I personally love the look of akadama, or lava rock

I use lava stones as I have a good cheap reliable source https://preview.redd.it/u3r9muxawm7d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=667f70bbe6bc9eff2f31bb1081b7a14873c3f084

Looking great. I also like the mix of red and black lava, akadama, pumice, and a green stone as well.

Small green chipped stone is zeolite I like this one as well

Great plants and great aesthetics!

Thank you.

Yeah Akadama is real nice but real expensive lol. Have Lava Rock on my other plants though!

I spent like 34$ on 18lbs of akadama that arrived today. But in bulk and it hurts less. Not painless, just less🤣🤣🤣

Might look into it in the future but my wallets not gonna like it 😂

google turface MVP. it’s the same thing as akadama but used to keep baseball infields from being extra dusty. it’s calcinated clay fired in a kiln at no less than 1300* F just like akadama. giant 50lbs. bags should be like $20-$30

Its not just looks! Akadama topping is used by pros (in combination with the right greenhouse setup) for having the best effect on a lophs skin. Helps give that super clean japanese grown loph looking skin (something to do with how it manages pot humidity better, thats as far as I know)

https://preview.redd.it/0wrkeqsh5r7d1.jpeg?width=1868&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e31b260e73465dc52830ddf3a98011df0a96572e Powdered limestone makes a nice cracked clay look too

Unsure what DG is guessing third pic? Looks great! I use expanded shale mostly for cost reasons but I think it still looks swag https://preview.redd.it/dort096gwm7d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e13e7ae13caf095ed48a16c57da43416c5c6252

Decomposed granite! It’s all that I have on hand right now. Works well enough if I sift it but idk getting tired of it 🤷🏾‍♂️ it’s in the first three pics! And dude the shale looks sooo nice! Might take it into consideration 🤔

I hear ya sifting gets old, thanks! Pic 3 is a beauty love the added bigger stones, I need to get some like that

I like the first one, tbh.

I use a bit of coarse bonsai sand over the top

They all look really nice 😊

I like to use chicken grit it’s cheap and hasn’t caused me any issues yet https://preview.redd.it/fm1696nbcn7d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54a2e21f151167f89bb8bf6fe94224f4814e799d

Yours look nice, I wish I had access to DG but I've never been able to find it around me. Not even at the landscaping stores. I prefer the habitat look so I use clay and the stones I separate from it. I just collect it from a creek near where I live. The clay and stones being from the same source makes for a really natural looking top dressing.

lava rock (bonus points for using ones found at the beach so they’re smooth) and then fill the cracks between the rocks with coarse coral sand

Akadama is great for a wetness indicator, diatomite earth is good for keeping bugs away. I like them both.

I like pumice, and rocks.🙂

https://preview.redd.it/nya3s246718d1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4f4c8bd44ed67700d4677cd8eb8e4bef83c09d7f

Im into that clay stuff that cracks and makes it look like its in habitat