Question
Hi Sarracenia Guys,


I bought some Canadian Peat moss from Lowes, the large bale kind and then purchased some washed horticultural sand as perlite seems to be a bit harder to find where I'm at.

I noticed on cobraplant.com you guys favor the use of perlite over sand for most or your CP plant mixes.  Is there some kind of advantage/disadvantage in using perlite vs sand?  It's safe to use washed horticultural sand over perlite right?

Thanks.

Answer
Hi Akira,

A good quality washed sand is fine to use.  The reason we made that recommendation is that at that time, perlite was more consistent of a product than sand.  Too much sand either was of a calcareous nature in the Midwest, or just too dirty.  If it's a good horticultural sand, better, silica sand, it's fine.  Most perlite now outside of large nursery bags, has fertilizer in it.  This didn't used to be the case, but soil producers in large stores are a near monopoly now.  Independent garden centers sometimes have amendments without fertilizer.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com