Blends for soil mix tests

[Handy Mick]

Pup, Whats CRG?

[Bretts]

Carnavon River Gravel. I would not have known a couple of weeks ago

[Gareth]

Hi Grant,

i know this is titled soil "MIX" tests, but how about 100% diatomite as well?

Unless of course you have already done this?

Gareth

[archie1979]

Yeah I would be interested in the 100% diatomite test as well, I am currently using 90% diatomite and 10% potting mix. Now that I am picking up my more premium mixes tomorrow thanks to bretts I may change my mixes a little.

[Waltron]

It might also be a good idea to test a readily avaiable commercial bonsai mix like Debco for example.
A lot of beginners start with this (like myself for instance), and having it as a comparison could be used to help beginners (like myself ) take the first steps to creating a more appropriate mix for certain trees.

[NBPCA]

how about 2 parts CRG 1part coco peat 1part a premium potting mix.

OK pup.

[NBPCA]

Hi Grant,

i know this is titled soil "MIX" tests, but how about 100% diatomite as well?

Unless of course you have already done this?

Gareth

I am testing ALL pure components on their own as well and will be growing Ash in all of them as a start.

Here I am after favorite mixes/blends for bonsai to test.

Grant

[NBPCA]

It might also be a good idea to test a readily avaiable commercial bonsai mix like Debco for example.
A lot of beginners start with this (like myself for instance), and having it as a comparison could be used to help beginners (like myself ) take the first steps to creating a more appropriate mix for certain trees.

Fair point.

I will test Richgro Native mix and Debco on their own as well.

Grant

[NBPCA]

It might also be a good idea to test a readily avaiable commercial bonsai mix like Debco for example.
A lot of beginners start with this (like myself for instance), and having it as a comparison could be used to help beginners (like myself ) take the first steps to creating a more appropriate mix for certain trees.

Fair point.

I will test Richgro Native mix and Debco on their own as well.

Grant

I picked up Amgrow Bonsai mix today and will test Richgro Native, Amgrow Bonsai and Debco Bonsai separately.

However in the blended mixes I will use only the Richgro Native Mix as I don't really trust the other "Bonsai" mixes.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Any more requests?

Grant

[Jamie]

hi grant,

i dont know if you have it but i have/am trying richgro aquatic at 100% and also with a mix of richgro aqautic(75%) and diatomite(25%), and also richgro aquatic (50%) and diat. (50%).

i am also looking at using a mix a mate uses of diatomite (not sure the exact ?? 75%) and boiled bark (25%) at a guess, Rod might be able to tell us.



jamie

[NBPCA]

Hi Jamie,

Richgro aquatic mix is Spongelite and is already in the testing regime as a component.

I will list all names of material and Brand names in my test results so you will be able to see.

At the moment the aquatic mix and diatomite behave very similarly so I don't know if there is a benefit of the two together; maybe a difference would be dicerned in the test growing phase of my testing.

I will see how we go.

grant

[MattA]

Any more requests?

Grant

Hey Grant,

When I live in Victoria I used to use Sashi Eda bonsai mix, not sure if you can get it in Canberra so maybe talk to Chris Sirre about some if you cant find any. He put me on to a local source here in Newcastle. I had some of the best growth out of my trees while using it, tho because of the high bark content nitrogen theft was an issue and I had to keep ontop of the feeding & then give extra for the bark to consume.

Look forward to seeing the results of your testing, its really great to have someone like yourself go to this much effort for all of us. It is definitely a huge plus given how many different proprietary mixs, traditional media & then the various alternatives we have all devised over time or have read in various books.

Matt

[NBPCA]

Hi Matt,

Paul Sweeney, the founder of the nursery, went to a lot of trouble to source, blend and trial the Sashi Eda mix. It is better that a bonsai grower made the mix and was able to grow his own trees in it.

I will look in the local bunnings and see if they stock it with their bonsai range.

Thanks for the reminder.

Grant

[Bretts]

Hi Grant what about Ray and Bonsai Enviroment's mixs?