Anyone have any success using soaked, washed and screened Thrifty-Sorb, www.moltan.com, as a medium or media component? I picked up a 40lb bag at a local automotive parts store for only $7!

After washing through a waterlily basket, my Cyps sit happily in the pure stuff with dormant bud just exposed in pots and a basket outdoors.

I'm thinking of mixing it with Cactus/Palm/Citrus potting soil for a potted Arisaema mix and for use with new Habenaria davidii, dentata, and longidenticulata tubers.

Bonaventure Magrys
New Jersey

I have never used it but I think it should work great with your garden plants and its cheap!

I have never used it, but I imagine you will just have to experiment with it.

I see no harm in trying it.

It sounds and looks like a good product. Experiment and find out and keep us informed.

It looks similar to the Turface products that some of us are using for Cyps. As long as it (the clay) is fired enough to make stable small particals it should work. Some of the "oil absorbents" are not fired well , they work to pick up oil but get slimey (clay) with water.

Well, several weeks now and not slimy. If you wet the product from the bag and dont strain it, it does turn into a muck. Lots of fine powder there, must take care to not breathe any in. After dumping a good amount into a 5 gallon pail of water, carefully decanting and adding fresh water with stirring and repeating, I put a coupla handfuls at a time in a seive basket and blasted through with a garden hose.

I estimate I loose about 40% of the volume, perhaps actually more but made up for with slight swelling of particle size (I think).

Cyp pots/basket against side of house with old windows protecting them. Some material is still left in my pail and seiving pot exposed to the elements so I will check it periodically and give an update.

Can't find any good perlite here. Its all MiracleGro and most particles are sand and dust sized.