AusBonsai

Has anyone know who can a supply diatomite or a replacement product ( in urgent need)
Thanks John

Enfield Produce in Sydney where I get mine will deliver to you
Costs a bit to deliver but if you cannot get any in Melb

Ken

A few months ago i wrote that the 'Aquatic Plant Mix' at Buzzings was a good source of Diatomite. Unfortunately the last bag i purchased a few weeks ago was basically limestone and calcium - not diatomite at all and so differnt to the first bag i purchased. A big waste of $13 for useless soil.

Don't try there any more. Has anyone elso found this to be the case??

What about members in Brisbane??

Stew

Hi John, Bonsai Art in Heatherton had a couple of half bags, 2-7mm I think, last weekend.
Good luck
I'm after the 7-14 mm stuff myself
Cheers Ryan

Hi Ryan,
I was at I Tree last weekend and they had 3 bags of the 7-17mm on the shelf $29 a bag.

Cheers,
Mike

You will have to buy Mt Sylvia unless you can find a supplier who has some Maidenwell left. Produce stores are usually cheaper than pet stores. It is sold as Kleensorb as a cat litter in a 35 litre bag. Usually about $19 from a pet store but I buy it for about $13.50 from Deception Bay Produce.

Tony

lakepipes wrote:Hi Ryan,
I was at I Tree last weekend and they had 3 bags of the 7-17mm on the shelf $29 a bag.

Cheers,
Mike

Thanks Mike

Stewart_Toowoomba wrote:A few months ago i wrote that the 'Aquatic Plant Mix' at Buzzings was a good source of Diatomite. Unfortunately the last bag i purchased a few weeks ago was basically limestone and calcium - not diatomite at all and so differnt to the first bag i purchased. A big waste of $13 for useless soil.

Don't try there any more. Has anyone elso found this to be the case??

What about members in Brisbane??

Stew

Before you buy it, look at the batch number on the back of bag and then ring richgro (number is also on bag) and inquire whether it is spongelite or not. I have done this numerous times since having the same problem as you.

However a member of my bonsai club has sourced a commercial grade dust free, already sieved diatomite that is not available to the public. I have to say it is great to use as it is dustless and can be used straight out of the bag with no waste.

Bougy Fan wrote:You will have to buy Mt Sylvia unless you can find a supplier who has some Maidenwell left. Produce stores are usually cheaper than pet stores. It is sold as Kleensorb as a cat litter in a 35 litre bag. Usually about $19 from a pet store but I buy it for about $13.50 from Deception Bay Produce.

Tony

Thanks for the tip Bougy, im gonna try and source some of this.
14 bux a bag is waaayyyyyy better than anything else ive found.

What mm doies it come in though as Kitty litter???

It's 2 - 7 mm - same as Maidenwell but less dust and less smaller particle size.

Tony

Ok, Let me start by saying i don't have a lot of soil science knowledge and hence i have the following question.

If Maidenwell had a pH value of approx 5.5 which is close to neutral and Mt Silvia has a ph closer to 8.5 which is considered highly alkaline how will making the change from one to the other effect my plants?

Will a pH of 8.5 be better as it will most probably become more acidic due to heavy feeding? Or will the 8.5 pH mean certain species will not grow well in it? Or does it not really matter?

Hopefully someone who understands soil science a little more than i do will be able to share their opinion.

Joe.

Stewart_Toowoomba wrote:A few months ago i wrote that the 'Aquatic Plant Mix' at Buzzings was a good source of Diatomite. Unfortunately the last bag i purchased a few weeks ago was basically limestone and calcium - not diatomite at all and so differnt to the first bag i purchased. A big waste of $13 for useless soil.

Don't try there any more. Has anyone elso found this to be the case??

What about members in Brisbane??

Stew

hi stew,

I have used this before and it isnt actually diatomite at all it is spongalite, similar in scientific make up but not the same. it also had lots of other stuff in it which I wasnt sure of. in saying this I have used it quite successfully but with a caveat, it needed an organic added to it as it dried very quickly. and also it seemed to be coarser than I would have liked.

Jow wrote:Ok, Let me start by saying i don't have a lot of soil science knowledge and hence i have the following question.

If Maidenwell had a pH value of approx 5.5 which is close to neutral and Mt Silvia has a ph closer to 8.5 which is considered highly alkaline how will making the change from one to the other effect my plants?

Will a pH of 8.5 be better as it will most probably become more acidic due to heavy feeding? Or will the 8.5 pH mean certain species will not grow well in it? Or does it not really matter?

Hopefully someone who understands soil science a little more than i do will be able to share their opinion.

Joe.

not claiming to be a scientist either Jow, but PH values will change all the time no matter what you do with it, adding ferts, watering in etc will all change the value of it all. I have used both types with equal success and no bad contributing factors at all. mixing it with a bit of organic or other mediums will definately help but I do firmly beleive it is a great addition for its water holding capacity to free flow of excess.

beleive it or not but ph will also change throughout the day and night, you would get one reading first thing in the morning to a completely different reading at night.

jamie

Hi all, I know that diatomite, amongst other products,is used to clean up chemical spills and is apparently one of the better substances for doing this. So maybe we should look into sourcing it via that angle...obviously need the correct partical size etc, just an idea. If anyone looks into this, please notify the AB members.
I spoke to the Melb supplier of diatomite a couple of days ago (Sage Hort.) and he stated that there is no change with a change in ownership regarding the Maidenwell mine. Apparently it isn't as simple as just buying the mine etc, as a lot of the mining equiptment needs to be fixed or replaced...so who knows if Maidenwell will ever get up and running again? Sage hort. won't be supplying Mt Sylvia diatomite as a replacement due to the ph issues with it. I realise many disagree with the whole ph debate and think it a non-issue, I am just passing on the latest for Melbournians who used to get their supply from them.
Cheers, Dario.

Try a hydroponics shop.. That's where I get mine..

Jow wrote:Ok, Let me start by saying i don't have a lot of soil science knowledge and hence i have the following question.

If Maidenwell had a pH value of approx 5.5 which is close to neutral and Mt Silvia has a ph closer to 8.5 which is considered highly alkaline how will making the change from one to the other effect my plants?

Will a pH of 8.5 be better as it will most probably become more acidic due to heavy feeding? Or will the 8.5 pH mean certain species will not grow well in it? Or does it not really matter?

Hopefully someone who understands soil science a little more than i do will be able to share their opinion.

Joe.

Yeah the PH is interesting Jow

I have Azaleas in Mt Sylvia and have no issues at all so anything is quite happy too.
lots of people see the High PH and have a fit, But i ( and others) have no problems with it at all. Like anything, When trying a new supply or product, do some small tests / Trial first to confirm.

I will say again. The Supposed PH reports of Mt Sylvia Diatomite are not apparent as a Bonsai Substrate. Use it as a direct replacement ( except for colour) for Maidenwell.

Ken