Nice comparison, but I think he missed the best option: Diatomaceous Earth (frequently abbreviated DE). It's been used for Bonsai for a while, but some tomato growers have been excited by it for a few years now: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=22329
I used it this year, and think it's great. Ph neutral, sterile, cheap, non-hazardous, holds water but allows oxygenation, low environmental impact, pleasant to work with, and locally available. It can be purchased from chain auto parts stores as an oil spill cleanup (http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/MTA4/8925/N0431.oap) and sometimes from Dollar Stores as kitty litter.
Well worth trying if you are starting seeds or rooting seedlings. If buying for the first time, note that you do _not_ want "food grade" DE, which is a fine powder. The seedling stuff is more like fine grained cat litter. And you want to be sure you aren't buying a clay product instead, since some have similar names. Ultrasorb, Optisorb, or Blue Ribbon DE Premium Cat litter are brands to look for --- make sure it explicitly says "diatomaceous earth" or DE.
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Nice comparison, but I think he missed the best option: Diatomaceous Earth (frequently abbreviated DE). It's been used for Bonsai for a while, but some tomato growers have been excited by it for a few years now: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=22329
I used it this year, and think it's great. Ph neutral, sterile, cheap, non-hazardous, holds water but allows oxygenation, low environmental impact, pleasant to work with, and locally available. It can be purchased from chain auto parts stores as an oil spill cleanup (http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/MTA4/8925/N0431.oap) and sometimes from Dollar Stores as kitty litter.
Well worth trying if you are starting seeds or rooting seedlings. If buying for the first time, note that you do _not_ want "food grade" DE, which is a fine powder. The seedling stuff is more like fine grained cat litter. And you want to be sure you aren't buying a clay product instead, since some have similar names. Ultrasorb, Optisorb, or Blue Ribbon DE Premium Cat litter are brands to look for --- make sure it explicitly says "diatomaceous earth" or DE.