Potting Mix Tests Results Abbreviated

[Bretts]

Thanks Ken but I thought Grant had both types of Diatomite?

[Grant Bowie]

That's interesting Grant.
My hunch with 100 percent mixes in general is that you can run into pH issues. The mixes in general act as a buffer to any pH issues. Akadama is one that seemed to be an exception to this rule with me and I thought Diatomite Maidenwell was much the same.

I was suprised to see Attapulgite (Chandlers kitty litter) in the "Components that on their own grew well/OK or good" list. I had always used it only in a mix and when I experimented with it at 100% with a JBP seedling I had pH issues. the seedling was yellow. Did not think it would make the Winter but it did and recovered in an akadama mix this year I am still mucking around with Attapulgite 100% though.

The 50% Diatomite and 50% Spongelite mix was that with the high pH diatomite.

I have a bunch of tridents growing in 100% Spongelite. More from necessity/laziness than anything and apart from being a little light in colour which is probably lack of nutrients they are going quite strong.
I also have a hornbeam seedling in 100% diatomite mid pH and it is going at least as strong as any of the others.

It just gets more confusing

Oh did you notice any improvement when you stepped up the fertilising?

Some improvement after increasing dose of ferts but probably too late this year to expect too much.

The experiment will run for a while yet to see if there are any toxicity problems.

Towards the end of the growing season I will pot the trees on into bigger pots, inspect roots and test PH on the old mix to see if the PH has changed.


Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks Ken but I thought Grant had both types of Diatomite?

Yes I have both kinds of Diatomite and have listed them separately in the components tests.

In the blends it probably won't make much difference which one you use.

Attapulgite was a surprise. I thought it would stay far too wet but it hasn't been through a winter yet of course.

grant

[Bretts]

In the blends it probably won't make much difference which one you use.

I was thinking different Grant. The Mt Sylvia and the Spongolite both have high range pH if I remember right. So I reckon the neutral pH diatomite would compliment the spongolite better.
No big one anyway as I believe there is no readily available source for spongolite anymore with richgro replacing spongolite with Mt Sylvia diatomite in thier aquatic planting mix

[Grant Bowie]

In the blends it probably won't make much difference which one you use.

I was thinking different Grant. The Mt Sylvia and the Spongolite both have high range pH if I remember right. So I reckon the neutral pH diatomite would compliment the spongolite better.
No big one anyway as I believe there is no readily available source for spongolite anymore with richgro replacing spongolite with Mt Sylvia diatomite in thier aquatic planting mix

Yes unfortuneately with both organic and inorganic components their make up/behaviour/specs change all the time without notification so it is best to stay flexible about what you use. No point dying in a ditch about this or that as it is largely irrelevant or beyond your control.

As usual just do your best and muddle on.

Grant

[kcpoole]

I have just updated my thread on my (informal ) tests so will not pollute this one of Grants. See the thread here
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1878

Anecdotally on the different plants I am trying I find that Diatomite/Zeolite performs best with Ray Nescis mix very close and Akadama much worse off

What I will say though is that as long as your mix is a free draining one and the trees are looked after with good water and fertilizer regimen, then you cannot go wrong. Use whatever works fro you in YOUR situation as the few % differences will not make much difference.
If you are wanting to grow a tree on ad develop it, then put it in the ground or large pot a fertilize it well. If you have trees in Bonsai pots, then growth rate does not matter so use what you know works for you. For us in OZ, then that means Mix that hold water well and is easy to Rewet when drying out.
For me, that is Diatomite / Zeolite

Ken

[Bretts]

I have found some good results with Akadama and I am looking forward to mucking around with it some more including heaps of fert. But not all have gone over past experiences from memory. Maybe as Japan does not have to water as much as us and we need to change the way we fert. Maybe lots of solid fert on top or as Walter suggests?

I think we are very lucky to have diatomite here in Australia. I have not had enough experience with it yet but I have had what I see as pH issues with the high pH one. I finally have a local supply of the mid range ph Diatomite even if it does cost $28 for I think 20L bag

I am seriously thinking of a bulk order of Ray's mix for my stock trees as it will not need as much fert and keeping the other mixes for my bonsai pots.

Thanks for your update KC

[kcpoole]

Ps forgat to add, that my diatomite is Mt Sylvia, which is the high PH one

Azaleas have no issue with it as I have 2 test trees and 3 others in it

Ken

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks for everyones input. It all adds to our experience.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Correction to PH of Mt Sylvia diatomite.

We retested the Mt Sylvia diatomite and found it had a ph of 6.

i can only think that we got it mixed up with spongelite rather than it having changed its PH while sitting on a shelf.

I had found in use it made no difference which Diatomite you used so this confirms it.

Grant

[kcpoole]

Correction to PH of Mt Sylvia diatomite.

We retested the Mt Sylvia diatomite and found it had a ph of 6.

i can only think that we got it mixed up with spongelite rather than it having changed its PH while sitting on a shelf.

I had found in use it made no difference which Diatomite you used so this confirms it.

Grant

Thanks Grant for the update
As a longtime user of Both types, I have not seen any real world performance difference in them, Just the colour, but that gets darker as it ages and can be disguised anyway

Ken

[Bretts]

Maybe I just did not fertilise mine enough Maybe I am still getting used to using fully inorganic mixes I will have to try to remember to do a pH test on mine (Did I already say that ) Still have some left so I will aim to try it with KC's ratio and see if it starts to work better for me.
It is possible I am blaming lack of fertiliser on pH issue. Maybe more time will tell.
Thanks for the correction Grant.
When was ya last update on the other mixes. Is the apugulite still holding together in your test.

[Grant Bowie]

Maybe I just did not fertilise mine enough Maybe I am still getting used to using fully inorganic mixes I will have to try to remember to do a pH test on mine (Did I already say that ) Still have some left so I will aim to try it with KC's ratio and see if it starts to work better for me.
It is possible I am blaming lack of fertiliser on pH issue. Maybe more time will tell.
Thanks for the correction Grant.
When was ya last update on the other mixes. Is the apugulite still holding together in your test.

Still doing OK Bretts in our climate with a deciduous tree.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

Today at the collection we took all the single component growing test subjects (an ash seedling growing in the many types of potential potting media components) and photographed, bare rooted, root trimmed and potted them on into a slightly bigger pot.

The ones that had done very poorly were potted on into our standard mix.(No point flogging a dead horse) The ones that had done OK or good were potted back into their original media( same type but brand new). All had osmocote added to the mix as those without had mostly done very poorly.

I will elaborate further soon but there were some interesting results.

One noticeable diiference was the root growth pattern. The ones that had had Osmocote in the mix mostly had a dense root system with lots of near surface roots. The ones that were liquid fed only tended to have roots going down into the mix or most of the roots coming from where the seedlings roots had been originally cut off.

And before you ask Brett; the attapulgite performed quite well. In fact in our test attapulgite at 100% did better than both Mt Sylvia and Maidenwell Diatomite at 100%. (Stayed wetter I think; the Diatomite certainly stays drier)

I will be getting on with the Tests tomorrow and repot the blended components growing subjects. (Most of the blends performed well by the way from just a glance today)

Grant

[kcpoole]

Very interesting about the trees with Osmocote in the mix
I have never done it myself but would concur that the Roots tend to push to the bottom of the pots. the trees do not seem to mind tho, but I think having more roots higher would be better.

Ken