Inexpensive Turface MVP

[Stan Kengai]

Soil sifting time is here again, in anticipation of next spring and the few quinces I'll repot this fall. In checking around today for soil components, I came across Turface MVP at Ewing Irrigation for $9 for a 50 lb. bag. I'm not guaranteeing your local store will have it at this price, but that's definitely the cheapest I've ever seen it. Ewing is a fairly national chain, with a decent number of stores in the southeast, especially in areas with a lot of golf courses (assumably their main source of business), and I'm lucky enough to have one a few miles down the road. Anyway, just thought I'd share in case anyone else needed any. Now if I could just find some pumice.

 

[mat]

cool. There's one in Orlando. I'll check them out. Thanks.

 

[Poink88]

I have been buying mine at Ewing as well but not at that price...it is around $14.00/50 lb bag here. That is great price!

 

[edprocoat]

I have only bought it from Bonsai nurseries in Florida, and I get really screwed too. I paid $15.00 for a ziplock bag that maybe held 3-4 pounds.

I have read where it needs to be sifted and would assume its when you buy it like this ? What would you use for sifting it, and I guess the reason for sifting is to remove fine dust that would collect and clog the soil slowing draining ? The stuff in the baggies has no dust in it, but the price that I thought was not so bad is actually piracy.

ed

 

[Redwood Ryan]

None within 100 miles of me

 

[Poink88]

I have only bought it from Bonsai nurseries in Florida, and I get really screwed too. I paid $15.00 for a ziplock bag that maybe held 3-4 pounds.

I have read where it needs to be sifted and would assume its when you buy it like this ? What would you use for sifting it, and I guess the reason for sifting is to remove fine dust that would collect and clog the soil slowing draining ? The stuff in the baggies has no dust in it, but the price that I thought was not so bad is actually piracy.

Ed,

I do not sift mine though I have 3 stage sifter for bonsai soil. I need the fines due to TX heat.

 

[edprocoat]

Ed,

I do not sift mine though I have 3 stage sifter for bonsai soil. I need the fines due to TX heat.

Do you mean to retain the water ? I am usually in the warmth so I use some potting soil in with mine to retain the water a bit longer. If the fines will do it without clogging the soil then that would be even better.

ed

 

[Poink88]

Yep, it helps slow the drying a bit.

 

[JudyB]

I have to sift mine as well. I use the fines on my lawn.... Ed, you can get turface in Hilliard for cheap, last time I got it, at $10. for 50lb bags. (a few years ago)

brv549 is that you Brian Van Fleet???

 

[mcpesq817]

None within 100 miles of me

Ryan, check out Southern States. It's a cooperative, so not all the stores have the same stock. I've found a few places in MD that are about a half hour drive. The one in Charlottesville is really great - it had turface, dry stall (pumice) and chicken grit. I stopped there while on a long weekend at a b&b in c'ville - my wife wasn't too amused when she saw that I had packed up the car with about 700 pounds (literally) of soil components, but what can I say

 

[Poink88]

None within 100 miles of me

Check for local/nearest distributor here http://www.turface.com/distributors/state/