Topping for greenhouse benches

[David Nicholson]

I use standard greenhouse staging (not plunges) the tray tops of which are about a half inch deep (12.7mm). These are filled with HortAg (expanded clay granules and all my pots of bulbs are stood on them. HortAg used to be freely available and had a particle size of (the only way I can describe it!) about the size of a small dried pea and was very light. This meant that the particles easily "meshed" and the pots were able to stand evenly on them without rocking. HortAg became very difficult to find and was eventually replaced by a similar product-Hydroleca- but with a larger particle size-about the size of a small marble, and pots didn't stand evenly and I had a number of falling over episodes (the pots, not me   ).

The time has come where I need to replace all my topping and am wondering what to use. Sand is a possibility but it's heavy, particularly when wet, and prone to all kinds of weed growth. Grit is another possibility, but again it's heavy. Any solutions out there for me please?

[ranunculus]

A possibility might be sieved ash, David - light, inert and relatively cheap when available?

[Martinr]

I use Two Wests water matting.

[brianw]

The closest in size would be Sophisticat Pink clay cat litter, but it is not quite so hard from my memory of Hortag.

[David Nicholson]

I use Two Wests water matting.

I think that might keep my bulbs too wet Martin.

[David Nicholson]

A possibility might be sieved ash, David - light, inert and relatively cheap when available?

Mmmm ash, interesting! Rare as rocking horse manure these days I suppose. Well at least it is in Devon and Yorkshire where we now have gas and electricity and don't need to cook outdoors. Don't worry Cliff Lancashire will catch up one of these days

[David Nicholson]

The closest in size would be Sophisticat Pink clay cat litter, but it is not quite so hard from my memory of Hortag.

Thanks for that Brian, I'll check it out.

[ranunculus]

Mmmm ash, interesting! Rare as rocking horse manure these days I suppose. Well at least it is in Devon and Yorkshire where we now have gas and electricity and don't need to cook outdoors. Don't worry Cliff Lancashire will catch up one of these days

Aye up lad, thou knows I mean 'industrial' or furnace ash, which southerners and t'others still use in abundance.

[Maggi Young]

Aye up lad, thou knows I mean 'industrial' or furnace ash, which southerners and t'others still use in abundance.

Really? There are industries in the UK which still produce furnace ash? Praise be.... I thought they were all  gone long ago - the country may yet survive!

[Martinr]

I think that might keep my bulbs too wet Martin.

That depends how much water you add