*Bonsai Soil Question*

[kvan64]

Has anyone tried these products:
1- Red Weipa pebbles
2- A very porous type of pebbles hand-labelled "squria"
Please see the pics.

[JayP]

this stuff is completley ok to use and its a good size grit to mix with your soil for adequate drainage

[platinum]

hi kvan

looks perfect for my use, could you let us know where, and how much.

platinum.

[kvan64]

Hi Platinum,
I bought the Red Weipa pebbles from Northside Bonsai Nursery for $40 per 20kg bag. The "squria" I need to ask my uncle where he got it from. The bag labelled 20 kg but doesn't look right be cause it is smaller and the pebbles are kind of light weight. Maybe it's a reused bag and is $12.50.

[Bretts]

Hey Kvan have another look at the hand written label you may find that squria is actually meant to be scorio. Looks like that anyway. Whether it is scorio or not that stuff will be excellent in your mix. Some of us have been searching for scorio in the size you have. Usually the smallest is 7-10mm. I have been crushing this to a smaller size.
I am very interested in where your uncle got that as I will be chasing it up myself.

[kvan64]

Hey Kvan have another look at the hand written label you may find that squria is actually meant to be scorio. Looks like that anyway. Whether it is scorio or not that stuff will be excellent in your mix. Some of us have been searching for scorio in the size you have. Usually the smallest is 7-10mm. I have been crushing this to a smaller size.
I am very interested in where your uncle got that as I will be chasing it up myself.

Here is the hand labeling from the pic. My uncle bought it from a local back yard bonsai guy. Looks like he bought these in large quantity then splitted them up to smaller bags to sell. I'll see if I could dig any information from him when I pay him a visit in the next few days.

And guys, could you (with your experience) suggest what I could mix with these things that I have to make a good bonsai mix for my contest trees. I posted a message from my Juniper entry thread but Pup advised me to create a new thread.

Edit: forgot to upload pic.

[Bretts]

Thats definatly what it spells . As a google search does not come up with anything for that spelling my guess is they have spelt it wrong.
I am still experimenting with this stuff and I have used it 100% but that is with the dust from when I crush it as well.
As a basic juniper mix is recomended about 70% grit to 30% sifted potting mix I would start with the same here exchanging the scorio for the grit.
or 50% scorio 20% grit and 30% pootting mix. You could also try 50% scorio and 50% propagating sand.

If you would like to water less often add a bit more potting mix.

[kvan64]

Thanks Bretts, I think you are right. They guy does not know how to spell scorio In fact, I did a google image such for scorio and found matching images for the stuff that I have. It's is definintely scorio!
Thanks also for the mix ratio. I'll give a go tomorrow. I seem to learn a bit more everytime discussing on here.
Cheers,
DK

[Jamie]

although scorio is a porous rock i dont know how/if it has any water absorbing qualities. it will however make your soil quite free draining with it in your mix so i would be putting some form of organics in the mix to help retain water as this is your problem with the juniper soil it is drying out too quickly. it can be a good thing it doesnt stay to moist as junipers dont like wet feet but 2 hours dry time, is just a bit to quick for my liking.


jamie

[Joel]

Does scorio = scoria? I am not familiar with the term scorio....

JayC

[Jamie]

Does scorio = scoria? I am not familiar with the term scorio....

JayC

yea i was thinking the same but went with scorio to make sure we were all on the same page. pretty confident it is the same thing though


jamie

[Pup]

There are two guys who import it from Victoria here. They use it on there Conifers exclusively with coco peat.

When sphagnum moss dries out it is almost impossible to rewet it whereas coco peat rewets straight away.

Cheers Pup

[kcpoole]

Scorio= Scoria
As far as I can tell, it is the australian equivalent of Pumice that is used in the US as a soil mix
It is full of tiny holes,and will hold moisture real well.
i cannot find any in size under 10mm here, and unlike Brett could not be bothered crushing by hand with a hammer
I will just use my diatomite and Zeolite now i have found a new supplier
it shodu be good stuff Kvan so use it and post your results here to as time goes by

Ken

[Bretts]

Scorio= Scoria
LOL I would not bet on my spelling ability either
Pumice is a good example but I liken it even more to what is labelled lava rock. I may even continue to crush mine as it is proving a great mix at 100% with the dust from crushing.

[Jamie]

Scorio= Scoria
LOL I would not bet on my spelling ability either
Pumice is a good example but I liken it even more to what is labelled lava rock. I may even continue to crush mine as it is proving a great mix at 100% with the dust from crushing.

being a readily available supply this could easily be quite handy brett, you may have posted before the results of how it goes but could you tell me how it goes with drainage? if it is the dust included wouldnt that just clog up or eventually run out with the constant water? what is the retention like with it?
if all is good i might have to look at using it myself. would you reccomend 100% mix for only certain species as some like a drier medium than others, how does it far? obvioulsy you can add stuff to the mix for water retention etc.

jamie