Charcoal at last.

[Ash Barns]

Having spent quite some time looking for charcoal to add to the mix I found it at long last. The local IGA store had it in 4kg bags at $11.00 (Redheads pure charcoal). That might be enough for the Grandkids to make use of later in life. Of course I could always use it on the BBQ in Summer. It seems that nursery people don't hold it in such high esteem to stock it.

[aussiedamo]

i know we have it in our local nursey? its atunga brand i think?

[Ash Barns]

i know we have it in our local nursey? its atunga brand i think?

You have restored my faith in the Nursery trade but sadly not down here in South Gippsland. Others may benefit from your heads up on that brand. Many thanks for that.

[Dumper]

i saw charcoal in bunnings. not quite sure on the brand.

[Gerard]

Today I mixed a new batch of soil, I felt my previous mix contained too much coco peat for pines and junipers. The new mix contains a bag of commercial bonsai mix and a small bag of "black magic" charcoal instead.

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[Jamie]

this question may seem a little bit daft, but why use charcoal? is it for the grit aspect of the mix or moisture retention?

J.

[Pup]

This is very a interesting topic. As once upon time it was used quite extensively in the nursery trade. It was to help hold the nutrients and release them back into the roots slowly also to stop the soil mix from going sour. So there was less need to pot on.

So the average pot plant grower used it a lot. The late John Y Naka recommended it for Palms. Mrs pup has some in the pots of Palms she has.
I have bought from the big B but have not had to for a while.

As for coco peat Grant Bowie and I were discussing this yesterday. I have been using it for about 15 years. Then in the last two years started using Akadama and have found that I am retaining too much moisture. So I am going to try a couple of trees with out it. Just what we in the west call Carnarvon river sand ( which I have referred to in the past as crushed gravel ) and Akadama.

My mix has only been changed twice in 25+ years. Once when I replaced the cow manure to coco peat and once from a potting mix ( premium commercial ) to Akadama.

The discussion also centered on uniform mixes !. It is not really possible to apply my formula to your area, as Grant pointed out the trees that are at the collection, from different parts of Australia, have different mixes so they have to be watched.
The trees from the West have to be able to handle hot dry conditions. While Canberra it is cold and damp. The summer is that much shorter than here.

Cheers Pup

[Gerard]

Just grabbed the bag from the rubbish bin, not much info at all.
"Charcoal can be used to sweeten soil"
"Excellent for drainage"
"Good growth can be achieved by mixing 40% charcoal with 60% bark for Cattleya and dendrobium orchids"

I have two patula pines which have been planted in a mix with lots of charcoal and they have shown terrific growth.
I have been told that junipers love it.

As for scientific facts or even theories I would like to know more

[Gerard]

Plants convert carbon dioxide into sugars during photosynthesis, perhaps adding charcoal to the soil will be another source of carbon for the plant. (just a thought)

[Andrew Ward]

Peter Cundall did an interesting article on the 'black soils' of South America in ABC Organic Magazine last year. There are huge benefits of using charcoal in our soil mix.

Another product - Green Bio (available from Bunnings and also in larger quantities through Plantmark) - uses charcoal as the binder for the beneficial bacteria, use as a soil additive.

My grandmother always put some charcoal in her glasses of water that she had cuttings take root in. The instructions for setting up a terrarium have always been to add a layer of charcoal.

Definitely, there is something in it. A bit like using crushed egg shells in our juniper mixes ... it works AND what did it cost?

[thuynguyen001]

Found some good tips here!
Gotta try it out soon.
Thanks, everyone!