My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 54
- Joined: June 3rd, 2020, 12:05 pm
- Bonsai Age: 15
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 26 times
My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
Has anyone tried the Mt Sylvia diamotie recently?
I know maidenwell isn’t calcined anymore, just wondering if Mt Sylvia is standing up to the test of time and not breaking down?
I know maidenwell isn’t calcined anymore, just wondering if Mt Sylvia is standing up to the test of time and not breaking down?
- Leigh Taafe
- Maverick
- Posts: 1436
- Joined: November 14th, 2008, 9:22 am
- Bonsai Age: 36
- Bonsai Club: NBPCA
- Location: Canberra, Australia
- Has thanked: 11 times
- Been thanked: 16 times
- Contact:
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
I have had problems with it - I am eliminating it from my mix ASAP. It breaks down super fast into a chalky dust.
Cheers,
Leigh.
Leigh.
- AGarcia
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 248
- Joined: August 2nd, 2009, 7:12 pm
- Favorite Species: Bougie, Black Pine
- Bonsai Age: 20
- Bonsai Club: Bimer
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
I have had no problems with the latest batch of kleensorb. It stays solid for me.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 54
- Joined: June 3rd, 2020, 12:05 pm
- Bonsai Age: 15
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 26 times
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
When did you last purchase it? Was it recently?
I’m thinking of getting some from Enfield produce but want to make sure I’m not wasting my money
I’m thinking of getting some from Enfield produce but want to make sure I’m not wasting my money
- Leigh Taafe
- Maverick
- Posts: 1436
- Joined: November 14th, 2008, 9:22 am
- Bonsai Age: 36
- Bonsai Club: NBPCA
- Location: Canberra, Australia
- Has thanked: 11 times
- Been thanked: 16 times
- Contact:
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
I bought a stack of it a few years ago and was still working through the stock of it. It may have been that just some of the bags were full of the crumbling particles, as I have only just noticed on some trees that were re-potted in Spring just passed. I would be reluctant buying it unless you can get some proof that it won't disintegrate into a chalky dust in a matter of months.
Cheers,
Leigh.
Leigh.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 54
- Joined: June 3rd, 2020, 12:05 pm
- Bonsai Age: 15
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 26 times
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
Hi leigh,Leigh Taafe wrote: ↑June 4th, 2020, 9:27 am I bought a stack of it a few years ago and was still working through the stock of it. It may have been that just some of the bags were full of the crumbling particles, as I have only just noticed on some trees that were re-potted in Spring just passed. I would be reluctant buying it unless you can get some proof that it won't disintegrate into a chalky dust in a matter of months.
Are you using in conjunction with or in replacement of akadama?
would you think pumice to be a suitable substitute?
- Leigh Taafe
- Maverick
- Posts: 1436
- Joined: November 14th, 2008, 9:22 am
- Bonsai Age: 36
- Bonsai Club: NBPCA
- Location: Canberra, Australia
- Has thanked: 11 times
- Been thanked: 16 times
- Contact:
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
I was using it instead of akadama. I am now going to be using akadama, pumice, and scoria. The amounts will be adjusted to suit species. I may also include zeolite where water retention is important.
Diatomite is a good product, but not if it turns to a chalky dust in a matter of months.
Diatomite is a good product, but not if it turns to a chalky dust in a matter of months.
Cheers,
Leigh.
Leigh.
- Leigh Taafe
- Maverick
- Posts: 1436
- Joined: November 14th, 2008, 9:22 am
- Bonsai Age: 36
- Bonsai Club: NBPCA
- Location: Canberra, Australia
- Has thanked: 11 times
- Been thanked: 16 times
- Contact:
- one_bonsai
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 193
- Joined: December 2nd, 2018, 12:07 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniper
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 23 times
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
Bonsai nurseries usually have mixes. That's what I use, everything grows well.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 54
- Joined: June 3rd, 2020, 12:05 pm
- Bonsai Age: 15
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 26 times
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
so i actually just had a chat to them.
Although the product is heated, its only heated to around 22 degrees celsius, more to dry the product than anything else.
A far cry from calcination at 500-1000 degrees to harden the product.
This change has come about since the mine was taken over in 2018.
Although the product is heated, its only heated to around 22 degrees celsius, more to dry the product than anything else.
A far cry from calcination at 500-1000 degrees to harden the product.
This change has come about since the mine was taken over in 2018.
- Bougy Fan
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2597
- Joined: February 9th, 2010, 5:52 pm
- Favorite Species: Bougainvillea, Ficus and Swamp Cypress
- Bonsai Age: 4
- Bonsai Club: Bimer
- Location: Brisbane
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 53 times
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
It is now marketed as Chalkmine Kleensorb. The product is good but the size is too small for me
Regards Tony
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
- kcpoole
- Perpetual Learner
- Posts: 12272
- Joined: November 12th, 2008, 4:02 pm
- Favorite Species: Maple
- Bonsai Age: 15
- Bonsai Club: the School Of Bonsai
- Location: Western Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Has thanked: 17 times
- Been thanked: 84 times
- Contact:
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
I stock Scoria in 3-5mm and just got a new bulk bag in from melbourne
I bag it up into 14L bags and can send out I put 2 bags in a box and use sendle to deliver
Also stock NZ Pumice and also rebagg it to 14L size as the larger one are too heavy for most.
Obviously Akadama and Kanuma in stock though alomost out of Small in both, but have a ew container on order
as you have discovered, Kleensorb is not a viable product in Bonsai anymore as it turns to mush and from what Mt Sylvia told me was that the mine had run out of mineable product at a cost effective price. thus i went ont to find a replacement mix and what i use is as close as I can get to an Australian version of "Boon's Mix"
Thus "Ken's Mix" is
40% Akadama
40% Pumice ( or scoria if you prefer)
20% Zeolite
If i can get in small enough size i add a little Activated Charcoal
been usingf this now for about 4 years on everything Excepet azaleas
Ken
Check out our Wiki for awesome bonsai information www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki
What is Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Bonsai
What should I do now? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Newbie
How do I grow a Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _a_Bonsai?
Visit a Bonsai nursery to see some real nice trees http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries
What is Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Bonsai
What should I do now? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Newbie
How do I grow a Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _a_Bonsai?
Visit a Bonsai nursery to see some real nice trees http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries
- one_bonsai
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 193
- Joined: December 2nd, 2018, 12:07 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniper
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 23 times
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
I bought some Kleensorb from Enfield and put some in water. It's been sitting in water for a month. It's still solid but when I press it between my fingers it turns to mush easily. I've switched to pumice instead.
- one_bonsai
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 193
- Joined: December 2nd, 2018, 12:07 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniper
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 23 times
Re: My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?
What do you charge for the pumice including delivery to Melbourne?