Too Moist

doody

The oil dry I use is breaking down to fast. I also think it's holding too much water, but then again I am still trying to get a hang of this watering thing. I do use the chopstick method, but somehow I still manage to get sighns of over watering. Is it because the oil dry is breaking down, or am I stupified when it comes to reading my chopsticks.
Is chicken grit the same as granit, and is it a good substitute for oil dry? The other ingredients in my soil are aquarium gravel, peat and pine bark.

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"What we see depends mainly on what we look for", because "Creation and art are defined only by the boundaries we confine ourselves"

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Erik

I think this must be the first time I've heard of anybody using oil-dry. I thought that stuff was supposed to absorb?

Have you tried Schultz clay soil conditioner? You can get it at Walmart, and this time of year it would be on discount. I picked up some 40lb bags last year for $4 a piece.

The peat and pine bark sound alright (I use them too).

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KZitzewitz

I also have never heard of Oil-Dry being used, in fact I have never heard of it period. From the name though, it sounds like it should be rather absorbent. As far as reading chopsticks, I never have, maybe I should, but my plants seem to be fine. My suggestions to your current mix would be this. Remove the peat. Peat usually has characteristics either to alkaline or to acidic for most of our plants, I can remember which, and it also soaks up water pretty heavily, and that could be it. My other suggestion would be to get the clay soil conditioner as was also advised, or get some turface mvp from you local store that would sell it., both hold water nicely, are great for all plants and provide good drainage in the mean time. Personally my soil, which seems to work fine is a variation of 50/50 Turface MVP and Whitney farms fine orchid bark....
These are my suggestions, and some of the better knowledgable people will be able to shed light on your other questions. Also don't feel you have to use my recipe, each person finds one that works, and uses it, if you find another, it may be better for your area and climate, and we also have different plants probably. One day, when I get some more conifers, I plan on adding volcanic pumice...

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doody

Oil dry is the stuff they sell at auto stores to absorb oil spills. A lot of people use it. I believe that turface, soil conditioner, kitty litter, and oil dry are pretty much the same thing. They are all fired clay. They all absorb water. The difference is how fast they break down, and how much water they hold. (I think).

The reason I am asking about chicken grit (or granit if it's the same thing) is because I can get it free.

__________________
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for", because "Creation and art are defined only by the boundaries we confine ourselves"

both quotes written by authors unknown

plainsbonsai

Chicken Grit is another name for crushed granite. I have used granite with mixes in the past but have found (for my area Nebraska) that it does not hold enough moisture during the hot days of summer.

Tony

Doody, if you are going to try chicken grit, make sure it says crushed granite on the bag. There are other things being sold for chicken grit these days, like crushed oyster shells. Probably wouldn't want that in your mix.

Tony