80-20 soil mix ? Calling on the experts again :)

[bodhidharma]

All I know is that my wife isn't happy with me cause I spend all my time in the backyard with my trees & not with her

Now, therein lies the secret of SHARING. I asked my Wife once about the style of a tree and what she saw. She sat down and looked at it, spun it around a bit and said, what about this. The tree looked much better from what she pointed out and now i regularly ask her what she thinks. As for soils, as said, you can grow most things in anything, but if you dont feed them they will suffer, still live, but suffer. I have a very open soil and add Zeolite, 3mm scoria, pine bark and an organic fertiliser. But, during the full on growing season i feed my trees EVERY DAY.

[stocaz]

Now, therein lies the secret of SHARING. I asked my Wife once about the style of a tree and what she saw. She sat down and looked at it, spun it around a bit and said, what about this. The tree looked much better from what she pointed out and now i regularly ask her what she thinks.

Only problem is she'll start bossing me around our there ! Haha

p.s did you receive my email/reply regarding the english elm I was after ?

Cheers Ross

[NBPCA]

Here in Canberra(Dry humidity wise) the 40 or 50% Diatomite mix has worked well now over about 4 years with Coco peat, Gravel/Zeolite and some Pine Bark Mini Nuggets.

Some trees that were given to us in very poor health are now a picture of good health.

Grant

[maple]

All I know is that my wife isn't happy with me cause I spend all my time in the backyard with my trees & not with her

Now, therein lies the secret of SHARING. I asked my Wife once about the style of a tree and what she saw. She sat down and looked at it, spun it around a bit and said, what about this. The tree looked much better from what she pointed out and now i regularly ask her what she thinks. As for soils, as said, you can grow most things in anything, but if you dont feed them they will suffer, still live, but suffer. I have a very open soil and add Zeolite, 3mm scoria, pine bark and an organic fertiliser. But, during the full on growing season i feed my trees EVERY DAY.

Bodhi,
interested to read you fertilise every day. Is that just weak liquid solutions you're using? I use a similiar open mix to yourself and I know a lot of fertiliser is leached out before the trees can take it up. I have never tried fertilising more than once a week. I generally would use a 1/2 to full solution each time and a periodic solid fertilise.

[lackhand]

hello Paul,
back near the beginning of this post I think you said you grow your plants in 100 diatomite. Could you expand on that. I have just changed my mix and put a bout 60 % diatomite and found on hot days ( probably not as hot as phonex) that plants like maples etc dried out very quickly, although the pines and junipers seem to be doing very well in it.
I have changed growing climates a few years ago and it is generally much wetter here that I am use to, so I have been trying various mixes, but not come up with something I am completly happy with. Somebody told me that they grew in 100% diatomite, but that they had to water twice a day and option that is not open to me every day.
Thanks,
lynette

Hi Lynette,

I have been using 100% diatomite for around 6 months. On the hottest days, the top centimeter or so of soil may completely dry out. Still damp under that though and I have had no problems with that. Of course, I have not even attempted to grow maples here, I think it's just too hot for too long. I also don't have my trees in full sun. They get morning sun and then are shaded by a nice ash tree mid-day, and a wall protects them from the worst of the afternoon sun. I had some in full sun last summer and they did need watered in the afternoon, but the same with or without the coco peat. I can't reliably be home to water in the afternoon at the moment, so into the shade they go.

I also use slightly deeper pots to accommodate for some evaporation as do other local bonsaiists. I had a few trees that seemed to be drying more than others during the day for some reason (thirstier trees?) and added a handful of sphagnum to the top of the soil, which seemed to take care of the problem.

Talking to people at my local club, I don't think I have any more or less problems than others with drying. Most here use some combo of pumice or lava, chicken grit or coarse sand, and orchid bark. Again, I think the key is to know what our trees need, know your soil, and water accordingly. Hope that helps!

