AusBonsai

I remember that price when I was chatting with them a few years back but I never got keen enough to buy a pallet myself when I hadn't tried it.
Nice to know it is still available for that price.

Mt Syliva Diatomite sell for $8.50 or so ex mine by the pallet as well
Ray and Clinting Will be ordering a pallet this week I believe, so should have stock soon

Give them a ring and hurry them up please as I have lots of potting still to do

Ken

i have this great place in Victoria a town called Ballarat which makes a premium potting mix for 120 bucks a generous metre. i buy a few metres and add 5mm scoria and purlite in proportional amounts, 4 parts potting mix 2 parts scoria and 1 part purlite. A very reasonable mix and not to much outlay. might be informative for people out this way.

what size Scorio?

Bretts wrote:what size Scorio?

LOL must be late. He did say 5 mm

kcpoole wrote:

Bretts wrote:what size Scorio?

LOL must be late. He did say 5 mm

No silly, that was the scoria. . . . . te hehe

Have your fun!

I am afraid to ask where it come from now. I have been looking for that size like others:)

I have finally been able to get another batch of Diatomite.
This is the new supplier " Mt Sylvia" , I picked up a bag on the way home from work on thursday from Enfield Produce as Ray has not got any yet, but has been ordered and delivery is pending. ( it is amazing what you can carry on a motorbike !)

The bag is 35L and costs $20.
Compared to Miadenwell, it is more variable size and has much more dust, so will have to make sure we wash it pot well after Potting up.Once washed it looks the same.

I have placed a Sample in a jar of water so I can test its longevity just like I have done with maidenwell. that jar had been soaking for 2 years now and is still firm as the day I put it in.
From the look of it, Mt Sylvia will be the same.

Ken

I was looking for the Maidenwell website again for Jamie. I came across this.
http://www.maidenwelldiatomiteaustralia.com/
I can only imagine that some one was not happy once the diatomite dust settled
Luckily the proper website is still there
http://maidenwelldiatomite.com/
There is still lots of intresting stuff in this thread

kcpoole wrote:The only Volcanic product I can find in Oz is Scoria, Pumice, Lava rock, Kyodama etc is as common as Unobtanium here. No where can I find a supplier of of said products.
Scoria is no good as the smallest I can find is 10mm. There is a mine in Victoria that has 3-5 mm in size, but they do not ship. It must be picked up.

Ken

Hey Ken
When you wrote this back in November did you know that Avatar was going to be based on finding Unobtanium?
Most expensive movie ever made and they cant think of a better name for the mineral they are mining!

Cheers
Chris.

SteveT wrote:Rich Grow Aquatic Planting Mix is a product called 'spongalite' (I contacted the distributer). The great irony is that it comes all the way from WA but I prefer the look of it over diatomite which is highly available to me here in Brisbane (from the pet store around the corner). I believe it holds less water than diatomite (only around 50% vs 100% its own volume) so I intend to use it for my large JBPs (possibly even straight).

It is actually mined near mount barker in South Australia but the company (richgro) is located in W.A

*Edit* Oops I didn't realise there was a Mount Barker in Western Australia, maybe I should more before I post please ignore my above post

LOL

apisto wrote:I only use baked clay kitty litter for my trees

no organic material at all

All i can say is the root formation beats aka(cloga)dama hands down and you dont have to chisel it off when you go to repot. The stuff just shakes off and actively improves in looks as the years go on.

It can be reused again and again and does not break down

Though i dont think its to be had down under though that expanded clay granuals if small enough are effectively the same sort of thing but they can float a bit from previous experience

We do have clay kitty litter here, i got some to make clay background for terrariums but didnt know if it was suitable or not till i got it, turns out it wasnt suitable, its baked and wont mix with water. Might have a crack at using it in my mixes

I found this product recommendation whilst reading an American garden forum. http://www.turface.com/turface-products ... -quick-dry pity we cant get it here it seems its similar to what stymie was talking about

http://www.turface.com/sites/default/fi ... 0Sheet.pdf has a good Ph level too