Miss-post, sorry.

This post was edited by jpaz on Sat, Sep 13, 14 at 13:51

Store like Home depot, Lowe's, Rona, Canadian tire, Wallmart...and probably most if not all garden centers carry perlite. Bags are not too large - I have no idea how much since I don't buy small bags -in big box stores just go to where they store bags of soil & perlite should be there too (also vermiculite-don't use that-, and all kinds of other soil mixes and so on).
I buy large bags of it in garden centre. You could check with hydroponic stores, they definitely carry it & probably even the larger-sized one. These stores will have probably other 'things' like pumice, hydroton etc. I never bought any, so call & check. Definitely they will have some stuff (in Vancouver...)

You should be able to find Turface too, search on internet. It is used a lot by golf courses. Otherwise, Napa carries suitable product. Kitty litter is OK, but you have to find right kind (not clumping) otherwise will end up with mush.

I have used aquarium gravel, it was suggested that it should be preferably clear/natural color (I have some pink, green - so far no problems).
Chicken grit is suitable (granite chips) & very inexpensive (probably less than aq. gravel - less than $10/50lb bag).
I use it a lot, in the mix and for top dressing. Make sure it's not oyster shells.

You could possibly find some quartz or crushed granite where they sell rocks/gravel, it just has to be small enough.

Search this site for "gritty mix", you'll find a lot of info.

If you have to use existing soil, you should mix it with at least 50% (or more) of perlite.

BTW, I am in Ontario (close to Toronto).
Rina

This post was edited by rina_ on Sat, Sep 13, 14 at 19:55

ok thanks alot! :)
i couldn't find anything at my local home depot but i'll keep looking ;_;