Potting Mix

[rudy]

Hi,

Does anyone use potting such as Debco tht that you can get from bunning. Do you use it as is or chuck something extra in it.

Regards
Rudy

[Jamie]

hi rudy

the commercial bonsai mixes that are available arent to bad, if you can get to a nursery that has different mediums would be better, or even better than that get some diatomite and mix with a debco mix, generally speaking i mix mine a minimum 80% diatomite, 20% commercial mix, i try and keep it high percentages of diatomite to keep the mix free draining.

jamie

[rudy]

Hi jamie,

Thanks for the info. Do you have to fert more often if you use diatomite due to less mix in the pot. Where do you get it?

Regards

[Jamie]

hi mate,

i fert heavily anyways no matter what really, i might go through a little more fert but my trees havent been healthier since my fertiliser regime got change to the one i am on, i fertilise every 5-7 days no matter what really, i do slow a little bit down when thing basically stop but that is only a short period of a few weeks.

you should be able to get diatomite from bonsai nurseries or a rural supply store, thats where i get mine from. if you dont have access to that get some richgro aquatic mix from the big B and some debco, with the aquatic mix i would probably look at 50/50 as i found the aquatic mix dries a little quicker then diatomite.

jamie

[Waltron]

Debco's not too bad but I found that it compacts a bit and on occasions becomes water-logged. Some of my trees love it; some hate it. I am currently considering new mixes too and adding Diatomite as Jamie said is probably a good idea. I'm considering 50/50 native mix and Diatomite(7-12mm), something simple I can use accross the board.

[techpetal]

If you can find the Debco Plugger mix then get that and mix it with your choice. Research the potting media history...it goes on and on and on.... Diatomite, Zeolite, Akadema

I use variations on all three and sometimes include Debco propogation mix for young plants.

Whatever you do don't just dump a tree in a straight potting mix or more than likely it will drown.

Tech

[rudy]

Yes something simple that can be used across the board is what I am after. Is diatomite a stone or something and does it come in different sizes.

Regards

[Chris Sirre]

Hi Rudi,

I do't know if you have used our Sashi-Eda bonsai mix. We use the same mix in the nursery for all our growing and have no problems. From natives to Azaleas,from Pines to maples they are all doing great.

Please read our newsletter which contains a topic about potting mixes and bonsai mixes; viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5358

Feel free to contact us if you ave any queries.

Cheers,

Chris

[kvan64]

Debco potting mix has a lot of organic maters. However, Debco bonsai mix is quite good. It also contains about 5% - 15% of Zeolite and is more desirable for bonsai.
Cheers,
DK

[Chris Sirre]

Debco potting mix has a lot of organic maters. However, Debco bonsai mix is quite good. It also contains about 5% - 15% of Zeolite and is more desirable for bonsai.
Cheers,
DK

The Sashi_Eda mix also contains Zeolite, coarse riversand and water crystals.Debco has lifted it's game as their mix used to be pretty bad. I'm working on a new "Premium" Bonsai mix. Any suggestions are welcome.

Chris

[bonzaidog]

Rudy....I've used a debco product at a pinch,when I've got some emergency potting to do,eg,sudden yamadori. It's succulent and cacti mix from Buzzards*....lots of drainage and O2 inclusion works well on olives,bougs and figs...like to source some diatomite in Perth I know it is mined over here..... ....Dog.

[Gareth]

I am currently using 100% diatomite and use a layer of orchard mix on the bottom of the container to stop the diatomite going out the holes.

I think that organic matter on the whole is needed because as the bacteria break it down it adds humic and fluvic acids and compounds to the mix and makes other nutrients available.

I am currently thinking of a new mix of 70-80% diatomite, a small portion of zeolite 5-10% and then a mix of good quality soil, with some chicken manure and fertilizer mixed in (maybe 10-15%).

Free draining is the key, i dont think i will know what amount of organic matter to add until i actually see it when it is mixed in.

Chris, what organic compound would you recommend using as part or a mix, if you were to use diatomite as a main ingredient, would you change this depending on the species of tree?

gareth

[Jamie]

gday chris

how do you find the water crystals in you mix go? is it a small percentage? what size zeolite do you use? the zeolite i have is only about 2-3mm very even particle size and found that it stays very wet for a long time, i beleive now that was due to it raising the water table up though, i have it in a mix with diatomite and a little organic for my clerodendrums and they love it, i dont use zeolite in pine and juniper mixes though.





i do use a high percentage diatomite mix now, moreso to strech my diatomite out a little further. mostly 80/20 diat. and a commercial bonsai soil. sometimes more diatomite sometimes less dependant on species.

as a few have said what is most important is the mix should be free draining, yet moisiture retentive enough not to have to water every couple of hours.

jamie

[Chris Sirre]

Hi Jamie, sounds like you get the most out of your mix for the species of plants you grow in it. The most important thing people should be aware of is that the growing conditions are different from backyard to backyard. Your neighbour might get more or less sun than you.
What I'm saying is that you can't always use the same mix others recommend as their growing conditions are different. So it's fine to experiment with different ratio's of ingredients as long as you keep the main requirements in mind. And for that I refer again to the article in our newsletter (viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5358).

About the aswers on your questions the Zeolite is the same size you use. The watercrystals are working well, we don't have any issues with the soil staying to wet. Like I have mentioned before we grow Azalea, Natives, Pines, Maples etc in it. It's a great all purpose mix. I even use it for propagation and have excellent results. However I'm looking into some new recepies.

Happy growing

Chris

[Jamie]

gday chris

yea i do get the most as i can out of my mix, and you are totally right, i know i do go on a little bout micro climates but you are 100% correct, it can be completely different from one end of the yard to the opposite! to work out what mix is best for the user, some experimentation needs to be done. it has taken me probably 3-4 years to work out what is best for me, and i have moved twice in that time

interesting how your not having probs with the zeolite, as an additive though i think it is great, using it as a high percentage of zeolite would be a different storiy, its just to fine in particle size and stays extremely wet by itself from the water table. i have never used water crystals, never really seen the point as i generally have to water everyday anyways.

i have started using vermiculite as a seed and cutting medium, but have only just started with that so not really any results as yet. also started using the richgro aquatic mix, which is spongalite, it seems to be the goods but it does get dry quite rapidly, it would probably be a good one to mix with zeolite as the spongalite particle size is bigger, bout 8-10mm particles. that would be an interesting mix, 50/50 spongalite and zeolite.. might try that one!

jamie