Possible source of non-organic part of substrate?

[Joshua]

I know there's been a bit discussion on whether cat litter can be used as the non organice part of a substrate and generally the answer is 'not really', except for perhaps some of the cheap non-clumpinig kind depending on what it's made from, the additives, and so on.

I found some in a supermarket, and it listed the following as its composition:
60% Sepiolitic clay (I guess sepiolite)
30% Dolomite
10% "other minerals".

From what little I've read, the first two can be good in soil, but that last one is really frustrating.
Not sure I want to try it directly on any plants just in case.

Is there any way of testing if it could be usable and the remaining 10% wouldn't do damage?
I was thinking something along the lines of soaking some of it for a week and making sure it doesn't turn to mud, or something like that.
Any other ideas?

[juan73870]

You might find that the "other minerals" are chemicals used to fragrance the stuff. I wouldn't risk it on plants you want to keep alive.

[Brekel]

The Woolworths Essentials cat litter in the orange bags is suppose to be 100% NZ zeolite. It would have to be screened as it has a fair few fine particles in it. My understanding is that zeolite on its own holds a lot of water though so would probably need to be mixed with something else.

[terryb]

The Woolworths Essentials cat litter in the orange bags is suppose to be 100% NZ zeolite.

I use this one with no ill effects as far as I can tell. I sieve it into three different grades. A bit dusty so wear a dust mask

[Daluke]

The other 10% is meat off cuts.

[Starfox]

The cat litter that we get over in the EU is good to use but you need to get the right type and can't use any old bag you find in the shops. The good stuff is made from Danish Molar Clay which is a type of Diatomaceous earth.
Specifically bags of Sanicat/Sophisticat Pink and Tesco low dust cat litter are made from the stuff. It is used for other things too and I know Terramol is the same stuff. It is high fired which means it does not break down and has an impressive moisture holding capability which is great for our long hot summers.

Personally I use this DE mixed with lava rock/scoria and a little bit of orchid bark mixed in, quantities vary depending on the requirements of the tree. I can't find bags of it locally so normally order it online from amazon or a uk pet shop who can deliver to me. So if you can try and find the Molar Clay product somewhere it will be totally worth it.

Sepiolite for me would seem to be too soft but you could try testing it like you said, soaking it for a few days then maybe putting it in the freezer over night. Let it thaw the next day and see if it turns to mush or not but it is used for carving and doesn't seem to be high fired so I can't really say.

Kaizen Bonsai do sell Molar Clay too and it is relatively inexpensive. https://www.kaizenbonsai.com/moler-medi ... wing-media
They also sell pre mixed substrates which you can trust and that should take some of the overthinking about soil mix out of the equation.
https://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/bonsa ... soil-mixes

[Brekel]

I use this one with no ill effects as far as I can tell.

Good to know terryb
Do you mix it with anything else? If so, roughly what % have you used?

[Joshua]

I wouldn't risk it on plants you want to keep alive.

So I need a sacrificial plant to test it on...

Decided not to bother . Not looking to try to cat litter especially, it was just that I stumbled upon this one that only listed 'minerals' but yeah it seems like it's not that simple.

Kaizen Bonsai do sell Molar Clay too and it is relatively inexpensive. https://www.kaizenbonsai.com/moler-medi ... wing-media
They also sell pre mixed substrates which you can trust and that should take some of the overthinking about soil mix out of the equation.
https://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/bonsa ... soil-mixes

Thanks for the link!
Looks like a good resource and even including delivery from UK seems cheaper than other shops I've seen like Bonsai-Ka.com and MistralBonsai.com.
I've noted the link for now. l'll probably wait to check out my local club, which I'll be able to do in September, and see if they do bulk/group orders or anything like that, before buying anything.
No rush just yet in any case

[terryb]

Good to know terryb
Do you mix it with anything else? If so, roughly what % have you used?

Just use it as part of my 2/3 inorganic component (as detailed in the adelaide soil mixes thread) along with pumice and diatomite 1:1:1

[EdwardH]

I bought a couple of bags of Woolworths Essentials cat litter in the orange bags before Christmas and trialed it on a Leptospermum scoparium Purple Haze tube stock. It is a bit dusty so I removed the very fine particles before use. The plant grew very well with no ill effects that I could determine. I shall be using it with more established plants this year.

[FreddieV]

Good to know terryb
Do you mix it with anything else? If so, roughly what % have you used?

Just use it as part of my 2/3 inorganic component (as detailed in the adelaide soil mixes thread) along with pumice and diatomite 1:1:1

Terry you have a link to that thread plz. I can't seem to find it. Thanks.

[Brekel]

https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/forum/view ... 20&t=28570