Rexius Forest By-Products in Eugene, Oregon sells pumice by the bag, and by Jane's definition, it is definitely "unwashed". I don't know their source but know they do ship/deliver elsewhere. Their number is 888-473-9487. Robin Hansen Southwest Oregon Zone 9 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jane McGary" <janemcgary@earthlink.net> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 3:10 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] Re: pumice > Something to know about horticultural pumice is that it comes in two > versions, washed and unwashed. The washed kind is what one finds in little > bags in garden centers; it has had the fines (dust) washed out. It's used > primarily as an alternative to Perlite and has the same disadvantage: it > "floats" to the top of the pot unless mixed with something of the same > general dimensions and > density (i.e., fine bark). I find it horrible as an > ingredient for bulb potting soil, and it is less likely to give the plants > a nutrient boost, which the unwashed type certainly does. However, the > washed pumice is a decent soil amendment in the garden and is useful in > growing demanding alpines. I use only the unwashed type now, which is > harder to find. I mix it with forest loam and very sharp coarse sand. I > don't know if unwashed pumice is available except near the source. I think > the place I get it from buys it from a nearby plant that uses it to > manufacture building blocks. > > Jane McGary > Northwestern Oregon > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >