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Vermiculite confusion at local Menards

heatherfeather30

heatherfeather30

It's Duck Season!
Just went for Vermiculite at our local Menards here in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I got my last bag from Lowes and should have gone there right away. The manager of the lawn and garden department said some concerning remarks in regards to my request for Vermiculite.
He said they (Menards) haven't carried it for years, and that the government is actually trying to get it off the market. I sort of chuckled at him but stopped when his face looked so serious. He said that it has been linked to asbestos. I left the store puzzled. :eek1:
I just looked up on the internet and can see where the confusion came from. A Vermiculite plant in Libby,Montana was shut down in the 1990's because of asbestos in it's Vermiculite. Asbestos contamination was only found at this particular mine. I found other articles about shortages and asbestos confusion.
After using half of my first bag, I didn't think I would need it again. I never intended on breeding my 2 "girls"! LOL! I mixed it into the soil for gardening as this helps with aeration/moisture/etc. of the soil. I live in an area where I would have to drive 1 hour to purchase Vermiculite IF our Lowes were to ever discontinue stocking Vermiculite. I can just picture myself buying it off eBay already.
Anyone else have similar experience? Huh... maybe I should buy a truck load and sell it on eBay! :rolleyes:
Heather
 
Actually, I thought it was perlite that had been supposedly contaminated with asbestos. Somebody posted a link from the health department or the manufacturer or something on it. It is perfectly safe. No asbestos was found in it. Use the stuff if you want! I use perlite anyway, not vermiculite so it really doesn't matter to me :)
 
I've found it basically impossible to obtain vermiculite anywhere in the Chicago area. I finally got a 1 gallon bag at the local reptile show.

I tried all the chain stores like Home Depot, Menards, Ace, True Value, as well as every garden and landscaping supplier and greenhouse in the area. A lot of them didn't even know what I was talking about.
 
I had the same problem with perlite this year. First I couldn't find anyone who knew what I was talking about, and then when I did, I could only find stuff with fertilizer in it. I ended up finding it at a nursery. One that only does plants. They had bags of everything and couldn't believe I'd had such trouble. Of course, I found them only after I'd ordered it online. I have enough for a lot of future clutches :)
 
im in Il and some answers for Heather and Flagg.

1st. ive heard all the same issues about vermiculite and it drives me nutz.

2nd. all Menards carry coarse vermiculite. However, its back by the insulation in like a 5foot bag. for about 9.00.(thats were I got mine).

3rd this ones for Flagg and ony1 else in IL. once again Menards in the insulation dept. but also at Meijer and Lowes. They both carry fine vermiculite it in the garden dept. I was at the Naperville Meijer on 59 last night and they had about 6bags for I think 3.85. back in April when I was looking the Lowes in Oswego had some outside int he garden dept for about 6.00. I like the coarse vermiculite so did not buy the fine stuff from Meijer or Lowes.

If I breed corns until im 100 I will never run out with the bag from Menards. So with that said, Flagg if you need more let me know and ill bring some to the show Sunday.

have a good one guys!

~F
 
Hi i live in Wi and i had a terrible time finding vermiculite. I had gotten the small stuff at Wal-Mart but not this year. I even went into Mn looking for it. At a Wal-Mart there i was told they could not sell vermiculite anymore.I did end up find a bag of fine in Mn and i got that. Not even any of the greenhouse's i called had it and some asked what it was even. The fine seems to be working but i don't like it.
 
I've asked many times at Menards, and was always told it would be in the garden dept, and the garden dept people would always tell me it wasn't in yet for the season. It never came in. Nobody at the store ever mentioned the insulation area, I'll check there next time I'm in the store. (New Menards 3 blocks away =)

Thanks for the info. Looks like I won't need it this season anyway, but it will be good to know where it's available.

I've heard of people using vermiculite as a substrate for tarantulas, but that just doesn't seem right to me. I have enough peat moss (also bought at Menards) for a lifetime of tarantulas.
 
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