AusBonsai

There is an orchard nursery not far from me that has a pine bark mix which contains charcoal. What effect good/bad would this have on trees. The pine bark is the right size but they usually mix it with charcoal for they orchids. Just wondering if this would be any good to add with diatomite for my mix.
I'm sick off sifting out half the fines in potting mix and these guys are not far from me so easy to get when needed, just not sure about the charcoal??
There are a number if threads on here mentioning its use but no mention of quantity in the mix. I think this mix is probably 50/50 pine bark/charcoal maybe 40/60 at best. If I add diatomite it'll be 1/4 bark 1/4 charcoal 1/2 diatomite. Any good.

Thanks
Josh.

Wow that's a lot of charcoal! I generally use about a hand ful to 40lt of mix, I understand it is meant to act like a filter and lower? Ph???? Not sure the implications of large amounts, especially when it starts to break down??

cre8ivbonsai wrote:Wow that's a lot of charcoal! I generally use about a hand ful to 40lt of mix, I understand it is meant to act like a filter and lower? Ph???? Not sure the implications of large amounts, especially when it starts to break down??

Yeah that's my concern. Might have to rethink using this one. They do have straight bark sometimes but they mix it pretty quickly so it's a matter of being there when they have it.

Josh.

cre8ivbonsai wrote:Wow that's a lot of charcoal! I generally use about a hand ful to 40lt of mix, I understand it is meant to act like a filter and lower? Ph???? Not sure the implications of large amounts, especially when it starts to break down??

Charcoal is alkaline...Normally the PH of it is high.
In Japan we used to put a pinch at the bottom of the pot , on top of the coarser layer bellow of akadama.
Charcoal contains potassium, absorbs water, and it is an adsorbent as well..