Turface

[muckydoo]

So rinsed a few cups and filled the container with RO water.
Started at 8.
I shook the container and it went to 35.
4 hours later it was 74. Late that night it was 87 and then this morning it was 107.

[muckydoo]

138 tonight

[muckydoo]

157 today. I drained and did 2x rinse with RO. Back to 11 ppm. Time to wait a few more days.

[dvg]

Thanks for providing those TDS measurements, Muckydoo. 

It will be interesting to see if the future readings stabilize at a lower TDS level, or if the water will continue to leach out minerals from the clay.

Did some reading up on Turface, and it should be fine for us to use for our mexi-pings.

Where Turface seemed to run into problems, was when it was used in bonsai pots for trees.

Bonsai growers complained that the Turface would be dry at the tops of their bonsai pots,  but was soaking wet at the bottom of their pots, causing the tree roots to rot.

This was partly attributed to the shape and texture of the granules - with them being flattened and smooth, they tended to become more compacted in the pot bottoms, than if they were round, or more irregularly shaped.

But still, this should not apply to mexi-pings, whose roots seldom exceed an inch and a half in length,  anyway.

Thanks again for your reports! 









dvg

[muckydoo]

No problem. Things seem to have semi stabilized. First thing this AM was 43 and right now was 50 so really slowed down.

[dvg]

Thanks Muckydoo!

Maybe best not to rattle its cage too much.










dvg

[dvg]

Muckydoo, did the water's TDS readings continue to increase, or did they stabilize?

Were you able to come to any more conclusions about Turface MVP, after testing it and also using some with some of your mexi-pings?

Just curious how you like it, i haven't opened my bag yet.

Guessin' i really should check it out, its quarantine has been over for a while now.





dvg

[muckydoo]

It really slowed down, went from 45 to 50 in 24 hours. Drained that and it's been sitting for a few days. Last check was 34.

Pings haven't done much yet size wise, but I did pull a few to move to a piece of pumice that I'm starting. Roots looked good, and most had grown new ones down into the turface.

[muckydoo]

Just checked again and it's still 34 after 24 hours. Looks to be stable!

[dvg]

That is reassuring that your TDS readings have stabilized Muckydoo.

Because of those readings, i will make sure to rinse it good a few times before trying it with U. gibba.

Thanks again for those helpful readings you've provided.









dvg

[avery]

I’ve used this stuff for Nepenthes and Heliamphora in the past. I wasn’t a big fan of mixing it with LFS as I found the soil stayed too wet/compact and rotted easily. Perlite (and a good amount!) works much better in my experience. However I can imagine this media would work well for Pinguicula!

[muckydoo]

Yes, I'm not sure it's the best additive for things other then pings and maybe some utrics. I'll be trying it with some utrics myself at some point just to see what it does.

[labine]

I used fluorite from sachem porous clay and it worked fine for pings. It needs a good rinse before use. I did not check tds. It s used for substrate in planted aquariums