Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - Best container mix without pine bark fines?

drew51 · December 7, 2014

I like to use Diatomaceous earth instead of vermiculite. DE really does not ever breakdown. Both perlite and vermiculite do eventually. Hard to find the right size though. It is sold as oil absorbent, not the food grade powder, do not use that!
Ultrasorb is the best I found but O'reilly's auto parts stopped carrying it. I have enough on hand for a couple years anyway. I like to recycle in my raised beds, and it makes a great additive there too.

December 7, 2014	#15
drew51 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Sterling Heights, MI Zone 6a/5b Posts: 1,302	I like to use Diatomaceous earth instead of vermiculite. DE really does not ever breakdown. Both perlite and vermiculite do eventually. Hard to find the right size though. It is sold as oil absorbent, not the food grade powder, do not use that! Ultrasorb is the best I found but O'reilly's auto parts stopped carrying it. I have enough on hand for a couple years anyway. I like to recycle in my raised beds, and it makes a great additive there too.