AusBonsai

They've used Akadama for centuries in Japan because thats where it is. Its local and natural. Transportation of a natural commodity is the reason for the high price elsewhere. I am using something better and cheaper.

If you say what you use it is better Stymie you must have tried Akadama to compare it too. That is what we are about to do.
I think the Akadama has come pretty close to the price that we have been paying for Kitty litter that is mined in our country KC might be able to compare the sizes to clarify. It could be cheaper by the pallet like we bought this though.
Hang in thier Japh if you type in Bonsai soil to a search engine and read for a day you will have a good start to understanding how you can manipulate bonsai soil. Then in about 4 years when you have had a chance to try a few out you may start to get a preference for a certian type that suits your climate and watering habits.

Japh wrote:This stuff about using cat litter as a mix... in what situations are we talking about?

Japh,
A note of caution about kitty litter. Most kitty litter on the shelves in Australia (at least in Sydney) isn't suitable for use in bonsai at all. Much of it is recycled paper product or cereal husks. Some is highly absorbant silica-based (I think) crystals that acts like water saving granules and turn into a gel. From what I have seen, there are not many clay based kitty litters around. Chandler's, the one Brett mentions, is mostly attupulgite clay and tends to break down quickly and become very claggy. Brett has said he sifts it well and repots frequently. The type of kitty litter used by Stymie and the UK based crew is diatomite - this is available here as 'Maidenwell' (and some other brands) and it has been discussed a lot on various threads - see Ken's post. I don't think you will find much diatomite clay in Australian kitty litters.

Chandler's, the one Brett mentions, is mostly attupulgite clay and tends to break down quickly and become very claggy. Brett has said he sifts it well and repots frequently.

I have found it great to use. It never goes claggy for me I sift like normal and repot like normal up to three years between repotting. After a few years I found it can be squashed by the fingers but is still doing fine. I have only used it in a mix though not 100%

Yeah, I have experimented with Chandler's a bit over the last couple of years only. The larger particles do seem to stay together, but like you said on another post, you end up sifting out a lot of smaller stuff so it isn't as economical as it seems at first. I too have only used it as a minor component of a mix.

It's not the sifting that makes it unecenomical but the price. There are not that many fines.
Even on specail at $4 or so a bag if you use alot it gets pretty expensive. But it was great in the early years when I didn't go through over a ton of potting medium. I would still recomend trying the stuff if working with a small amount of trees. I think Diatomite is better but Chandlers works ok as well and is sold at every woolies I think so it is easy to get.
It is the only kitty litter I have found that works.

Here is what I said in the past

Mojo try Chandlers Kitty litter it is Attapulgite clay. I have been using it for three years and it works fine. I think I prefer Rich Grow Aquatic Planting Mix these days though. Doesn't say what the stuff is except 100% natural minerals and nuetral ph. I used to think it was dearer than the Chandlers kitty litter but once I sat down and worked out the volumes Aquatic mix is slightly cheaper and aquatic mix is a bit better quality. I have found chandlers just starting to break down a bit after three years but I am not rushing to repot anything that is not due as it is working fine. The aquatic mix shows no sign of deteriating at all after the three yaers and I think the trees like it the best out of all I have used for potting mediums.

I repotted my 3 test trees today into Akadama

Each was starting grow well and was putting on new roots. Repotting again now I know will set them back but hope after a month or so they will catch up and the long term be where the others are

took a photo as well

Ken

I have found it great to use. It never goes claggy for me I sift like normal and repot like normal up to three years between repotting. After a few years I found it can be squashed by the fingers but is still doing fine. I have only used it in a mix though not 100%

may i ask are u talking about plantin in 100 % catlitter i have used chandlers as an experiments probably 80% and 20% organic and i potted my privet that i collected with barely no roots and yesterday the roots filled half the pot ands it been collected mid autumn =]

Thats privet for you they can need repotting upto three times a year if you are keen.

My first Akadama potting,

Of my newly purchased Swamp Cypress which I have started off in a Formal Upright style. It's in a deep pot because of the thick root/trunk under the soil (hence potted up) which I will get rid off when surface roots develop better. (Yes I have covered the exposed roots with a stocking so they don't dry out )

It stands about 80cms from base to tip. I'll allow it to bud in the top section and will get it's height down to about 70cms.

It's in a mix of about 70% Akadama and 30% debco mix.

Tech

Hey Tech how is the Swamp cypress going?
I was just looking up the mix aurthur suggested for figs and there is no mix for Figs? Anyone got any ideas

Hiya Bretts,

The swampy is going great guns, growing and shooting all over the place. Substantial root prune and repot didn't slow it down at all.

I have to say I love the Akadama so far with various mixes with river sand and debco bonsai mix. It is a great moisture indicator also due to the changes in colour.

Tech

Thats great Tech. I know what you mean about the colour change takes a little getting used to though.

If you can wait for a couple of weeks, Japanese bonsai master Mitsuo Matsuda will give the lowdown on using Akadama Outside the Honshu district in Japan.
This segment will appear in episode 3 or 4 of WorldOfBonsai series 2.
The bottom line of this generational bonsai experts presentation is that those who are mixing akadama with local mixes are on the money. Others maybe wasting their hard earned.
Cheers
Lindsay

Thanks for the info Lindsay I look forward to seeing that, now get back to work we are waiting on the next series.