AusBonsai

CoGRedeMptioN wrote:

kcpoole wrote:Depends if they are high fired or not.
Akadama will allow the roots to perforate the clay and as such it will break down after a few years.

Give it a try and see

Ken

Thx Ken,
according to the advert it said it is High fired, which had me worried at first as i believe the Akadama is not so I wasn't sure if this product is suitable or not.

Grant tested similar clay product in his soil component test so have a look at that for info.
Also BrettS tried some crushed brick and stuff as well.

try to find the old threads and see what they suggested.

Ken

If anyone has a spare bag of akadama, I'd be interested in taking it off if your hands

Thanks

Adam

don't mess around with that stuff, its too expensive. Just use diatomite.

Yes, listen to Brian... Get rid of your Akadama. I'll take it

Webos wrote:Yes, listen to Brian... Get rid of your Akadama. I'll take it

I got rid of mine when we tried it.
Diatomite works much better

Ken

I like it for several reasons. I've never had such even distribution of healthy white roots through the pot as I do with akadama. Roots don't seem to want to dive and turn at the bottom of the pot until they have to. Although I'd prefer my bonsai pots to be as light as possible, I find the weight of diatomite so light that it jumps around in the pot even with a very light watering. Akadama seems to have that perfect balance of particle weight. Akadama is also a "charged" substance, so it holds nutrient value. So missing your ferts isn't much of a concern.

Most of my trees are in diatomite composites, but if I had he choice, I'd use akadama because it just works better for me with my particular watering regime, available light and fert regime.

Adam

Webos wrote:I like it for several reasons. I've never had such even distribution of healthy white roots through the pot as I do with akadama. Roots don't seem to want to dive and turn at the bottom of the pot until they have to. Although I'd prefer my bonsai pots to be as light as possible, I find the weight of diatomite so light that it jumps around in the pot even with a very light watering. Akadama seems to have that perfect balance of particle weight. Akadama is also a "charged" substance, so it holds nutrient value. So missing your ferts isn't much of a concern.

Most of my trees are in diatomite composites, but if I had he choice, I'd use akadama because it just works better for me with my particular watering regime, available light and fert regime.

Adam

Interesting? Never had a problem with it jumping around. Weird.

Both I and Steven gave up on akadama because our trees grew poorly in it.

Ken

The diatomite does wash off the top easily with watering. Its the one downside to using it.

I agree with Adam. I love the stuff.

I know it's available from the West (well it was) and I don't know if any one on the East Coast has any. Maybe a group order could be organised? The freight was the killer last time I looked into it.

Anyone interested?

if there is a group buy for Melbournians, I will grab 6 bags. I am curious to try it.

Brian wrote:The diatomite does wash off the top easily with watering. Its the one downside to using it.

What do you water with to wash it off?
I use a 10 L watering can and automatic sprayers, and never had that sort of problem.
Mind you i do not heap it up above the level of the pot.

Ken

If someone is willing to drive a heap of bags over to Adelaide from Perth for the conference, I'll get hem back to Southern Vic from there.

Webos wrote:If someone is willing to drive a heap of bags over to Adelaide from Perth for the conference, I'll get hem back to Southern Vic from there.

Hi Webos,
I posted an ebay link that leads to a Hydroponics shop. They sell something like Akadama if I am correct (was fishing for answers but got nothing)...

Just goes to show that my fishing title of "Bait Liberationist" is totally deserved!


Cheers
EZ
By Tapatalk

Webos wrote:I like it for several reasons. I've never had such even distribution of healthy white roots through the pot as I do with akadama. Roots don't seem to want to dive and turn at the bottom of the pot until they have to. Although I'd prefer my bonsai pots to be as light as possible, I find the weight of diatomite so light that it jumps around in the pot even with a very light watering. Akadama seems to have that perfect balance of particle weight. Akadama is also a "charged" substance, so it holds nutrient value. So missing your ferts isn't much of a concern.

Most of my trees are in diatomite composites, but if I had he choice, I'd use akadama because it just works better for me with my particular watering regime, available light and fert regime.

Adam

Have you tried pumice?

Likewise... Never had a problem with diatomite washing off. After a short while it seems to 'lock' together while still maintaining drainage. Akadama is good, just can't get it now.....