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Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: JakeFruit on January 16, 2020, 09:14:38 AM

Title: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: JakeFruit on January 16, 2020, 09:14:38 AM
I was looking at builders sand at HD, but the small size of the grains concerned me. After what I've read on here, I'm paranoid about creating a muddy, mucked-up mess in my pots. This product https://www.homedepot.com/p/SAKRETE-0-5-cu-ft-Step-1-Patio-Paver-Base-40100317/205153034 (https://www.homedepot.com/p/SAKRETE-0-5-cu-ft-Step-1-Patio-Paver-Base-40100317/205153034) looked like it had pretty big grains and is composed of silica & quartz. If I washed it well, does anybody think I'd have any issues using this as the "sand" in my mix?
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: Tommyng on January 16, 2020, 09:25:36 AM
I have used that in the bottom of pots before, it’s really too heavy for potting mix.
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: JakeFruit on January 16, 2020, 10:31:12 AM
Yes it is indeed that. Is the weight concern just regarding the mobility of the pots, or do the grains work their way to the bottom of the pot over time (or something similar)?
The goldie lox paralysis of (over)analysis has me stalled, deciding on the potting mix sand feels like a major parental choice :D
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: spaugh on January 16, 2020, 10:43:19 AM
Pumice or perlite would be better than stone paver base. 
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: brian on January 16, 2020, 11:02:15 AM
I started using turface for around 40% of my container mix and I'm really happy with it.  Sold at landscape supply stores, there's a store locator on their site. 
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: JakeFruit on January 16, 2020, 11:34:16 AM
I have both perlite & vermiculite going into the mix, plus pine bark, just looking for the "sand" component of the mix.
Thanks for the tip on turface, looking at what it is, it has to be carried around here somewhere.
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: FV Fruit Freak on January 16, 2020, 12:16:06 PM
I have both perlite & vermiculite going into the mix, plus pine bark, just looking for the "sand" component of the mix.
Thanks for the tip on turface, looking at what it is, it has to be carried around here somewhere.

What’s wrong with beach sand?
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: JakeFruit on January 16, 2020, 01:40:12 PM
What’s wrong with beach sand?
I don't know, salt content maybe? There are a lot of beaches around here ;)
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: Oncorhynchus on January 16, 2020, 01:51:14 PM
I’ve been using pool filter sand and have been pretty happy with it.  It has larger grains than most of the other sands commonly available in Florida.
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: JakeFruit on January 16, 2020, 03:53:12 PM
50lbs bag from HD for $9...sounds like a plan. I'll give the pool filter sand a try.
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: skhan on January 16, 2020, 04:05:51 PM
I was looking at builders sand at HD, but the small size of the grains concerned me. After what I've read on here, I'm paranoid about creating a muddy, mucked-up mess in my pots. This product https://www.homedepot.com/p/SAKRETE-0-5-cu-ft-Step-1-Patio-Paver-Base-40100317/205153034 (https://www.homedepot.com/p/SAKRETE-0-5-cu-ft-Step-1-Patio-Paver-Base-40100317/205153034) looked like it had pretty big grains and is composed of silica & quartz. If I washed it well, does anybody think I'd have any issues using this as the "sand" in my mix?

I've used this recently in my larger pots, I don't see a problem with it.
I mixed it up with my regular potting mix and place it into the bottom 1/3 of the new pot.

I'm mainly using it to provide weight for the larger plants, they tend to blow over easily with lighter weight mixes.

Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: Tommyng on January 16, 2020, 04:14:21 PM
Yes it is indeed that. Is the weight concern just regarding the mobility of the pots, or do the grains work their way to the bottom of the pot over time (or something similar)?
The goldie lox paralysis of (over)analysis has me stalled, deciding on the potting mix sand feels like a major parental choice :D

When it gets wet it really gets mucky and messy and takes valuable space for root growth.
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: JakeFruit on January 17, 2020, 08:31:43 AM
Yes, I can see that now. Moisture somehow made its way into the bag and it looks like a milky white mess in there. Skhan's use in the base had me thinking I'd keep the paver base to weigh down the pots, but then I thought about the RootBuilder pots I'm using and realized they don't really have a "bottom" to them. Oh well, it's back to Home Depot....
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: brian on January 17, 2020, 08:58:04 AM
I cut circles of landscape fabric and zip-tie them to the bottoms of my rootmaker pots, works great.  Then you can put heavy stuff at the bottom to keep it upright
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: JakeFruit on January 17, 2020, 04:00:16 PM
That's a good idea! I sprung for the bottoms from the company, but they didn't mention attaching them like that. Definitely going to do that, I've been picturing losing half my potting mix when I try to move them.
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: greenman62 on January 19, 2020, 02:46:43 PM
i use lava rock for the bottom of my pots, and builders sand as about %20 of my mix
the rest being mostly potting mix (peat+perlite) and about 10-15% compost.
i actually like the sand. it provides good drainage and the roots can branch out to a fine mesh.

i remember pulling out a 7-gallon container i had a papaya in, and it seemed to LOVE the sand.
there was a ton of fine roots that grew a very healthy papaya plant for several years.
i had grown it in pure sand just to start the seeds, i removed all but one, and just let it grow.
Title: Re: Paver Base in Potting Mix?
Post by: SeaWalnut on January 19, 2020, 05:24:47 PM
In my experience ,coarse sand makes a better draining soil than those small pebbles ,perlite or LECA ceramic.
Sand makes a web free of soil from wich the water drains easily.
Bigger agregates like pebbles and LECA ceramic get incorporated ( isolated) in the soil and the draining its slower.
Big tip- when i mix the sand with the soil i try not to mix it too well or else the sand web will be destroyed and it will act just like bigger stonds covered with mud,ie- not much draining.
I mix it until there are formed little boulders of soil covered in sand with the sand looking clean on the exterior.

When pouring water,it drains through the sand web between those boulders of clay and spreads evenly and fast.