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Grit or Pea Shingle?

WallflowerBryWallflowerBry Posts: 81
in Problem solving
Hello All.  I have a concrete bowl which was formerly a water feature. It measures 700mm in diameter and 150mm deep in the middle and slopes up at the sides.  I'm planning on filling it with a medium and planting it with sempervivums. I realise that it will need to be filled with a gritty medium and was wondering if I need to use horticultural grit or will pea shingle do the job (it's cheaper)? 

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Pea shingle will be fine.
    Don't forget the container will need holes in the bottom.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Horticultural grit will be easier for fine roots to grow through but you could try pea shingle - sempervivums are pretty tough plants.  Not sure whether the fact that horticultural grit is often sold as "lime-free" makes a difference.  I recently planted up an alpine trough and used a mix of 50/50 horticultural grit/topsoil on the recommendation of another forum member - everything's growing well!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Pea shingle is fine. The drainage is the most important thing. They need very little soil to grow in  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WallflowerBryWallflowerBry Posts: 81
    Thank you all for your swift and helpful replies.   :)
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Grit is cheaper here.
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