AusBonsai

[quote="Mojo Moyogi"]You can use Diatomite dust as an insecticide for soft bodied pests.

Does that apply to humans that you don`t like as well.

start throwing it as someone you dont like and see if they go away.

Hi Rowdy,

Came across the following article when researching Diatomite recently. The article refered to it as "Diatomaceous earth" which I am only assuming is the same thing (anyone feel free to correct me on this). Anyway article exerpt regarding uses of the crushed powder as follows:

Diatomaceous Earth may be used as a barrier to control adult flea beetles, sawfly, coddling moth, twig borer, thrips, mites, cockroach, slugs, snails and many other insects such as:
Aphids, thrips, earwigs, silverfish, and ants. Can be used for bedbugs, cabbage root flies, carrot root flies, fleas, pillbugs, ticks and is helpful in dealing with fungus gnats. Indoor and Outdoor Application: Sprinkle a light layer of DE in areas where pests frequent, including under stoves, cabinets, sinks, garbage cans, window and door frames and sills,
entrance ways, sewer pipes and drains, and in cracks and crevices. Repeat treatment as needed.
Carpet Beetles: Thoroughly dust along baseboards, carpet edges, under furniture, carpet, and rugs, and in closets and shelving.
Bedbugs: Take apart bed and dust joints and channels. Dust any hollow tubing and the interior framework as well as the mattress and all cracks in the room.
Fleas: Thoroughly dust carpets and pet's bedding and sleeping areas, as well as cracks and baseboards. It also can be rubbed into your pet's fur.
Flies: Thoroughly dust areas where flies frequent (walls, straw bedding, livestock pens). It also can be applied to livestock coat as an insect repellent/contact insecticide.
Fly Larva: Keeps fly larvae from developing in manure, which makes a significant reduction in the fly population.

Ps. Sorry no idea how to crsh the 14mm to 7mm

reddoggy wrote:

Mojo Moyogi wrote:You can use Diatomite dust as an insecticide for soft bodied pests.

Does that apply to humans that you don`t like as well.

Quick, fill the crop duster, we'll do a flyby of Parliament house (didn't say White House 'cause I don't want to live in Cuba)

Cheers,
Mojo

Mojo Moyogi wrote:

reddoggy wrote:

Mojo Moyogi wrote:You can use Diatomite dust as an insecticide for soft bodied pests.

Does that apply to humans that you don`t like as well.

Quick, fill the crop duster, we'll do a flyby of Parliament house (didn't say White House 'cause I don't want to live in Cuba)

Cheers,
Mojo

better wait a couple of months ... lazy buggers are still on holidays!

Gents,

Last I heard the ASIO was given much more power And Big Brother is watching right now

cre8ivbonsai wrote:

Mojo Moyogi wrote:

reddoggy wrote:

Mojo Moyogi wrote:You can use Diatomite dust as an insecticide for soft bodied pests.

Does that apply to humans that you don`t like as well.

Quick, fill the crop duster, we'll do a flyby of Parliament house (didn't say White House 'cause I don't want to live in Cuba)

Cheers,
Mojo

better wait a couple of months ... lazy buggers are still on holidays!

As a replacement for the Diatomite you are using have you thought about using Zeolite. Zeolite will aid in the retention of moisture, lift the CEC (cation exchange capacity) for retaining nutrient and enhance the porosity of your soil. To purchase Zeolite go to your local Big W store and you should find it in the pet section sold under the the Vitapet brand of Purrfit clay plus cat litter. Particle size 2-6mm very clean with no fines

Hi All,

A word of caution with regard to the use of diatomite. In some applications Diatomite is classed as a carcinogen. Diatomite is comes from Diatomaceous Earth (DE), a silicon based microorganisim, the the DE is baked at high temperatures to make the structures expand like popcorn. the new shapes have sharp edges and if inhaled aggravate the respiritory system (sislcosis). I suggest you do this with care, wet down the dust, wear dust masks etc. I have been using pearlite as an alternative to DE and akadama, pearlite is used in hydroponics and is a light weight cheap alternative to akadama. It seems to work for me and has good drainage properties but not the water holdind qualities as akadama but i just up the organic component in my soil blend.

cheers

Grasshopper

grasshopper wrote:Hi All,

A word of caution with regard to the use of diatomite. In some applications Diatomite is classed as a carcinogen. Diatomite is comes from Diatomaceous Earth (DE), a silicon based microorganisim, the the DE is baked at high temperatures to make the structures expand like popcorn. the new shapes have sharp edges and if inhaled aggravate the respiritory system (sislcosis). I suggest you do this with care, wet down the dust, wear dust masks etc. I have been using pearlite as an alternative to DE and akadama, pearlite is used in hydroponics and is a light weight cheap alternative to akadama. It seems to work for me and has good drainage properties but not the water holdind qualities as akadama but i just up the organic component in my soil blend.

cheers

Grasshopper

IIRC Pearlite breaks down whereas Diatomite and Zeolite don't (well not as fast anyway) As for carcinogens....they're everywhere. Burn your steak dinner, carcinogen, lick a block of coal, carcinogen,getting caught looking at a hot babe by my wife, carcinogen. (This is of course a joke...I never get caught)

daiviet_nguyen wrote:On diatomite, another member has mentioned elsewhere that the dust can cause respiratory problem. Next time, when I work with it, I will wear a mask (nose and mouth cover.)

That is a good idea, I always wet it thoroughly before using to help minimise dust. This helps a lot.

I believe that the condition breathing in fine particles of diatomite is referred to at Silicosis.
Here's a link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis
Similar to asbestosis i believe.
In my line of work, i am very aware of the risks associated, and always wear a respiratory mask for protection.

Ok so I finally ran out of 2-7mm diatomite so started to crush up the 14mm, respo mask on, and after a few methods I found the best is 1/3 of diatomite in a maxi pale then use a shovel to chop/crush. Get a lot of dust/fines (all goes into the 'seed raising mega mix') but at least I've got more 2-5 mm to play with, after this it's on to the mt sylvia and or zeolite ...

daiviet_nguyen wrote: Next time,..., I will wear a mask (nose and mouth cover.)

This is a good plan with anything dusty. I'm not aware of a single dust that is actually good for you. But I know of plenty that are extremely bad for you.

Then we can talk about the things living (or dormant) on your dust.....

BPMNZ wrote:As a replacement for the Diatomite you are using have you thought about using Zeolite. Zeolite will aid in the retention of moisture, lift the CEC (cation exchange capacity) for retaining nutrient and enhance the porosity of your soil. To purchase Zeolite go to your local Big W store and you should find it in the pet section sold under the the Vitapet brand of Purrfit clay plus cat litter. Particle size 2-6mm very clean with no fines

Although this is true, there are other mediums which will hold more moisture per volume. Zeolite is better used to stop nutrient leaching and to boost the CEC (cation exchange capacity) of your potting medium. Zeolite also works to reduce toxicity from ammonium providing a buffer on hot days when available levels in the soil can spike and fry the roots of your plants. Finally, the use of Zeolite means that you need less fertiliser as it holds onto available nutrients in the soil making them available as the plant requires them and in prevention of leaching less soluble nutrients end up in run off