Sifting Fines

[archie1979]

Hey Everyone,
Just a quick question on sifting fines? What do you use I used to use an old strainer from the kitchen but that had now died and it took forever so what does everyone else use to sift there mixes ?

metal flyscreen in a wooden frame ???

Cheers

Archie

[Gumnuts]

I used a very big plastic colinder that I found
in a hydroponic shop in Blacktown. It cost $5.

This shop would seem to specialise in a certain type of plant that I wont mention.
They have the most amazing array of fertillers that I have ever seen. Never heard of most of them.
A lot of them have parts A and B and they are expensive. I often wonder how bonsai plants would go on these super ferts.

There must be a lot of people who specialise in this type of plant around this area.

Cheers

[Asus101]

They have the most amazing array of fertillers that I have ever seen. Never heard of most of them.
A lot of them have parts A and B and they are expensive. I often wonder how bonsai plants would go on these super ferts.

not well I wouldn't think, after all they are focused on hydro growth not soil growth.

[craigw60]

Try a shop which carries gold mining equipment. I got mine in one years ago its great big and very strong. Don't get one thats too small they are a pain.
As to the hydro ferts I think they may be more suitable for growing plants which can be rolled in cigarette papers and are all chemical based. I reckon organic ferts are more suitable for bonsai
Craig

[alpineart]

Hi Archie , i use a large piece of shade cloth in varying percentages eg 30 % ,60 % , 90 % . The 90 % is used for washing materials 60 % for removing fines and 30 %for removing 2-3mm minus The collect minus material is used for seed raising mix . I do have and 8mm metal sieve from a mining shop as Craig has suggested which i use to size the mix then wash through 30%shade cloth to remove the fines .Cheers

[archie1979]

Thanks for the info everyone,
I remember when I was a child going gold fossiking with Dad, I wonder where he got his sieve from

haha

[Joel]

Or you could buy a nice Japanese made soil sieve from Ray Nesci's since you are in sydney. It comes with 3 grades of mesh. I think it was under 30 dollars.

Joel

[Mitchell]

Or you could buy a nice Japanese made soil sieve from Ray Nesci's since you are in sydney. It comes with 3 grades of mesh. I think it was under 30 dollars.

Joel

Really? I really need to spend more time in the shop... Too much with the plants... I'm going to go grab one tomorrow. Thanks

[ozzy]

I've used the flyscreen method before with some success, only gets out the really small bits but they're the ones you really need to get rid of.
And you can do a lot of dirt in a shorter time on a large flyscreen attached to a frame as opposed to a sieve.

[63pmp]

They have the most amazing array of fertillers that I have ever seen. Never heard of most of them.
A lot of them have parts A and B and they are expensive. I often wonder how bonsai plants would go on these super ferts.

They are excellent, there is no real difference between fertigation hydroponics and growing bonsai in inert media. These 2 part nutrient solutions are the only fertilizers that are complete and balanced, they have to be made up to a specific EC though. Also have to watch for pH changes in the media.

Just my opinion, I've not used them; I mix my own formula based on hydroponic feed ratios.

As for sieving, make a frame and attached the same size gauze you use for covering pot holes.

Paul

[kcpoole]

I have a set of sieves from Ray and will vouch for them too. Great stuff
But I also have an old Aluminium screen door, cut down about 1/3 size. The flyscreen mesh will catch everything bigger than about 1mm.

I spread the soil on it, and then hose all the fines out.

Works good and somewhere I have fotos of it, and have posted here before. I will see if I can find it

Ken

Just found the original post
viewtopic.php?f=103&t=2039&p=19897&hili ... ium#p19920

[MattA]

I have a big timber frame with a couple of layers of chicken mesh , with the layers offset so they create a smaller gap. It is set on an angle of about 45% is is great for sifting bulk loads of potting mix, compost & soil in general. Then to sift out the fines I have a large plastic seive of the kind mentioned available at the hydro shop.

With regards 2 part hydro ferts, I was given a load a few years ago and used them on the vege patch as a booster every 2wks with fantastic results. On a couple of trainer trees in pots the result was not so good, the salts built up very quickly until they killed the trees. They might work if you were using a totally inert medium diatomite etc & then I would think that half strength would be best.

Matt