Inert Growing Medium

[kcpoole]

After using Ray Nescis own Bonsai mix exclusively, I recently started to experiment with using Growing medium with no organincs in it. Currently I have Some of every variety I have in this mix as a test, but have recently decided that next time I repot I will do so exclusivley in this type Growing medium.
I have Already had plants in thiis mix last longer during our hot days when planted in "Kenny's Mix"

at this time my preferred mix is
1 part Coarse Nepean River sand
1 part Zeolite
2 parts Diatomite

The Nepean River Sand I get from "Mitre 10" at Dural in 20Kg bags. It must be washed to remove the Muddy fines from it. I wash it over a Fly Screen door that leaves me everything bigger than 1 mm or so. Maximum particle size is about 5 mm.
$ 5 per bag

Zeolite is from "Ray Nesci Bonsai Nursery" Dural NSW. Sold in 20 L bags and is 2-5 mm in Size. Brand name is Castle Mountain Zeolites from the Hunter Valley region. http://www.cmzeolites.com.au/
$15 per bag

Diatomite is available from "Enfield Produce", Enfield. Product name is "Maidenwell" from http://www.maidenwell.com/. Sold in 40L bags. Size is from 2-7mm
$20 per Bag

I find that this mix hold more water than Rays mix and for longer. Is Much freeer draining, and re- Wets instantly instead of having the water pool on top of the mix and run down the sideof the pot and leave the root mass dry.
I have had many problems with Curl Grubs invading my pots and I am hoping they do not like this type of soil. Time will tell.

Ken

Great post Ken
+ 30 points
from AusBonsai

[stymie]

We over here in the UK and many bonsai growers in the US are using cat litter which is made from calcined clay. It is similar in appearance to Akadama but is much more durable. It's salient properties are Good drainage, moisture retention and open structure with no powder content. It has no feed value of course and a fertiliser programme is essential. Great results are being documented with exceptional root growth. I have personally used 100% of this for my deciduous trees over the last three years. Some of the coniferous species get around a 20% addition of Kyodama (volcanic grit). I wonder if someone in Oz can source a similar commodity.

[Asus101]

its the same as maidenwell...

[kcpoole]

The only Volcanic product I can find in Oz is Scoria, Pumice, Lava rock, Kyodama etc is as common as Unobtanium here. No where can I find a supplier of of said products.
Scoria is no good as the smallest I can find is 10mm. There is a mine in Victoria that has 3-5 mm in size, but they do not ship. It must be picked up.

Ken

[Asus101]

I can only get scoria here. I cant get river sand or anything else. I used the scoria in normal porring mix when I collected my hawthorns. Its working well.

[kcpoole]

I can only get scoria here. I cant get river sand or anything else. I used the scoria in normal porring mix when I collected my hawthorns. Its working well.

What size is your Scoria? and where do ya get it

[Asus101]

Its giant...

I found a pot today, the last one i repotted. I used maidenwell, drainage sand (that they use in the irrigation industry at the end of drainpipes) and some pine bark. Working well.

[kcpoole]

Its giant...

I found a pot today, the last one i repotted. I used maidenwell, drainage sand (that they use in the irrigation industry at the end of drainpipes) and some pine bark. Working well.

LOL..
If anyone knows where to obtain Scoria in 3-7mm size then please chine in here. I would love to use it in my mix.
Great to hear you use of maidenwell is sucessful. I think it will start to get much more exposure now people are trying it sucessfully

Ken

[anttal63]

i too have started using diatomite medium grade mixed in equal parts with fine grade 3-7mm orchid mix. its the bomb!!! i do vary the mix in some circumstances. sometimes a little peat or spagnum chopped up with fine bulb mix and fine grade diatamite can make a good mulch over the top of the medium mix. however i am not this extravagent with big plastic pots and box's for growing on.

[BonsaiBoy]

Hi guys. I have been using the bonsai mix by Debco that you buy in nurseries. I know its not the best but its easy.
Can you give me a bit more info about mixes like what is best for different trees? Please?
Thanks!!!

[anttal63]

Hi guys. I have been using the bonsai mix by Debco that you buy in nurseries. I know its not the best but its easy.
Can you give me a bit more info about mixes like what is best for different trees? Please?
Thanks!!!

hi bonsai boy; the follwing is how it works for me. firstly lets talk about DEBCO. let me start with the terminology. the mix's in discussion are always
FAST DRAINING. then there is what i call a WET MIX or a DRY MIX. debco is a dry mix and i think it is a good mix if you can keep the water up to it. then depending on specie, pot size, your climate and how frequent you can water it may need a bit of something. a little more pine mulch or potting mix. peat or chopped spagnum, sparingly though. in that order the mix now starts to get wetter not to mention some elements and ph's in these addatives are appreciated by certain specie's. sometimes when the mix gets wetter you might need to add more stone. scoria will hold more water. most natives will prefer a dry mix as long as you can keep up the water. no tree is drought tolerent in a pot, not even natives. i have tried the water trays but dont like the fact that they can attract pests. aphids were a problem when i used water trays. pines love a dry mix and scoria. where decidous and fruiting often like a wetter mix. now lets talk diatamite mix. when you introduce diatamite the drainage and aeration is for a far superior mix. if you would like to post or pm on a specific specie and scenario i would be happy to tell what i would do in detail. melbourne can be hot and dry, cold and wet. and thats all on the same day so your climate plays a big part in how you mix.

[Pup]

For the last 20+years I have used 50% crushed granite 2mm to 4mm 25% coco peat 25% of a premium Potting mix I mix in a cement mixer.
Since a couple of friends started importing Akadama I have swapped it for the potting mix. I use this for all my trees with the exception of Azaleas.
I then use Kanuma. I have found this mix in our hot dry climate to work well. The moisture retentive ability of the Akadama is very good it will also retain the trace elements needed by the tree's. If i had to I would go back to using potting mix. This mix is what is called the California mix . Which was first used by the Japanese Americans such as the late great John Y Naka san. Hope this of help to those that need it. As with all mixes ten growers ten mixes all the best.
Akadama has been used for centuries. I am going to try some trees in pure Akadama and see how they go.

[Joel]

Ken,

Whilst on holidays in Coffs Harbor, I visited an orchid nursery located at The Big Banana. Whilst browsing the beautiful bromeliads and the few orchids that were there, I noticed a product that looked to me like Akadama. The gentleman told me that this product was a fired clay (ceramic or terracotta, i cannot remember) and is now all the rage with Australian orchid growers. He proceeded to tell me that this product could be purchased in bulk from Bunnings at a relatively cheap price, as it is the un-used scrap from making pots etc.

Unfortunately i did not purchase any, and i am hoping to find this product in Bunnings. However, I'm thought i would have heard about it by now in the bonsai community, and i have not.

Does anybody here know what this stuff is?

JayC

[kcpoole]

Hey Jay

If you find it let me know
I will check the local B store

Ken

[Scott Roxburgh]

Jay and Ken,

Funny thing...I have recently (last night) come across the same sort of product. it is called Hydroton. there are quite a few suppliers in Aus by the look of things. Just search: Hydroton Clay.

see this site:

http://www.accenthydroponics.com/ecom1/prod352.htm

50L bag for $40.00 and $11.00 shipping to my house, I am ordering some as we speak!

Looks promising!

Let me know if you guys try it out.

Cheers

Scott.