Clean Coarse Sand
 

The blocks and rock both protect the moisture at the surface under them and the roots will seek out that area.

Keys : air, temperature, and moisture.







DEFINITION IMPORTANT

First of all, clean sand, as described by soil scientists through a sieve analysis, is a soil texture composed by weight of at least 25 percent very coarse, coarse and medium sand varying in size from 2.0 to 0.25 mm (millimeters), less than 50 percent of fine or very fine sand ranging in size between 0.25 and 0.05 mm, and no more than 10 percent of particles smaller than 0.05 mm. This is technical, but is the definition soil scientists use to describe clean sand.

A sieve analysis is not really needed on the job, as the fruit jar test is a simple way for both the installer and the inspector to test the quality of the sand. Clean sand can easily be determined by placing exactly 2 inches of the sand in the bottom of a quart fruit jar. Then fill the jar three-fourths full of water. Place the cover on the jar and shake the contents vigorously.

Clean Sand Explained

Another testimony for using COARSE SAND
 

This picture is of a A'eaA'e?/Maninii that I bought from PR. It was planted in Coarse sand on June 23rd. It had no growth and no roots when planted. This picture was taken July 7th. The first leaf is showing nicely. I use Humalfalfa only on starter plants, and Humalfalfa and a commercial fertilize on more mature ones. It necessary to fertilize after a week or so when using pure sand. I am a believer!!! You can believe it or not.:goteam::bananas_b

[url=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51226]

I screwed up on getting picture shown. Hope to have soon.

Re: Another testimony for using COARSE SAND
 

:08:

Re: Another testimony for using COARSE SAND
 

Beautiful photo, Congrats Al :08:

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

Looking good Al.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

After having some of my corms rot away during the winter, all my banana plants will be planted in clean course sand. I will post picts of the process as time permits.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

I always use a mix containing at least 50% coarse sand. Since I started doing that, my plants do great.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

I thought all your posts said 40% why 50% at this post .....???

Locally, sand is not used as a soil amendment in the horticultural community.
Mainly anything high in organic matter is used for our soil...but everyones is different.

But....... in some instances it is used....but not for Musa.
Soils are more organic than sand or fillers for Musa.
This is local in zone 5-6-7.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

Myself, I am going to use the sand as a French drain around my corms. My soil drains well, but it is overloaded with organics. So it also holds quite a bit of moisture. So say I have a 3 inch corm. I will probably dig a 7-8 inch hole, and as deep. Then plant the corm surrounded by about 2 inches of sand, bottom and sides. This will allow the water to drain away from the corm. Sometimes in the spring and fall it will rain for several weeks straight. During that time it is not warm out. Just trying to move the water away from the corm.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

I think from time time everyone tweeke their soil mix.

I am sure you get some cold rainy spells. How do you keep your corms from rotting.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

My posts usually say at least 40-50% coarse sand. It's possible that I might have occasionnally have said at least 40% but at that point I don't think it'll make a big difference. I do my mixes by the eye. Everything is approximatly mesured and adjusted when mixing.
As long as the horticultural community, I think everybody should consider coarse sand. It works well for me. I grow in containers and the usual mixes give me bad results and I loose plants with them. Everything I plant is planted with my recipe and it works. I have several nanners and fig trees, few cactus, rose apple, a few murraya koenijii, pineapples, tamarind and mandevillas. With the climate we have, the plants spend a lot of time inside my house under fluorescent tubes. I find my mix very forgiving when you overwater. I even put 3\4 inch gravel at the bottom of my pots. It drains and gives weight in case of windy days.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

i watched a documentary on sand recently
round fine sand is wind blown and sand desirable for cement is coarse
apparently entire beaches are disappearing due to offshore sand dredging
and even carried away by bucket from shore
i spend a lot of time at the beach so i was really digging that doc

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

Is there a particular brand of coarse sand that is recommended from a big box store? Ive seen bags that state washed all purpose/coarse sand but it does not seem very coarse..still seems to be pretty fine compared to some pics I see of corms potted in this media. Perhaps the pics make the sand appear to be larger granuals than what they really are.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

All purpose should be fine.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

Great..thanks!

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

I am making my own, so brand I do not know. Just do the jar test with it. If it doesn't pass the jar test, you can still sift more of the fines out.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

Hey guy ---- when are you coming on down again? Last year I hooked up with a organic grower in Palm City - right on the Martin Hwy. He has naners from Keith growing like gangbusters. Morado, ARH, Patupi, Tigua and Williams, etc, all growing fast with all that manure and stuff. Drop me a PM.

Dan the Bananamal

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

I was curious as to how well the sand holds nutrients? I notice you are using bio-char as well. Do you get a lot of rain where you are? I seem to have similar growth rates with cleaned corms in a home made media.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

The Niche Nursery: Coarse Sand is Horticultural Gold.

Propagating sand, horticultural sand, sharp sand, quartz sand & coarse sand are all interchangeable terms that describe the subject material.

Re: Clean Coarse Sand
 

Hey Bananamal ---- there's also a member in Port St Lucie growing the Morado, Goldfinger, French Red, Tigua, and a few more.

Are you still dealing with that damp off rotting problem you had for like 8 years in that highly amended sugar sand soil?