Why is Hydroton so expensive and what else will work for cheap?

[Bob Vento]

I stopped by a place today that sold Hydroton in 50 liter bags. Seem I will need 4-5 bags at $40plus each. That's about $200 bucks plus tax kids! WOW

Since this seems to be the preferred medium, I thought I would consider it. However, now reality is setting in and I am looking for something much less expensive to use in my grow bed?

What economical products are some of you folks using? Is it readily available? I would appreciate any and all suggestions.

Thanks,

[Todd Sowell]

3/4 inch gravel

[Rob Nash]

LMAO.. funniest thread ever!

Vlad Jovanovic said:

Thanks TC (and Ellen), funny, because I am sometimes told that I have horrible communications skills. (Well, according to my wife anyways) 

[aaron gallagher]

While your at it ask if they have any "GROWSTONE". It's a new growing media made in the USA out of recycled glass. They are even claiming it gets rid of Fungus Knats. Has anyone tried this product? Sorry if this is old news.  I would love to hear about it if someone has used it.

[TCLynx]

I just got a sample (of the GROWSTONE) to do some testing with but I won't really have time to set up the test here till we move.

[Timothy P. Kelly]

I've been having a time finding appropriate stone in my area. Bought a bag of "pea gravel" at a local do it best and it failed a vinegar test. Got a sampple of "Maryland Eastern Shore Gravel" at a local supply yard and that didn't react to the vinegar but failed when it was placed in distilled water. Anyone got a brand nume that's big-box available?

[Jon Parr]

How would a stone fail in distilled water?
Almost all landscape supply yards have either lava rock, granite drain rock, or suitable river rock, usually all three . If all else fails, you can mail order hydroton, growstone, or expanded shale

Timothy P. Kelly said:

I've been having a time finding appropriate stone in my area. Bought a bag of "pea gravel" at a local do it best and it failed a vinegar test. Got a sampple of "Maryland Eastern Shore Gravel" at a local supply yard and that didn't react to the vinegar but failed when it was placed in distilled water. Anyone got a brand nume that's big-box available?

[Timothy P. Kelly]

John,

 

I'm following the procedure that Sylvia laid down in her book, specifically, applying vinegar and looking for any visable reaction, and testing using distilled water and pH strips. The distilled sample tested as being on the low side of neutral, at first. I tested again after leaving it overnight and it definitely looked as though th pH had shifted downward. I'll be taking the sample and a control to the pet store just to verify the results, but it doesn't change the situation: I still need an inexpensive substitute for Hydroton.

Thanks for the reply and the assistance.

Jon Parr said:

How would a stone fail in distilled water?
Almost all landscape supply yards have either lava rock, granite drain rock, or suitable river rock, usually all three . If all else fails, you can mail order hydroton, growstone, or expanded shale

Timothy P. Kelly said:

I've been having a time finding appropriate stone in my area. Bought a bag of "pea gravel" at a local do it best and it failed a vinegar test. Got a sampple of "Maryland Eastern Shore Gravel" at a local supply yard and that didn't react to the vinegar but failed when it was placed in distilled water. Anyone got a brand nume that's big-box available?

[Tom Barnhardt]

Expanded shale.