Gill,

It is difficult to give this information, not knowing the conditions.

Lal,

We could give you a lot of ideas as to what you can use. You need to let us or some else know if your plants will be growing in pots or in the ground.

I think it would be good if you email N.R.Sundaram.

nrsundaram@gmail.com

He is a very knowledgeable gentleman and I am sure he could let you know what he uses and it should be materials that you can find. He lives in India also.

I believe they use coarse river sand. Large particles.

Rick

Thanks Rick for the info, hopefully Lal will now get some expert advise to help out. I realised at the time of posting we would need some more details.

Gill

I agree with above their are many things that work well it all depends on what you can get easily. Also agree no on the builders sand it does have some coarse particles in it (here anyway) but for the most part it's sand and too fine. Coconut products are good I think that's the norm for the Thailand growers.

I use sand, vermicompost, perlite and some coco husk chunks if I get in my mix, add a small layer of cocopeat on the top during summers when the temp go very high above 105deg farh. That keeps them a bit more cool in summer ... Works for me, but I do loose some aswell in rains

some osmocote after 6months in the pot if I feel it needs some more fertilizer

Thanks Gill for helping out.

I am going to pot the seedlings for my south facing balcony. The climate here is tricky:extreme hot summer, rainy Monsoon and extreme winter but no snow. Chilling to the bones.

Photos I'll post later when after reaching home.

Regarding the sand, I washed it 4 times to wash out the little particles now I select out the bigger granules.

Rick, will mail Mr.Sundaram and wait for his reply. Thanks for your suggestions.

Thanks Todd. Will keep you updated.

Thanks,

Lal