Thank you.

Hi TE...

I've been madly searching for a source of the items in your picture (thanks, BTW, for posting). While finding the fine peat moss is no problem, the other 2 products??? HELP!

I'm wondering what type of suppliers you contacted to find the perlite and vermiculite? I've spent many hours calling commercial building supply companies/cement contractors, etc., to no avail. I googled the products, too, but pretty much got linked to the W.R. Grace website, which didn't help much. They manufacture/package the stuff, but don't distribute it on such a small level, ya know?

I checked a local feed store/garden center about an hour ago, and they carried a 1.5cf bag of vermiculite for $19.50! Yikes!

Any ideas regarding where I should shop would be SO appreciated!

- Lisa

Hi Lisa
That is a horrible price for Vemiculite. I pay less than a third of that for the fine garden grade also sold by Grace . Find a place that sells cinder blocks or building bricks. They should carry both the Perlite and Vermiculite.
Guys who build in ground pools will also know where to buy the stuff.
Grace in Canada has 1-800 numbers that connect directly to their sales desk.
The guys are more than happy to suggest product and tell you the names of the companies who sell their products in my area.
Check Grace in the US for a 1-800 number.

I had the same problem you had, the cement suppliers seem to only know the product by it's use. I asked several times if my supplier had fine vermiculite only to be told no they didn't, even though they carried both ZONOLITE PoolPad and BlockFill.
They didn't know they were vermiculite.
I asked if they carried chicken grit and they said they never heard of the stuff.
But they do sell it, but it's called just GRIT.
It can be a challenge. It took me several months to line up suppliers for my stuff because I kept asking all the wrong questions.:)

I'm not in the US, but here (Ireland) I've tracked down that agricultural and horticultural suppliers carry the very large bags (both fine and medium grade).

Try the independent retail pool supply stores in your area . Most of the pool supply stores are also in the pool contracting business . They have access to these materials and probably will be glad to sell them to you, especially if you pay up front and willing to wait until the next order is placed with the distributor. More than likely they will have these materials on hand .

I buy 19 lb bags of vermiculite ( I think that's the size pictured) for 18.00 Can in a retail/wholesale horticultural supply place. I called up a nursery greenhouse operation and asked where they got theirs.
Mercedes

Thanks, everyone, for all of the helpful advice! I'll try rephrasing my questions, and also will try the pool places. Looks like I have a busy day ahead!

- Lisa