AusBonsai

Any advice as to where to purchase 5mm scoria.
Living in Adelaide I can obtain 10mm scoria but then need to very laboriously use a hammer to smash to a smaller size. Maybe someone can suggest a quicker or more efficient method to reduce from 10mm.

Hey Dub,

Unfortunately I haven't found a source for smaller particle size scoria yet but would also be keen to know if one exists. I gave up using it after my first round of smashing.

Dub wrote:Any advice as to where to purchase 5mm scoria.
Living in Adelaide I can obtain 10mm scoria but then need to very laboriously use a hammer to smash to a smaller size. Maybe someone can suggest a quicker or more efficient method to reduce from 10mm.

Don’t have any specific places in Adelaide that I know of, however I would recommend garden supplies centre. Places where you can buy garden soil, crushed rock, pebbles etc. Depending on the quantity that you’re after, I get mine in 20l bags and I sift through using three seperate gauges and store accordingly for different purposes.
10mm+ I use the largest holed strainer to sift out the bigger scoria. I use these for drainage on pre bonsais or other plants.
4-8mm I use a mid sized strainer to sift out the midi size scoria. I normally use these also on pre bonsai that I mix with potting mix and succulents too.
2-4mm, what ever is left from the second strainer is the finer material.

It is a little laborious, but worth the time

I know tony Up in Brissy has <5 mm scoria in 10KG or so bags he sells.
Delivery would probably $30 to you in adelaide from him up there for 2 bags

I can do 2-7 mm Pumice in 14L bags. 2 bags delivered to you there will cost $30 + the stock.
PM if interested.

Ken

seephil wrote:

Dub wrote: I get mine in 20l bags and I sift through using three seperate gauges and store accordingly for different purposes.

Wouldn’t mind sifting (do this already for pumice and diatomite) but all I’ve seen is the bulk stuff you buy by the trailer load and even then it’s stocked by relatively few garden centres.

Thank you Ken for your info. My current Bonsai mix consists of 2 parts scoria, 1 part akadama & 1 part Debco Bonsai mix. The before crushed 10mm scoria is just a too large & particularly in small pots looks way out of proportion.
With this thought in mind do you consider another suitable Bonsai mix would be to use 2 parts (about 5mm size) Pumice instead of the scoria.
Thanks