This year, I have been testing a product made by Espoma (the people who make Holly Tone Fertilizer, in the U.S.) called Soil Perfector. I've been very pleased with the results so far, the only draw back is it's cost, and perhaps weight, which is just slightly less than real gravel chips but more than Turface. Unlike Turface, the product cannot be crushed but it is porous and not sharp like lava rock. It is very natural looking, with a pleasing blue stone slate color. I have been mixing the product with the inferior Perlite which I have been buying, but even a little added to my traditional mixes has impressed me with the's fast draining effect, and aesthetically, it looks exactly like dark gray granite bluestone gravel, when in fact it is a fired ceramic. The Espoma.com website can tell you more about it, here is a brief description from the site: One application of Espoma Soil Perfector permanently improves the structure of any soil. Soil Perfector is made from a naturally derived, ceramic mineral that is kiln-fired at temperatures in excess of 2000ยบ F. This process creates a durable, lightweight granule containing thousands of tiny storage spaces that hold the perfect balance of water, air and nutrients for an improved soil structure. I get mine by the bag at a local Agway store near Boston, at about ten dollars a 27 lb bag. A little pricey, but a hundred dollars worth allowed me to create enough fast-draining soil that is attractive . I've been using it in Cyclamen, Narcissus, Frits, even Clivia and Alpine seedlings this year. Time will tell, but this is the first time that I have not ordered pumice at $30. A ten lb. bag! Matt Mattus Worcester, MA Zone 5b On 7/4/06 9:58 PM, "lwallpe@juno.com" <lwallpe@juno.com> wrote: > > You might consider looking at a product called Turface. Here is a URL: > http://profileproducts.com/index.cfm/?lp=gb&bhcp=1 > >