I would not use the kitty litter. You don't know what kinds of things they treat it with.
I've grown roses in pots for many years and not used pine bark fines w/o any problems. This is until last year. I lost almost all of my potted roses. It rained so much and so often the peat stayed wet and broke down and the potting mix wouldn't dry out.
Fafard makes a mix...see other message. Check with feed stores or farm supply (ProSource one) or a home owned nursery. Check Fafard website for a dealer in your area. A Google search wasn't much help for me but you might do better. Just put on your thinking cap and do make some phone calls.
I hope this helps you.
Laura

I just arrived to St. Pete & had to find Pine Bark Fines to pot up 200 plants. I got the Pine Bark Fines from Treemart in Tampa for 2.65/bag. I got the perlite from Carrolls Building Materials in St. Pete & they told me they will be carrying Pine Bark Fines in a couple of weeks. I think Carrolls is still a week away & didn't ask the price.

Be forewarned that the perlite from Carrolls is VERY fine, not course, but cheap.

Be careful with the perlite, concrete grade is too small for a potting mix, has to be agricultural grade. Prosource One in Plant City sells the 4CF bag for $9.75, best price around.

I get my bagged fines from Treemart also, but if you have a pickup truck and want a yard you can buy the fines at either Cypress Creek or Mulch Express for $24/yard, both places within 1/2 mile of Treemart.

Tom

Hi Tom,

How much trouble am I in that I used the small perlite? I tried finding coarse in big quantities but all the nurseries here in St. Pete told me they had to special order or were out. I couldn't fit 1 more bag of anything in the back of my truck from Treemart, I'm not sure if they even had the coarse perlite. I should have just taken the time to go back... By the way, it was a post you wrote here on GW that lead me to Treemart...THANK YOU!! The thread back then you mentioned only 2.25/bag so it did go up a bit.

New to container gardening & didn't think to ask Carrolls if it was fine or coarse. I'm sure glad they are going to start carrying PBFs, that drive to Tampa is nuts at certain times of the day! Can't wait to find out how much they are going to charge. I'd rather spend a little more than take that drive...people drive crazy down here, lol!

Sally,
You might want to try Garden and Hardware on 49 Street
just south of Ulmerton for some of your garden needs.- like Perlite.
They might even carry bark fines.
Give them a call.........cheryl

About the perlite. I've found that the perlite sold in this area (DeLand) is not a horticultural grade, but a construction grade. it is labled "coarse", but it is from dust to 1/8 size grains. I screen it and throw half of it away. The stores think it is hort grade, but if you check the product code back to the manufacturer (Grace), you will find it is not. I think that Grace discontinued their hort grade perlite after their bankruptcy. (mucho lawsuits)

john

Hi
Have you tried "Bushel stop" I get PB F and coconut husk from them as well as crushed lava rock. Only thing I could not find there was "Turface". They are a chain so must be one in your area.
can I ask what type of roses and what formula you intend to use?? I want to grow hybrid teas .. Thanks gary

How much trouble am I in that I used the small perlite?

...Treemart, I'm not sure if they even had the coarse perlite.

...only 2.25/bag so it did go up a bit.

...didn't think to ask Carrolls if it was fine or coarse

Carroll's only carries the really fine perlite, it doesn't provide anything to a soil mix because it's so small that there is no porosity for drainage or gas exchange.

Treemart will order the coarse perlite for you but it's $20 per 4CF bag. John's point is correct, even the coarse stuff has dust in it. I just dump it in a plant container and wash it thoroughly to get the dust and fine stuff to run out the bottom drain holes....

Treemart's prices have gone up slightly for the fines....

You might want to try the place Cheryl suggested. I work in north Tampa and Treemart is right on my way home, so it's very convenient for me to stop by there, and while I can get a yard for 30% less, I then have to store what I don't use, vs. buying a few bags at a time.

Tom

Hi - I get perlite here in St Pete at both Home Depot and Lowes, on 22 Ave... smallish bags but meant for potting, it goes a long way tho' so saves on gas going all over the place... I don't drive very far so do not go to Tampa, or even Largo... so have to find my stuff here in St Pete or maybe Pinellas Park.... am still trying to find the 'pine bark fines' and still wondering abt. the kitty litter FELINE PINE, it says on the box it is pure and natural and only "pine and natural guar bean gum ", I would not use other types of litter but this appears to fit the bill for 'pine bark fines' for potting, especially roses, but hope to get more input, Thanks for all the help, sally

Hi Sally, CYE.

Sounds like you're across town from us but you're more than welcome to come over to get bags of fines, I can pick them up any day of the week on my way home, and currently have five 2CF bags on hand.

Tom

Ok, excuse my ignorance, I have never grown roses, but what are "Pine Bark Fines"?

...what are "Pine Bark Fines"?

Read this link and you'll understand.

Tom

Thank you for the link with all the really good information. So pine bark fines are basically used for container growing...? Would it also be good for "in the ground veggies"?

Perlite (coarse, 4 cf bag, abt $8-9)and pine bark fines can also be purchased at Universal supply in Pompano Beach. I believe they have another location in Tampa, not sure.

Ben,

I never heard of them. Googled both for Pompano and Tampa and got no hits....

Tom