Growing Medium Test - Sargents Juniper

[kcpoole]

sorry Dario the Kanuma with Azaleas is superb. I got extremely good results with it and will use Kanuma for zaleas before anything else.
For me it is Easy to obtain as Scott Stocks it in Canberra

Re the Akadama, I used it mixed with about 20% decomposed Granite as was advised byt the suppliers in Perth. Interesting thought to use it for Reducing growth rates . I found it did not hold moisture anywhere near as well as Diatomite or Ray nesci mix, and after 2 years the roots compared to the other 2 were Quite poor.
Also note that other people in Sydney that purchased Akadama in the bulk buy we did, also do not use it anymore.

Note that, I use a 2/3 Diatomite/ 1/3 Zeolite mix so it is not 100%. I agree with Scott, 100% mixes do not perform anywhere near as well as mixed content.

Ken

[Boics]

Ken thanks for further adding to this topic.
It makes for very interesting reading. Combined with that read to date I am starting to see some themes become apparent!
Personally I have a few ideas of what I want to try although just hoping for a little more "local" Victorian feedback.

I can say that I won't be bothering ordering any Akadama though!

[Scott Roxburgh]

...P.S. my jbp seeds have sprouted and are doing well at this stage so thanks Scott
Also Scott, what percentage of your mix is akadama?

I don't want to hijack Ken's thread, but great news on the JBP, mine have finally come up too!

The percent of Akadama in the mix depends on the tree. Deciduous get more (smaller particles), evergreens get less (larger particles), but basically 1/2 to 1/3 Akadama, the rest is Pumice. Both parts screened to ensure an equal particle size and to remove the fines.

...I won't be bothering ordering any Akadama though![/quote="Boics"]

More for the rest of us!

[kcpoole]

Glad to be of help
Remeber the old adage applies, everyone will have their own environments and conditions so everyones performance will vary as well.

find what you are comfortable with and do not be scared to experiment.

Ken

[Craig]

,No Doubt if the Akadama is only used as a 2 part mix with 20% decomposed Granite it will not keep moist or produce great growth. In my experience with Akadama you will need to add fines , eg; coco peat/coir peat. I have noticed fantastic results and growth is very healthy, never ever seen a tree not do well in it and I have a couple of juni's and JBP in straight akadama which also are in top health.I personally think it is a great product and wouldn't use anything else.

To each his/her own

[Dario]

If you haven't already, please disregard my post regarding akadama, I wasn't putting it down as a product.
I was speculating based on Ken's results which I obviously misunderstood.
Cheers, Dario.