AusBonsai

Hi all... I managed to get my hands on some Diatomite today... Cumberland Produce at Campbelltown had 2 bags stashed away

So i was able to come up with a decent general mix.. it consists of..

40% Diatomite (Maidenwell) 2-7mm, 20% Premium Potting Mix, 20% River Sand, 20% Coco Peat... I also added Osmocote and Blood 'n Bone as per directions.

Do u guys think that this would work well generally speaking.

I know i will have to tweak it once i learn what species prefere what etc, but for now im hoping it does the trick

well no news is good news.. so i guess its ok

beatts wrote:well no news is good news.. so i guess its ok

I hope you're less impatient with your bonsai.

Should be fine.
The best mix in the world, is what works for you in your own environment.

With any new mix, monitor over varying conditions and work out how it performs

Ken

beatts wrote:Hi all... I managed to get my hands on some Diatomite today... Cumberland Produce at Campbelltown had 2 bags stashed away

So i was able to come up with a decent general mix.. it consists of..

40% Diatomite (Maidenwell) 2-7mm, 20% Premium Potting Mix, 20% River Sand, 20% Coco Peat... I also added Osmocote and Blood 'n Bone as per directions.

Do u guys think that this would work well generally speaking.

I know i will have to tweak it once i learn what species prefere what etc, but for now im hoping it does the trick

Probably too much fines but see how it goes.

Grant

Ron wrote: I hope you're less impatient with your bonsai.

haha.. ive never been good at that P word.. but slowly learning

beatts wrote:

Ron wrote:I hope you're less impatient with your bonsai.

haha.. ive never been good at that P word.. but slowly learning

Patience is the hardest part, isn't it? It's never been one of my strongest points but I'm working on it.

Thanks guys.. i will keep a very close eye on things... i have some japanese elm and port jackson seedlings that ive just moved into small pots using this mix.

Ron wrote:
Patience is the hardest part, isn't it? It's never been one of my strongest points but I'm working on it.

sure is, but i found that now i have a bigger collection of trees, all in different stages, species etc that there is always something to fiddle with... so less down time waiting for something to do.

Hi Grant, and all -

Wonder if you could help me with the word - fines - as applied to Bonsai mix.

and - What do you see as the main culprit in Beatts's mix.

Cheers David

I was told recently that diatomite tends to retain the salts from the water-probably not a problem over there in the east but here in sa we have relatively high salt in Murray water--so was recommended I use decomposed Granite 2-7mm which is also quite sharp and good for fine root development and will probably get some from Angaston on and see how that goes.

cuwire wrote:Hi Grant, and all -

Wonder if you could help me with the word - fines - as applied to Bonsai mix.

and - What do you see as the main culprit in Beatts's mix.

Cheers David

..as in sand and the small stuff - the 'coarse' stuff is the Diatomite (2-5mm usually) ...

..I like kcpooles comment on the best mix being "the one that works best in ur environment",
and I find that : 50% Diatomite mix, with the other 50% comprised of potting mix, worm castings,
and maybe an 'add' that may suit the particular tree I am re-potting is what works best for me (in N/East melbs..)
(ie/eg: sphagnum moss for moisture retention, or a coarse sand/higher Diatomite % for pines/cedars..)


Matt.

cuwire wrote:Hi Grant, and all -

Wonder if you could help me with the word - fines - as applied to Bonsai mix.

and - What do you see as the main culprit in Beatts's mix.

Cheers David

I would consider fines as anything under 1mm especially if it is likely to break down further.

Too much fines(potting mix, fine pine barks, coco peat, fine sand or dusts) can clog and compact causing too much water retention and lack of oxygen to roots. Depends where you live of course as some in outback NSW could use a finer more water holdin g mix than someone in the wet tropics(like Brisbane and whole east coast lately)

So for instance when we talk sand we usually mean coarse washed river sand or even a small gravel.

Grant

Hope that helps.