My Sylvia Diatomite - not hard anymore?

[GBarb]

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?

[Leigh Taafe]

I have had problems with it - I am eliminating it from my mix ASAP. It breaks down super fast into a chalky dust.

[AGarcia]

I have had no problems with the latest batch of kleensorb. It stays solid for me.

[GBarb]

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

[Leigh Taafe]

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.

[GBarb]

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.

Hi leigh,

Are you using in conjunction with or in replacement of akadama?

would you think pumice to be a suitable substitute?

[Leigh Taafe]

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.

[GBarb]

where are you getting your scoria from in a decent size?

[Leigh Taafe]

Ken Poole - he is on this forum

[one_bonsai]

Bonsai nurseries usually have mixes. That's what I use, everything grows well.

[GBarb]

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.

[Bougy Fan]

It is now marketed as Chalkmine Kleensorb. The product is good but the size is too small for me

[kcpoole]

where are you getting your scoria from in a decent size?

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

[one_bonsai]

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]

Also stock NZ Pumice and also rebagg it to 14L size as the larger one are too heavy for most.

What do you charge for the pumice including delivery to Melbourne?