Over a period of several years we have been been having trouble with our regular commercial potting mix . The company who had been producing this mix was sold and the new company assured us the mix was the same.We went ahead and bought our usual amount ( 3/4 tonne ) because it looked the same and we had been using it for a number of years.All went well for about 18 months then we started having problems with water repelling and poor growth.to cut a long story short we discovered the mix was waterproof!
We did the usual and looked over the Ausbonsai site and found most people who we're making their own mixes were using diatomite in various proportions . At about that time We visited Sydney and had a yarn with a well respected bonsai artist(thanks) --- he recommended diatomite as well.
So we started a look around
First stop Was diatomite
We found the mine was outside Gatton in qld not that far from us so I emailed the company and found they were willing to sell 25 bags so that was fixed
Next stop was stone of some kind
We looked at all the -- usual ones crushed granite , crushed sandstone ( couldn't get Canarvon river sand that Pup recommends) and then I read Alpines use of scoria .
The nearest source we could find was in Youngaburra on the Atherton tablelands in nth Qld( we could have got it elsewhere but they were prepared to sieve it so we only got 3 to 5 mm ) if we ordered 50 bags or one tonne.This scoria is the hard version unlike Alpine's softer version but it still holds a bit of water and opens the mix up.
So our mix is follows
One bucket diatomite
One bucket scoria
Four double handsfull coarse sand
Four double handsfull coco peat
Four double handsfull compost
We vary it a little by adding " deco plugger " for junis and elms etc
I cannot believe the growth we have attained with this new mix
Everything is going gangbusters figs junis natives elms etc
We don't have to water as often but even if we keep to our old watering regime it doesn't seem to matter -- you can't overwater and there is no sieving just mix it up water a bit chuck a bit of fertiliser in and use it
We can't recommended it too highly
Regards Steve
will probably not allow it into WA.If you wish to mix your own you will be able to get "Kleensorb"(thats diatomite)from safety shops,and Canarvon river sand -- Pup has numerous references to his mix just use the search function.
