Cornish Granite gravel at Aldi

[SJW]

Hi Alberto, can I just clarify? You grow all your cyclamen and eg South African bulbs just in pots of pure granite grit with no other material (loam, grit sand, leaf mould etc) added? I assume you have to water and perhaps feed more often? And how do the 'woodland' species such as C. purpurascens or repandum cope with this regime? I'm intrigued, and will try this out for a few bulbs when I repot this summer to see what results I get. Regards, Steve.

[Alan_b]

Managed to track down the Aldi in Cambridge and found the gravel in a 'remainders' bin after a few walks round the store.  Reduced to £1.49 a bag so more expensive than up north but nonetheless I got myself a couple of bags. 

[TC]

Lucky you.  I went to my local store this afternoon to find the price still £1.99

[fredg]

This is great for carnivorous plants. The granite is acid and can be used as a topping, mixed with peat or as some have been doing growing in pure granite. I'd already stocked up fairly well at the full price and as I was passing yesterday noticed the 99p tag. I'll empty the boot when MrsG isn't looking

[brianw]

According to one link Google supplied, extracting China Clay produces 6 tonnes of sand (grit?) for each tonne of China Clay, which makes up the vast spoil heaps in Cornwall. So why is it so difficult to get hold of this product? Can this be acquired locally by any forum members. I know the grading process would put up any price but having never got up close and personal to these heaps I don't know what the size range of this sand is. The pH is said to be ~4.
There was a company in Bournemouth that supplied bagged Cornish grit commercially at one time. My supplier in the Cotswolds went out of business a year or so back.