Question: What kind of sand should be used for rooting cuttings and potting? The sand from the lumber yard has many pebbles in it. Should it be put through a screen? FB, Illinois
Answer: The two main requirements for sand used in rooting cuttings are cleanliness and coarseness. Wash the sand before using it by turning a strong stream of water on the sand in the cutting bench or box. Small quantities may be washed in a bucket or tub. Sand that will screen through an ordinary window screen is too fine for most cuttings. It holds too much water and drains too slowly. The pebbles in the sand from the lumber yard should not be screened out. They are beneficial rather than harmful. Actually I like to use bagged sand sold for sandboxes.
