I have found that wet Turface compacts a bit and does not breathe. I have used this with Pachypodiums and also found that growth was stunted compared to mixes using perlite, scoria or pumice. I suspect that since clay has a higher Cation exchance capacity, that there may be some binding of nutrients to the surface of the Turface. Normal clay has a high CEC, but calcined clay, well some sites state that during the vitrification process, these characteristics are eliminated as the surface charge changes as does the cation exchange. Clay is not always clay.
The higher moisture retention also created some issues with dudleya rotting during the wetter fall and winter months. Plants grown in the open using my standard mixes didn't miss a beat and grew as they normally would. Turface based plants rotted at the base and suffered lots of root rot. Its higher water carrying capacity needs to be considered when used as a soil additive in my opinion. It also seems that plants that have been treated with a systemic insecticide such as Imidacloprid, required more treatments to gain the same control as those in a standard soil mix.
Still looking for more experiences out there, so share with the group.
In my humble opinion, Turface receives a
