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Discuss water requirements, "soil" (growing media) and suitable planting containers

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By uusa2000
Posts:  425
Joined:  Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:46 pm
#288336
Their is no silica sand in my area. Can I use play sand for my Venus fly trap media? Or what alternative sand can I use?

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By Shadowtski
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Posts:  4720
Joined:  Tue Mar 22, 2016 8:19 am
#288337
I use Swimming Pool Filter Sand from the local BigBox building supply store. I pour some vinegar on it to test for Alkalinity; no bubbles means it's probably OK. I rinse and drain it, then check the drain water water with a TDS meter. This lets me know that there's no mineral buildup or contamination in the sand. TDS meters are available for ten bucks or so at AMAZON.

I've tried Play Sand and I don't recommend it, but that's just my two cents worth.

Good growing,
Mike
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By Nick
Location: 
Posts:  513
Joined:  Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:08 am
#288339
uusa2000 wrote:Their is no silica sand in my area. Can I use play sand for my Venus fly trap media? Or what alternative sand can I use?

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I have heard that "play sand" can have dissolved solids in it, and there isn't a great way to find if you have a good batch or not. Silica sand/pool filter sand is good to use, but sometimes harder to find in manageable quantities (either massive bulk or nothing).
I personally have had a lot of issues trying to perfect the "standard" carnivorous plant peat/sand/perlite mix. Once I switched to NZ LFSM, things became MUCH easier for me.
By uusa2000
Posts:  425
Joined:  Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:46 pm
#288388
Nick wrote:
uusa2000 wrote:Their is no silica sand in my area. Can I use play sand for my Venus fly trap media? Or what alternative sand can I use?

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I have heard that "play sand" can have dissolved solids in it, and there isn't a great way to find if you have a good batch or not. Silica sand/pool filter sand is good to use, but sometimes harder to find in manageable quantities (either massive bulk or nothing).
I personally have had a lot of issues trying to perfect the "standard" carnivorous plant peat/sand/perlite mix. Once I switched to NZ LFSM, things became MUCH easier for me.
Who is NZ and a TDS meter wouldn't help as suggested by the others?

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By Nick
Location: 
Posts:  513
Joined:  Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:08 am
#288390
uusa2000 wrote:
Nick wrote:
uusa2000 wrote:Their is no silica sand in my area. Can I use play sand for my Venus fly trap media? Or what alternative sand can I use?

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I have heard that "play sand" can have dissolved solids in it, and there isn't a great way to find if you have a good batch or not. Silica sand/pool filter sand is good to use, but sometimes harder to find in manageable quantities (either massive bulk or nothing).
I personally have had a lot of issues trying to perfect the "standard" carnivorous plant peat/sand/perlite mix. Once I switched to NZ LFSM, things became MUCH easier for me.
Who is NZ and a TDS meter wouldn't help as suggested by the others?

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NZ refers to New Zealand long fibered sphagnum moss. Many home and garden stores sell Chilean sphagnum, which is considered less optimal than that of NZ origin.

A TDS meter is useful so that you can monitor the amount of dissolved solids in your soil and water.

In addition to testing water before applying it to my VFTs, I also occasionally test the runoff afterwards to ensure nothing contaminated the soil.


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By uusa2000
Posts:  425
Joined:  Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:46 pm
#288392
Nick said there isn't a great way to check the sand

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By Nick
Location: 
Posts:  513
Joined:  Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:08 am
#288427
uusa2000 wrote:Nick said there isn't a great way to check the sand

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I should have clarified and said that there is not a great way from simply looking at a bag marked "play sand" without much other information to determine if it is safe media to use. As stated above, there are ways to test for TDS.
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By nimbulan
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Posts:  2395
Joined:  Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:03 pm
#288429
The problem with play sand is that it tends to be locally-sourced, so the composition is different in different areas. Some may be safe, some not. People generally do a vinegar test by submerging a small amount of sand in vinegar to see if it fizzes - the presence of acid-reactive minerals will kill CPs.

Many people use pool filter sand but I find it to be too fine myself. I've been looking at abrasive (sand blasting) companies myself. While silica sand has pretty much been eliminated as an abrasive material due to health concerns, you may be able to find some in your area and there are alternatives that work such as recycled crushed glass.
By uusa2000
Posts:  425
Joined:  Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:46 pm
#288472
boarderlib wrote:Perlite works in place of sand. And yes you can test any media for total dissolved solids. Run clean water through it and test the water. Media tested.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 30434.html
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 31990.html
I can't find clean perlite in st Louis, mo anywhere

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By uusa2000
Posts:  425
Joined:  Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:46 pm
#288473
I see everything evolves around Total Dissolved Solids... So long as the TDS are low enough, I can use it? And what should the TDS be?

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By uusa2000
Posts:  425
Joined:  Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:46 pm
#288474
nimbulan wrote:The problem with play sand is that it tends to be locally-sourced, so the composition is different in different areas. Some may be safe, some not. People generally do a vinegar test by submerging a small amount of sand in vinegar to see if it fizzes - the presence of acid-reactive minerals will kill CPs.

Many people use pool filter sand but I find it to be too fine myself. I've been looking at abrasive (sand blasting) companies myself. While silica sand has pretty much been eliminated as an abrasive material due to health concerns, you may be able to find some in your area and there are alternatives that work such as recycled crushed glass.
Wow I can use glass? How does that possible?

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By nimbulan
Location: 
Posts:  2395
Joined:  Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:03 pm
#288486
Glass pool filter or blasting sand is made from recycled glass bottles. Most glass is mostly made out of silica sand and is just as chemically inert so it's perfectly safe for CPs. I just bought some more today and luckily managed to find a coarser grade than I was using before.

Image
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By boarderlib
Posts:  1641
Joined:  Fri Dec 04, 2015 1:13 pm
#288503
uusa2000 wrote:
boarderlib wrote:Perlite works in place of sand. And yes you can test any media for total dissolved solids. Run clean water through it and test the water. Media tested.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 30434.html
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 31990.html
I can't find clean perlite in st Louis, mo anywhere

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Have you checked local garden centers? I find it hard to believe that you can't locally source either silica sand or perlite. Lowe's/Home Depot are not garden centers despite what most people think.

Try ordering it if you can't find it locally.
nimbulan wrote:Glass pool filter or blasting sand is made from recycled glass bottles. Most glass is mostly made out of silica sand and is just as chemically inert so it's perfectly safe for CPs. I just bought some more today and luckily managed to find a coarser grade than I was using before.

Image
As nimbulan stated sand blasting media is not sand, despite what the name says. That's why anyone who runs a sand blaster needs to wear the correct PPE, because glass oxide will tear your lungs up.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 30434.html
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 31990.html
By uusa2000
Posts:  425
Joined:  Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:46 pm
#288518
Im not familiar with garden centers. I'll just order premixed from fts

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