EDIT: I was just thinking and it occurred to me that there is probably some difference in the diatomite you have there as far as water retention, etc. Should be pretty similar, but that may explain some variance too.

[bodhidharma]

p.s did you receive my email/reply regarding the english elm I was after ?

Yes i did and replied. Let me see if i sent it, it might still be in my inbox. Yep just checked and you have it.

Bodhi,
interested to read you fertilise every day. Is that just weak liquid solutions you're using?

I have two 1000 litre tanks which i put twenty litres of ferts into. I dissolve one bag of solid fert into a forty four gallon drum and spoon from that. I also add a litre of seasol into that mix. this lasts me four or five waters then fill it up and do it again. Sometimes i give them a rest for a week or so.

[stocaz]

Yes i did and replied. Let me see if i sent it, it might still be in my inbox. Yep just checked and you have it.

Strange my PM mustn't have gone through. I just resent it

[lackhand]

p.s did you receive my email/reply regarding the english elm I was after ?

Yes i did and replied. Let me see if i sent it, it might still be in my inbox. Yep just checked and you have it.

Bodhi,
interested to read you fertilise every day. Is that just weak liquid solutions you're using?

I have two 1000 litre tanks which i put twenty litres of ferts into. I dissolve one bag of solid fert into a forty four gallon drum and spoon from that. I also add a litre of seasol into that mix. this lasts me four or five waters then fill it up and do it again. Sometimes i give them a rest for a week or so.

Bodhi, this is inspiring. I've been pushing up to two times per week fertilizing and most people seem to think that's crazy, but I've seen no ill effects yet. I've been using 10-10-10 liquid fert mixed full strength.

Do you make any effort to recycle the water/fert? As I was pulling some very happy weeds underneath my bench today I was thinking about setting something up to waste less of my money growing weeds.

[cre8ivbonsai]

Do you make any effort to recycle the water/fert? As I was pulling some very happy weeds underneath my bench today I was thinking about setting something up to waste less of my money growing weeds.

Hi Karl, I have a much smaller set up than Bodhi, but this earlier year I decided to update my benches which now sport fabricated galvanized drip trays that catch approx 50% run off (with a bit of tweaking could catch more). I'll try and post the setup soon in a separate thread with a fuller explanation.
Cheers, Ryan

[63pmp]

Be very careful using galvanized trays to collect runoff/leachate. The zinc released can become toxic to your plants. Especially if you have acidic soils/runoff/fertilizer.

Paul

[Lynette]

There has been some really handy information in this thread, even info on fertilizing etc. It is so good to have informed information that is so helpful.

Sorry to Karl for the wrong name, but what you added was very helpful.
thanks
Lynette

[cre8ivbonsai]

Be very careful using galvanized trays to collect runoff/leachate. The zinc released can become toxic to your plants. Especially if you have acidic soils/runoff/fertilizer.

Paul

Thanks Paul, I have started a new thread for this topic viewtopic.php?f=29&t=14917 as to not digress too far from the original post here ... I'd be greatful if you or others with experience might comment on my further questions.

Cheers,
Ryan

[lackhand]

Sorry to Karl for the wrong name, but what you added was very helpful.
thanks
Lynette

No worries Lynette, I've been called worse, and I'm sure I will be again.

[stocaz]

I've been using 10-10-10 liquid fert mixed full strength.

[/quote]

When you say 10-10-10 what do you mean exactly ?

[cre8ivbonsai]

I've been using 10-10-10 liquid fert mixed full strength.

When you say 10-10-10 what do you mean exactly ?[/quote]

This refers to the basic analysis breakdown of a fertilizer;

N (Nitrogen) =10
P (Phosphorus) = 10
K (Potassium) = 10

Found on all fertilizer packaging, these numbers indicate the ratios of each element, and when delivered in higher ratios each element has a different result on plant growth, flowering etc.

Hope this helps. Lots more info if you research fertilizers.

https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... ser_basics