AusBonsai

Hi all. Thought I would try making a potting mix with cat litter this year rather than my usual blend. Rookie error in that I probably didn't read enough of what was already on the site - anyway, I have used cat litter that was clay based. I thought it would be baked or similar. I have stuck some photos up to show the problem; potted a few plants up then watered them in as a bunch. The damn cat litter appears to have just broken down and dissolved!! I am guessing this is NOT what I want, and that I should repot into the standard mix I have always used with reasonable success or is there a specific type of cat litter to use??? One pic shows the mix basically dry (had a few sprinkles on it) and the second shows what it ended up as.)

Dilemmas mate you. You Probly should get it out of that mix chief before it sets hard, I'm personally not sure on the the kit litter some guys use. Sounds expensive but you should try a few different ones in a cup of water over night or a couple of days to see if it holds any form. Rectify it straight away mate you don't want it to bake hard and cause any sort of damage to the root system. But that's just my just goodluck

I am yet to hear of any cat litter sutable for bonsai soil in australia.
I have 2 cats and have tried lots of different brands myself and haven't found any.
Roots need air. that stuff u have used will kill a tree in a about 4 weeks by suffocation .
I would recomend you get something sutable and repot your trees as soon as possable. On a plus that stuff should just rinse off easily and not damage roots. Get some diatomite , pumice , zeolight , sifted pine bark. Or anything free draining .

This is a good link for more info: http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm

Mr Bowie is quoted on the site:
"There are two main sources of Diatomite in Australia; one that has already been noted in this article is Maidenwell. Sage Horticultural of Melbourne carry it in stock. The other is Mt Sylvia Diatomite which is available in Sydney at Enfield Produce.At the moment it is 38 to 40 degrees celcius outside but in winter it can be -6 or -8 degrees. It can be very wet like this year or very dry as per usual. I am still experimenting but not inclined to go 100% Diatomite; but as a blend with others. The tests so far don’t support use of it on its own in Canberra anyhow. A blend used very successfully by the best (IMHO) bonsai grower in Oz is 50% Maidenwell Diatomite, 25% Coco Peat and 25% Pine Bark Mini Nuggets(graded 5mm to 8mm).I am using 40% Diatomite, 20% Coarse Gravel or Zeolite, 20% Coco Peat and 20% pine Bark Mini nuggets. I will progressively try higher rates of Diatomite but steady as she goes."

Enjoy

Thanks for the rapid replies folks, answers are along the lines of what I was thinking. I am heading straight out to the garden supply to get my usual mix of fine grade crushed bluestone and small river pebbles (2-3 mm) that I mix with some high grade potting mix. Have been doing that for years without too much grief but thought I would try something different ; obviously something to be said for the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!". I will put down to experience the fact that I have blown more than half a day out of the water along with the cost of the potting materials already used, including the cat litter . At least I now have another reason to dislike cats.

Diatomite is marketed under the name "Kleensorb" and the suggested uses are to 'clean up spillages' and also 'cat litter'
Kleensorb is great if you can get it.

Im very interested In this kleensorb as potting mix. We get that stuff in by the pallet load at work for spills

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golgotha wrote:Im very interested In this kleensorb as potting mix. We get that stuff in by the pallet load at work for spills

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There are quite a few threads on the subject, just search under "kleensorb" Lots of people using it

I would steer clear of all cat litters as they are "designed" to clump on contact with moisture. Depending on what they of product the litter will usually start breaking down within a day if it remain moist. If it dries out once in a clumped form it becomes rock hard & could form a thick crust on top of your pot.
This advice is from a registered pedigree cat breeder of 15 yrs.
Cindy

There is one cat litter you can get at supermarkets that is suitable...I any remember the name of it but is comes in a paper bag. When I'm next there ill grab the name.

golgotha wrote:Im very interested In this kleensorb as potting mix. We get that stuff in by the pallet load at work for spills

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Sounds like you might be the man to talk to re supplies!!!

I use a kitty litter that is attapuglite clay marketed under the name 'Chandlers'(woolworths also has a home brand). I always rinse it first because it is unstable ,part of it will melt away. I rinse over fly mesh.I have found what remains is stable that it has at least lasted one year going on two. I always have mixed it with other ingredients ie granite chips,sifted potting mix . I have found it to work well for me others have not.There is another type of clay kitty litter which is marketed as a clumping clay . It is a type of clay called bentonite,do not use this. Bentonite is also used to seal leaking dams which gives you an idea what it would do in your pot.
As far as I know diatomite (which is what kleensorb is) is not currently been used in kitty litter in this country at the moment.i wish it was because living in the bush makes it hard to a acquire.

Sorry ,kleensorb may be used as kitty litter but you can't get it off the supermarket shelf like the others that I have seen.

What I have used finally today is my mix for the last few years that seems to work OK. In a 2:1 ratio I mix very fine crushed bluestone (2-3 mm +/-) with a decent grade commercial potting mix. I toss in a pinch of water granules, a pinch of Osmocote and a pinch of grainy soil wetting agent. I bought an old cement mixer many years ago to mix up big quantities and it takes some of the labour out of the job. I toss different types of 'cover stones' or moss over the top for some of the trees but that is just an aesthetic touch. I haven't had huge troubles although I do lose a few trees each year with the hot northerly winds, as I live on a hill in farm country and we are very exposed so I have trouble keeping the water up to the trees at times.

I would be interested on comments regarding my mix; I vaguely recall I started using it based on a similar 'recipe' when I used to be in a bonsai club in the Chelsea area of Melbourne many years ago (club folded). I looked around for clubs in my general area but as far as I am aware there are none. Would be interested to chat with anyone else in South Gippsland Vic.

Beware of Attapulgite(Chandlers). In my opinion and trial it seems to hold to much water in ratio to air.

OK for very dry climates(Hay or Parkes) but hardly anywhere else.

Grant