Akadama

[evan]

I've extensively studied soil sciences in uni. I'll have a go at classifying it tomorrow. Also clay "heaviness" is entirely dependent on how high the clay content is not organic matter.

[squizzy]

Cheers Evan. Only if it's not a giant hassle. I have been reading a heap on clays tonight and there definitions. It's an interesting subject for sure.

Thanks again

Squizzy

[treeman]

My reason for wanting to know this is that in the event it does break down I would like to know it remains free draining like a sandy loam.

Squizzy

It won't remain as free draining as sandy loam once it breaks down simply because of the difference in particle sizes between clay and sand. Even the finest sands are hundreds of times larger than clayparticles. (silt is somewhere in between) They used to use straight sandy loam to pot up all manner of things in the old days. Although it remained wet for a long time, drainage still seemed to be satisfactory. They still use it here and there. As for the Akadama, I'm not sure of it's exact classification, but it's basically a red volcanic subsoil which is common to many parts of the world including Australia. Red hill on the Mornington Peninsula, King Lake, the Dandenong Ranges, they all have it by the mountain load. I once collected some from a King Lake pine plantation which had been churned up with heavy machinery. Once sieved and dried, I used it in a few pots with excellent results. No breakdown of the particles after two years in the pot. What seems to be important is to protect the exposed surface with some kind of mulch (moss or standard p/mix) as the action of water constantly hitting it tends to break the particles up leading to a layer which does not drain well. Lower down in the pot however, the particles remain unchanged.

[squizzy]

Cheers tree man. I thought there would have to be an untapped resource here. I assume it's the partial size that defines a silt from a clay but other reading has said clays have a higher alumina and silica content. Is this your understanding.

Squizzy

[kcpoole]

Another thing to note about Akadama, is that is produced in different hardnesses,
We have available "Hard Akadama" which has been dried / baked @ 300deg. soft Akadama has not been treated as such.

I assume the product you refer to Treeman would be classed as soft Akadama if not baked?

Ken

[treeman]

Cheers tree man. I thought there would have to be an untapped resource here. I assume it's the partial size that defines a silt from a clay but other reading has said clays have a higher alumina and silica content. Is this your understanding.

Squizzy

I would have to get the books out for that one.

[treeman]

Another thing to note about Akadama, is that is produced in different hardnesses,
We have available "Hard Akadama" which has been dried / baked @ 300deg. soft Akadama has not been treated as such.

I assume the product you refer to Treeman would be classed as soft Akadama if not baked?

Ken

Yes. I think they use the baked for pines and the soft or deciduous right?

[evan]

Cheers tree man. I thought there would have to be an untapped resource here. I assume it's the partial size that defines a silt from a clay but other reading has said clays have a higher alumina and silica content. Is this your understanding.

Squizzy

It's solely particle size that is the difference between sands, silts, and clays. There are some clays that are further sub classified because of their chemical compositions.

[treeman]

This dude is using sandy loam to pot up a wisteria. Rough as guts but seems to work for him. Some things seem to like tight soil. Wisteria and flowering quince are two I can think of...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SUCjLlrSEA

[squizzy]

Hi treeman,

I had this discussion with someone about Japanese maples. I have noticed that Japanese maples do better in a tight soil. It is very limited experiment from me as I have only grown a handful in my time. What is yours or others experience with this?

Evan. Just to clarify what is the component of clay that gives it stickiness. Also is clay entirely mineral?

squizz

[treeman]

Hi treeman,

I had this discussion with someone about Japanese maples. I have noticed that Japanese maples do better in a tight soil. It is very limited experiment from me as I have only grown a handful in my time. What is yours or others experience with this?



squizz

I would be careful of using to tight a soil for J maples. You might experience root rot with that. I find they do quite well in a coarse mix as long as they get watered in good time. I do believe that older trees of all kinds do hold more fine detail with a finer mix than is currently used by some and using actual soil (clay) seems to help.