I'm looking for a vendor that carries small Lava Rock (.25-.5 inches) and Turface MVP (this is not for orchids but for an olive tree I'm growing potted indoors).
Would love to find a good-deal vendor that carries this stuff and at the same time I wonder if this could offer an opportunity to discover lesser known vendors.
Here's a list of where I've personally purchased substrates from and my review:
"Orchiata" pinus radiata bark
- Kelley's Korner: this is my preferred option. All chip sizes are available and well-priced. Shipping has never been prohibitive. Usually takes a while to arrive, about 5 business days to get shipped, and 7 days to arrive via UPS. Worth ordering in bulk and in advance.
- RepotMe: very expensive compared to any other option available plus prohibitive shipping. They do offer a wide selection of everything if you're willing to pay the hefty price of that convenience.
- Josh's Frogs: if you need overnight shipping for whatever reason, this is the option via Amazon. The prices are much better on their website but shipping is prohibitive.
Sphagnum Moss "Spagmoss"
- Fifth Season Gardening: fair pricing and shipping, similar experience to Kelley's Korner, good prices but compromise is slower shipping.
- OrchidSupply com: it's an alright vendor, they have better prices than KK orchid or Chula orchids for some stuff, and worse prices for others. I've only bought from here once because I couldn't find sphagnum moss anywhere else and I had a positive experience. However, it makes more sense for me to get my shopping list together and buy in bulk from a vendor that has a wider catalogue, so I usually end up at Kelley's Korner or Chula Orchids.
LECA (Hydroton)
- I've only bought this one from Amazon because shipping from any other hydroponics vendor is prohibitive. Haven't found a local retailer that carries Hydroton, most around me carry "GrowIt." ACE Hardware carries Hydroton at good prices if you happen to have one nearby.
Grodan Grow Cubes
- First Rays: shipping included and convenient for smaller size purchases. The nice thing about FR is that shipping is included so you can buy on demand vs. having to wait until you have a pretty long list of stuff to buy in bulk in order to save on shipping. However, this is mostly a store for those products they carry exclusively: Kelpak and Quantum (other vendors sell K-Lite but price at FR is better accounting for shipping) and not for substrates.
- Amazon: here and there you can find a seller on Amazon that sells 1cu ft or 2cu ft bags at reasonable prices.
- Local Hydroponics Stores: best bang for buck but at least in my area I could only get 5.3 cu ft boxes for about $120. The price is unbeatable but that's probably more grow cubes than you will use in a lifetime. It's worth paying a bit more for smaller quantities and save on storage.
Charcoal
- Kelley's Korner: recently restocked on the medium sized which is what I buy. Same review as for orchiata.
- Amazon: this is the most overpriced option but apparently horticultural charcoal is hard to find. I've bought small bags on medium sized charcoal on Amazon when I couldn't find it anywhere else.
Coconut husk
- Orchid Mate: I have quite a few wood baskets from this vendor so I've bought coconut husk from them, alongside an order of baskets, to place at the bottom of the baskets. Their prices are reasonable and they have $7 flat shipping which is usually very fast but I live in California where they're based. Might be worth comparing prices with Kelley's Korner since their shipping is capped but overall I feel I get better deals for everything else at KK.
Perlite
- I've bought perlite from Kelley's Korner, RepotMe, and Amazon vendors. Best bang for buck is Kelley's Korner.
Lava rock
- ??????
Turface MVP
- ??????
Substrate vendors?
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