Hi all I did not notice if anyone mentioned this material? Once sold by Orchid Jungle [remember Mr Fennel?] and known as fenrock, sold by OFE years ago as solite now I get it from sand and rock plants from about 15 cents a pound. The drawback is the minimum here in Key West is a half truckload about 350.00 delivered. I live 150 miles from the company in Miami. If you live in a big city you may be able to go in and fill a box for next to nothing. Anyway I love this stuff, It is very light, never breaks down and does not seem to hold nutrients and water like lava rock. There are no obvious holes but it is very porous so it holds water but dries out sooner than spongerock and lava. It comes in rock from 1/2" down and can be screened with expanded lath very easily to sort for various mixes. The fine material [less than 1/4"] at 1/3 ratio is great to make a terrestrial mix with promix, and Paphs get 1/4" to 3/8" sizes with the promix. Catasetinae seem to love this stuff and so I use it by itself with charcoal. Oncidium and Maxillaria like finer bits at 1/3 ratio with a bark mix. Cattleya like the large size rock at 1/3 ratio and a bark mix Jay
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