Horticultural Grit

[Lizzieg]

I'm new to planting and have been advised to get Horticultural grit!
I don't know where to start! There are so many variables and brands!

- Do I really need it?
- Does buying more expensive make it better
- What brand/type would you advise

Thanks Lizzie

 

[DirtMechanic]

Well no one needs to count on me for advice but perhaps this overview article will help you get your feet under yourself a little better. Grit is also a word used in things like sandpaper, usually indicating a certain size or mix. In plants, it is used to balance pore space and increase drainage without making the mix too loose. It sounds like you are growing succulents perhaps?

What Is Horticultural Sand: How To Use Sand For Plants

Horticultural sand for plants serves one basic purpose, it improves soil drainage. This is critical for healthy plant growth. For information about and to learn when to use horticultural sand, click on the following article.

www.gardeningknowhow.com

 

[Marck]

Greetings, welcome to the Forums.

Yes, please explain more about your planting situation, such as which plants are being grown and their location. It is not clear if you are speaking about a container or in-ground situation. As always, photographs do help immensely.

Grit can mean any granular component of a soil or potting medium, such as sand, pumice, scoria, perlite, expanded clays (such as Turface), etc. Their relative merits depend on the situation in which they are used. Of course, the finer points of such comparison remain the subject of opinion and debate.

 

[Zenj]

The brand I use is this usually the larger bag around £4.99 lasts a long time uses adding to compost,topping off seed trays improving drainage when planting, planting pond plants ecy I use it all the time and never without a bag..

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I always have a couple of bags of sharp sand on the go. It is a very cheap way to buy it but you have to be careful as sometimes it is mined where there is salt water and contains a lot of mineral. I slit open the top of the bag and wait til the rain has filled it, then pierce the bottom and leave it to drain and stand for a few more rainfalls to wash through, hence having a couple or more bags on the go. when it is sold as horticultural it is washed for you or mined somewhere innocuous. Usually the same stuff, minimum of twice the price.