I have discovered the YouTube videos done by Walter Pall after seeing a link, I believe, on this site but I am not sure.
He has so much knowledge but is easy to understand. I love how practical he is .
The last few days I've been watching his videos when I got the chance. It put me more at ease trying a substrate that was non organic. I have a couple of little plants that I am trying my new mixture on, just to see how they do.
I worry that I still have some too small particles in the mix, but they are still bigger than normal garden soil. Trial and error. I used a kitchen strainer that the squares are about 1/16th of an inch, about 1.5 mm. I read somewhere 3mm to 6mm was a good size to sift to. Any input is appreciated to help, put my mind at easy or offer constructive ideas

Ruth wrote: I worry that I still have some too small particles in the mix, but they are still bigger than normal garden soil. Trial and error. I used a kitchen strainer that the squares are about 1/16th of an inch, about 1.5 mm. I read somewhere 3mm to 6mm was a good size to sift to.

Where did you read that? 6mm seems far too big to me. 1.5 mm should be fine.

Colin Lewis says:
"My preferred particle size for drainage material is 1.5 - 3mm"
www.colinlewisbonsai.com/Reading/soils3.html

Thanks once again Auk. You have put my mind at ease. I don't know where I read it. I've listened to so much and read so much. I thought 6mm was big also.
I'm going to have to check out your referenced site. I am starting to make a list of all these sites so I don't miss and good 'stuff'.
So many talented people who I would love to shadow for years and soak up their knowledge.

Hey I need some help with making a non-organic mix. I can't get akadama around me so exclude that from the mix.

and it rains a lot here.

Mossy moss wrote: I need some help with making a non-organic mix.

Then why don't you make a topic asking for help?
Or, better yet, you could use the search function to read other topics with the same question.