2 Quarts Turface MVP

This product is top notch!I needed some high quality substrate materials for my orchids. I keep phalaenopsis, oncidium, paphiopedilum, and many more exotic kinds. Some of them needed repotting this spring. I have epiphytes and terrestrial orchids. Every orchid I have is in a unique mix that is optimized to give each plant the correct amount of air, moisture, and nutrients.Some of my orchids are grown semi-hydro style, potted in solely LECA. I usually use Seachem Flourite which is almost the same as this stuff. I have many orchids flourishing this way.I heard about Turface in a bonsai video by Appalachian Bonsai and decided to give this stuff a try in place of Seachem Flourite as an orchid substrate amendment.I have not potted an orchid solely in Turface in the semi-hydro style, but I will do so to compare it to S. Flourite. However I have used it to add water retention and aeration to my orchids not grown in semi-hydro. I also use: bark, moss, lava rock, coconut chips, charcoal, sometimes perlite, all in different combinations.LECA products are an excellent addition to any houseplant potting medium, especially for orchids, which require specific amounts of air and water around the roots. It provides excellent water retention, can hold nutrients, and also allows the roots to breathe and never be suffocates, essential for orchids. Also, it really doesn't break down the way organic substrate materials do, which helps prevent acidification - something most orchids hate.Turface is highly lauded in the bonsai community. Since I love the "clone" Seachem Flourite, and I know this stuff will do me well for my orchids.If you haven't seen it I highly recommend watching Appalachian Bonsai video about bonsai soil and water retention to understand what this product can really do for you in your gardening and houseplant realm. It has so many amazing uses.

I ordered this two quart plastic bag of Turface, because its a very good substitute for Japanese ACADAMA soil. Turface and Acadama soil are both comprised of fired clay particles. For the price, you would think this soil is AT LEAST screened, to remove the small sized particles. ITS NOT. Now, here's the huge irony. I paided all this money for TWO QUARTS of Turface MVP, which weighed about 3-4 pounds. Then, I went to a local store, just 3 days after buying the TURFACE, and bought 50 POUNDS FOR 17 DOLLARS! I figured "At least the small bag of turface is screened, to remove the small particles". I had my Japanese Black pine OUT OF ITS POT, roots pulled apart, and I'm ready to mix my soil. That's when i found out, that the expensive little bag of TURFACE wasnt even shifted to remove the small particles. Boy was I mad. TURFACE can be bought just about anywhere. So unless you live in the middle of NYC or some other metroplex, without a car, I would just go to a farmer's supply store, or maybe a landscaper, and buy this by the BIG BAG. TURFACE is used for building up the bases on BASEBALL diamonds, and landscapers use it to keep lawns well ariated. Its not hard to find. And if you have more than 15 bonsai, I'd say get a BIG BAG locally, cos over the next few years, you WILL go thru it.

I have trouble with fungus gnats in the winter and one solution is to top plants with sand but I hate dealing with sand. If I use pea pebbles, the planter gets really heavy by the time I have full coverage. This stuff is perfect. Side note: it hisses when I water it, kind of hard to explain but I've had it as plant topper on all my plants for a couple months now and they're fine.

Much smaller than I thought..but still good quality though. I used it to mix with coco coir soil and my string of banana & rhipsalias are such happier now(they could not be waiting any longer to re-pot) but I probably would use it for my progagation station, not matured plants. Picture shown for size (left is the product & right is from pre-mixed gritty soil I bought from bonsai jack, that I'm trying to make my own batch)

I like the fact its good for my plants and it mixes well with my soil ingredients

Item arrived in a properly sealed bag. It was exactly as described and got the job done. I use to create my own succulent mix.

I LOVE this product. Most of all, my potted succulents and cactus love it. I wish I could buy 10 lbs of this product as I mix a lot of cactus "soil". It's impossible to find this type of soil additive around this area. Love my amazon prime. I place the order and 2 days later, it's in my hands. Just can't be beat!

I use this as part of my potting mix for cacti and succulents. It does what is is supposed to and looks nice. I need to sift it to remove all the particles that are too fine and I don't loose too much with this product. I've purchased this product twice (maybe 3 bags total) and I am happy with it. I will purchase it again.