AusBonsai

Hey, just started to test using Chicken " shell grit " instead of gravel , to see how it goes, I have been washing it first in case there is any sea salt left , not sure if it is washed in the factory, the only worry that i have is when you repot with it is the shell grit going to sever the finer roots , what do ya think ????
James

My worry would be that the limey shells would make for very alkaline conditions, but what do others think?

Greth wrote:My worry would be that the limey shells would make for very alkaline conditions, but what do others think?

Good point Greth, did not think of the lime aspect.

i wouldnt be as concerned about the soil condition being alkaline more so than the fine grit compacting on itself and causing issues with watering

Shellgrit is quite coarse usually, well the stuff I buy here for the chooks is, dunno what he was using.
So dont think grain size is a problem. Might sift it out if I thought there were too many fines.
Sharpness isnt really an issue, if it is all sitting without movement, the little roots will feed themselves around grains, sharp or blunt.

Joke: What begins with SH, ends with IT and lies on the bottom of birdcages?
SHELLGRIT of course!

Jamie wrote:i wouldnt be as concerned about the soil condition being alkaline more so than the fine grit compacting on itself and causing issues with watering

Hey Jamie, actually there are up to three grades of shell grit, believe it or not, fine ,medium, and coarse, but i would be mixing it with Attapulgite, and probably cow manure or decomposed bark compost, as a mix.
James

Back to, my only prob with your idea is alkalinity, and it just depends what you are trying to grow, some species might like it.

senseijames wrote:

Jamie wrote:i wouldnt be as concerned about the soil condition being alkaline more so than the fine grit compacting on itself and causing issues with watering

Hey Jamie, actually there are up to three grades of shell grit, believe it or not, fine ,medium, and coarse, but i would be mixing it with Attapulgite, and probably cow manure or decomposed bark compost, as a mix.
James

interesting mate, what is the largest size "grit" you can get? the shell grit i have seen was always qute fine, very fine actually and if there was to much in the mix might cause probs.

remember with a finer particle size in the mix it will raise the water table and could be constantly soaked by water retension, i would start with a small amount if you were are to go ahead with it, i dont see what the prob with just the attipulgite(even though i would use diatomite if you can get it) and cow manure/decomposted bark as a mix, the attapulgite with give you the "grit" aspect of a mix.

jamie

Jamie wrote:

senseijames wrote:

Jamie wrote:i wouldnt be as concerned about the soil condition being alkaline more so than the fine grit compacting on itself and causing issues with watering

Hey Jamie, actually there are up to three grades of shell grit, believe it or not, fine ,medium, and coarse, but i would be mixing it with Attapulgite, and probably cow manure or decomposed bark compost, as a mix.
James

interesting mate, what is the largest size "grit" you can get? the shell grit i have seen was always qute fine, very fine actually and if there was to much in the mix might cause probs.

remember with a finer particle size in the mix it will raise the water table and could be constantly soaked by water retension, i would start with a small amount if you were are to go ahead with it, i dont see what the prob with just the attipulgite(even though i would use diatomite if you can get it) and cow manure/decomposted bark as a mix, the attapulgite with give you the "grit" aspect of a mix.

jamie

Around 6mm Jamie, I was thinking that the shell grit would actually aid in drainage and the Attapulgite would hold the water, would probably use 1 part shell grit / 2 parts attapulgite / 1 part old cow poo or deco bark.
James

gday james, grit of that size will help with drainage a bit, what needs to be learnt about mediums is they are so important that people dont realise sometimes that size, shape etc. are critical. a larger grit will help in drainage but will also hold some in water tension, if a larger medium is used at the bottom of a pot layer it will lower the water table in the pot, a pot can only drain so much, then the rest is retained through absorbtion and water tension. if a smaller grit is used through out the pot, it will drain but the water table in the pot will be higher, there fore more water will be retained in the pot. a happy medium should be found ofcourse, that is why i now realise why the like of diatomite at 2-7mm is great to use as it creates a rather happy medium per say. if you wanted to add a little organic to it to give a bit more water retention thats all good too. but i beleive if a grit is used that is just for the sake of adding it, if it is too fine it can actually cause water problems and impede in some circumnstances.

jamie

senseijames wrote:Hey, just started to test using Chicken " shell grit " instead of gravel , to see how it goes, I have been washing it first in case there is any sea salt left , not sure if it is washed in the factory, the only worry that i have is when you repot with it is the shell grit going to sever the finer roots , what do ya think ????
James

Grit would be considered sharps, and therefor would split and multiply fine feeders. That is a good thing! I have read in the past many people using it, i dont once remember anything negative said about it. Definately wont compact. I have often thought about trying it, just never got round to it. Im surprised the scientific ones have not laid down a full report for you yet. stay tuned though.

Dont bother buying the stuff tho, all ya need is a good gritty beach, you will probably find nature has sorted the sizes too!
My ' interesting grit source' is the ant mounds around here, they seem to bring up piles of neatly sorted gravel, 4-6 mm. The only problem is collecting it without stirring up the entire ant mound. Have to do a quick sweeping raid then wait till the ants settle before going back and collecting it!

Greth wrote:Dont bother buying the stuff tho, all ya need is a good gritty beach, you will probably find nature has sorted the sizes too!
My ' interesting grit source' is the ant mounds around here, they seem to bring up piles of neatly sorted gravel, 4-6 mm. The only problem is collecting it without stirring up the entire ant mound. Have to do a quick sweeping raid then wait till the ants settle before going back and collecting it!

Hi Greth, I am doing the same thing up here where I live, there are meat ant nests, and they bring up all the deco granite, to the surface neatly sized, I just sweep up the gravel with a dust pan and brush and runnnn.

I tryed shell grit afew years ago does not make any difference at all (old wives talls)

john m wrote:I tryed shell grit afew years ago does not make any difference at all (old wives talls)

Hi John, But is it good mix???