The Many Uses of Tufa Rock

Tufa is an absolute necessity for anyone with a passion for high alpine plants. Many varieties will flourish in tufa, while they languish in other terrain.

The following are merely a few of the many plants that thrive in this remarkable substance. By all means, experiment with others. You could also try through planting; boring holes right through the tufa so that the roots can reach the soil beneath, this will satisfy species with heartier rooting and feeding habits.

When buying tufa to be used for host rocks, look for pieces with the general appearance of a natural bathroom sponge (lots of holes). It should be soft enough to carve with a pocket knife, yet hard enough to resist breaking apart. To obtain large boulders, you may have to special order, but they are most definitely available.

Simple Shaping

Tufa is quite difficult to split, but you can cut it easily with a common wood saw. To get a natural look after it is cut, spray off the cut surface with a garden hose. Tufa is easily shaped, using the most basic household tools. An old kitchen knife is quite effective in boring holes, but a wood drill is a lot faster. Clean the edges of the hole to allow roots to penetrate into the tufa. To gauge the hole size needed, the tassel roots should be drawn loosely together, indicating a suitable diameter and depth.