Inert Growing Medium

[Luke308]

actually that looks too fine, I just thought of this though, they sell it at my work, maybe I can sly open a bag to see what size granules they are http://www2.blackwoods.com.au/infoBANKP ... &P=7739708

Or better still here is some spongelite (used for oil absorption also) from W.A. Dunno if they ship though? http://www.plasticsplus.com.au/004.html

[kcpoole]

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

Hi Luke
Personally I would not be worried too much about the PH of a inorganic mix at all.

Supposedly, Mt Sylvia has a PH of 8 or more, and Grant initial tests agreed with, but his subsequent tests it turned out neutral.
I have Azaleas Happily growing in Mt sylvia D, and if it was really a PH of 8 then they would cark it in no time. Over about 4 years of use, I have proven that they have no problem at all, and in fact perform and well as those in Ray Nescis Commercial Bonsai potting mix.

I can only assume, that this is because The PH is in the dust particles only and they wash off in days, or the high PH leaches out in very short time, or is counteracted by Zeolite. Whatever the reason, for my own use and from my own experience the Supposed high PH is irrelevant.

I started out looking for components to make Boons mix here in OZ, and the only thing I could find was akadama and that was stupidly expensive and was put onto Diatomite by a Bloke in the U.K. Turface I could never source here, but I believe is available in NZ.
I tried diatomite, and have never had a reason to use anything else as it has all the properties that I require, and its growth performance is as good or better than anything else.
The only thins i will try now is adding some Pumice as we now have a source for it in sydney.

See my Test thread here and another year has passed and I still see the same results.
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2056&p=85469&hilit ... ite#p85469

Ken

[Luke308]

Have you used spongelite yourself Ken? I notice that its was excluded from your tests. any reason for this? From what I have read on here the richgro aquatic plant mix is teh next best thing to diatomite which is spongelite (or perhaps was, I'm yet to findout if it has changed) I found it is available here also http://www.plasticsplus.com.au/004.html

[kcpoole]

Have you used spongelite yourself Ken? I notice that its was excluded from your tests. any reason for this? From what I have read on here the richgro aquatic plant mix is teh next best thing to diatomite which is spongelite (or perhaps was, I'm yet to findout if it has changed) I found it is available here also http://www.plasticsplus.com.au/004.html

NO I never used it nor any of the Kitty litters
When I was investigating, there were many horror stories of glutinous muck after a short time with some and sometimes the products would change composition whenever the manufacturers sources changed

I could not be bothered testing each one and making sure every batch was the same, as I found that Diatomite outperformed a High Quality commercial mix by a good margin so stopped looking

[Pat093]

i have been reading abit of this thread and there is so many oppinions and mixes haha.
So i thought i would add my mix.
I use a premade bonsai mix by amgrow
with some high grade potting mix that i sell at my work.
and then i go and find old abandoned ants nests and take the small rocks that are on the top of the mounds.(they work a treat and they are free )

does anyone else use natures resources?

Pat