tracydr let me know how this works for you. I asked a similar question in the Fruit & Orchard Forum a few months back. I asked if I could use Food Grade or Cosmetic Grade Kaolin clay as a substitute since no one sells Surround in Arizona and shipping costs a mint. The answer from harvestman and others who's opinion I respect was a resounding "No". They said the particle size of the Kaolin clay in Surround has been made smaller than Kaolin clay in other forms. That the smaller particle size allows plants to easily breath through it. Of course no one had ever used any other form of Kaolin clay to check it out but thats what the manufacturer claims. I certainly think its worth a try. If it works please share your results here as it could save others a bit of cash.

I will. I havent tried it since I dont have any bug problem right now. It's supposed to help with sun scalding too, though? If that's the case, I might try it on a tomato plant that has a lovely one pounder starting to get burned. Maybe I could just spray that tomato to help protect it?

I will certainly test it on a disposable plant before using it on a favorite, first. Last year, towards the middle of July, the squash bugs hit me hard. I have a lot more cucurbits this year and I'd hate to have to buy 50 lbs of Surround if this could work.
Seriously, how much could they really change the size of a clay particle? Sounds more like a sales pitch to me. I say we do some careful experiments on plants we don't love too much.

I think it may just be slick marketing to. However there are ways to reduce particle size. I'm just not so sure that Kaolin clay needs it. If you have ever worked with the stuff and you have then you know it suspends in water fairly easily.

So did anyone try this yet? Surround is too expensive but plus 20.00 for shipping too!

Ingredients

Kaolin, Water, Bentonite, Glycerine, Boric Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, and Aloe Vera with artificial peppermint fragrance added. Except there are more then those just two ingredients. Probably not good for use on plants.

Surround MP is a highly-refined kaolin down to 1.4 micron. This particulate size is the key to its effectiveness and unlikely to replicate without certain equipment unfortunately.

I'm having trouble getting the clay to stick to newer growth on roses. Would anyone have suggestions on how to make the clay stick better to new growth? Right now it just beads off. Thank you in advance for your insight!