AusBonsai

HaHa looks like lots of Fun Grant Nice work

the red looks material in the bottom right hand corner of the last photo has a nice appearance
is it Akadama?

Hi Nereus,

That is actually Zeolite in small particles.

Cheers,
Leigh.

Back in the UK all may trees are potted in diatomeceous earth. It's basically baked molar clay which is mined in Denmark, and sold as cat litter. I think someone posted a link to bonsai4me where it's dicussed in detail. Particle size varies between 3-8mm depending on which kind of cat litter it's sold as.

I've been using it for about 3 years now and it's really good. This fir tree had almost no fibrous roots when I planted it; 18 months later it's formed an intact rootball:

Hoping to find something similar here.

Diatomite is mined here in Queensland under two brands = Mt Sylvia and Maidenwell. You just missed out, Rich. I sent three bags to Townsville on Friday, but Loretta snapped them up. No-one sells it north of Bundaberg. I got some in for our local club and have some left over if you have a way of getting it to Townsville from Mackay. $25 per bag. By the way, Diatomite is the fossilised remains of diatoms, microscopic water organisms.

Glenda

Hi all,

Sage Hort got in the Maidenwell diatomite and I now have 7 bags of it. It is about 1/3rd lighter and dustier than the Mount Sylvia diatomite and it will be interesting to see how it compares in the mix components tests.

Grant

Hi Grant
Have you got a pH kit handy. The miadenwell should be nuetral and Mt Sylvia alkaline. It would be intresting to check if it is no Hassle.

Bretts wrote:Hi Grant
Have you got a pH kit handy. The miadenwell should be nuetral and Mt Sylvia alkaline. It would be intresting to check if it is no Hassle.

No problem!

All part of the service.

Mt Sylvia is Alkaline; will check Maidenwell.

Maidenwell is also absorbing more water than Mt Sylvia.

DIATOMITES AIN'T DIATOMITES.

We will be doing Air Filled Porosity tomorrow. I need more helpers!

Grant

Brett,

According to the soli mix test kit here being used by me on this date at this elevation, temperature, humidity, air movement, day of the week, month and year:---

The Maidenwell Diatomite is 5.5; slightly Acid but equivalent to Kanuma, Akadama, Chinese Akadama,Perlite, CRG and prop sand.There are a few others at 5 and 6.

Mt Sylvia Diatomite, Spongelite and Attapulgite are all similar between 8 - 9.

Ken uses Mt Sylvia now (8.5PH) and detected no real difference.

Just goes to show you trees will grow in just about anything.

We will retest PH on all components and mixes using a different method to check results. This of course will take time.

Grant

Hi all,

Tests of most potting mix components is mostly complete.

I will try and present it in a meaningfull way next week.

Some interesting results! Some expected but one out of the blue!

Grant

NBPCA wrote:Hi all,

Tests of most potting mix components is mostly complete.

I will try and present it in a meaningfull way next week.

Some interesting results! Some expected but one out of the blue!

Grant

Hi Grant,

I'm looking forward to the result. You have put a lot of effort in this test and is much appreciated by all of us ( if I may speak for others)

Cheers,

Chris

Chris Sirre wrote:You have put a lot of effort in this test and is much appreciated by all of us ( if I may speak for others)

Here here! I'll second that!

Goodonya Grant. This is invaluable information for our community.

Regards,
Steven

Steven wrote:

Chris Sirre wrote:You have put a lot of effort in this test and is much appreciated by all of us ( if I may speak for others)

Here here! I'll second that!

Goodonya Grant. This is invaluable information for our community.

Regards,
Steven

all welcome! I have ulterior motives of course and am looking forward to see how the various mixes and components perform in my new town of Canberra and its microclimate.

Grant

I agre with Chris and Steven - great work and great knowledge. As my potting season starts in about a week, this is great information that will be used across the country. Better even is the fact that the tests were carried out very close to the conditions that I grow in and as such will be very valuable. Thanks.