repotting again this year into diatomite

[DeadStar]

Hi all,
I have already done all my repotting this year and now I have 70lts of kleensorb that was delivered yesterday.
So my question is, would repotting them now into diatomite less than a month or two after first repotting into debco bonsai mix and river sand mix be a fatal decision? Or do I just show some patience and wait till there next dorment period and do it then

I have trident mapples, japanese maples, chinese elms and a japanese black pine

[pommie_mal]

If the soil mix they are in now is OK, I would leave them alone.
The new root growth would be very tender & easily damaged if you repotted them again now.
If the mix is draining well, leave it until next year to repot into diatomite.
One thing to remember if you're using a mix high in diatomite is to have a good fertilizer regime. Diatomite offers nothing in the way of nutrition for your bonsai.
Mal.

[DeadStar]

Thanks Mal
Theres nothing wrong with what they are now potted into now. I just reveived my first lot of diatomite and was a little eager to use some.
Looks like im playing the waiting game.

[davemc]

Hi deadstar
Welcome to to the life of Bonsai

[kcpoole]

Diatomite offers nothing in the way of nutrition for your bonsai.
Mal.

no soil mix after a few months of being leached every day provides any sort of nutrient anyway.
when i used to use organic based mix, I still had to fertilise the same as I do now.

regardless of what substrae / soil one uses, we still have to fertilise just as much.
has anyone done any definitive tests on both scenarios?

I have trident maples, japanese maples, chinese elms and a japanese black pine

well that is a good excuse to get some tropical or spring / summer repotting trees

Ken

[treeman]

.

has anyone done any definitive tests on both scenarios?

Ken

Yes many times. Soil or media with a high CEC need not be fertilized as often as media with low/no CEC (eg hydroponics) which must be fed constantly.
You could leave the former for a month without noticing too much but you would see signs of starvation with the latter.

[DeadStar]

Hi deadstar
Welcome to to the life of Bonsai

Im realizing that patients is my friend

Diatomite offers nothing in the way of nutrition for your bonsai.
Mal.

no soil mix after a few months of being leached every day provides any sort of nutrient anyway.
when i used to use organic based mix, I still had to fertilise the same as I do now.

regardless of what substrae / soil one uses, we still have to fertilise just as much.
has anyone done any definitive tests on both scenarios?

I have trident maples, japanese maples, chinese elms and a japanese black pine

well that is a good excuse to get some tropical or spring / summer repotting trees

Ken

Theres a nugget of gold in there ken. Im going to have to get some more trees. Just have to figure out how to hide them from the better half