FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

PiranhaPlanter1 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.

I agree my plants perk up within days of repotting in nzlfsm.

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In Pure nz lfsm?

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I used an inch of growstone GS-2 stones on the bottom I used plastic mesh to keep from sub falling out. Then I put 2 inches of Canadian spaghnum peat and then lined the inner circumference of the pot with the nzlfsm poked a 2 inch hole in the middle, wrapped the rhizome and roots in the nzlfsm and plopped it in. Then I carefully used the longest fibers to again go around the plant and inner circumference. New growth occured within a day.

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Anyone following my post can see the results and I'll post a newer pic right now.

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No sand or perlite? How big is your pot?

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uusa2000 wrote:No sand or perlite? How big is your pot?

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6 inch pot, no play sand because I'm not a fan of Russian roulette. The growstone s I'm using are recycled glass and have been confirmed 100% silica. They don't break down and aren't 20% dust at the bottom

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Can it be mixed in with the moss?

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Absolutely. I just tried to speak to my own eye haha.

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PiranhaPlanter1 wrote:Absolutely. I just tried to apeal to my own eye haha.

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You can order silica sand on Amazon.

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I ordered New Zealand peat, organic petite, and silica. From what I've heard from a pro grower, it's a 5:3:2 mixture respectively. I haven't tried it yet due to a physical injury.

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I had this laying around, is it safe?

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uusa2000 wrote: I had this laying around, is it safe?

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Shadowtski wrote: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

Right here is your answer. That's the only way to be certain.

http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 30434.html
http://www.flytrapcare.com/phpBB3/board ... 31990.html

Would that work to fix Calcium if any in sand ?

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uusa2000 wrote:Would that work to fix Calcium if any in sand ?

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It would mean you should not use that sand. It would be much more time, money, and effort to remove calcium from poor media than it would to buy proper media.

DRBeck wrote:I ordered New Zealand peat, organic petite, and silica. From what I've heard from a pro grower, it's a 5:3:2 mixture respectively. I haven't tried it yet due to a physical injury.

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It's been stirring in my mind for awhile. I want to do a fine silica, course silica, perilite and NZ lfsm. I already started my concoction without measurements.. or perilite but it's working well. The top dressing is a marbled swirl of silica and peat moss that changes every watering.

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