps they wash this type of sand (for using to sandblast cars) before they bag it up. My question is…do you think it is safe to use the original batch that I had mixed without rinsing the sand?
One more question regarding LFS vs. live sphagnum: Is there any difference between bags of dried LFS off the store shelf and live sphagnum from our bog…other than one is dried and the other living? Can the two mosses be used interchangeably?
OK, I promise not to ask any more questions...at least for tonight!
John