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turface substitute
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Posted by fulton 5 (My Page) on Sun, Nov 22, 09 at 10:33
Can't find the link I thought I saved discussing an oil-dry product from a major auto parts retailer that could be used as a substite for turface.Also, are there any toxicity issues as I'll be growing food using this product. Thanking you in advance.
Larry
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: turface substitute
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| You are looking for Napa Auto Parts Floor Dry product. It is made from calcined DE. There are no toxicity issues as it's just baked DE. As with anything that can be dusty it's a good idea to work upwind of it or wet it in the bag to reduce airborne particles you might breath in. |
RE: turface substitute
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| New one on me. Can I ask what the goal/purpose is? Dave |
RE: turface substitute
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| I have never used turface as a soil conditioner but I have used baked diotomaceous earth (DE) in potting mix. I purchased it at Rural King (a large, regional chain farm supply store) as oil absorb for just a bit more than the baked clay oil absorb (kitty litter) product. The only complaint I had about the baked DE was that it grew algae at the surface of the starter pots. Could be that the total mix was growing algae due to moisture retention issues and it just showed up more clearly on the white DE surfaces. Don't know really. Otherwise, the baked DE oil absorb product worked well for me mixed with spagnum peat and over all was cheaper than perlite or vermiculite by volume. |
RE: turface substitute
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Dave,
I want to try some of Raybo's mixes but am having trouble locating turface locally.
Larry |
RE: turface substitute
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| Larry, okay so in an earthbox type set-up the mix will be covered so algae wouldn't be a problem I guess. I got that baked DE oil absorb for something like 6 bucks per 50-lb bag. I guess you'd have to contact the manufacturer to ask whether they put any additives in the mix because I don't remember anything on the ingredients table other than diotomaceous earth. Not even any other inert ingredients. Who knows whether they added an "anti-caking" agent or something. I guess just call them and ask. |
RE: turface substitute
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| Ahhh. Thanks for the explanation. Dave |
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