Pumice a substitute for Diatomite?

[fredman]

No Akadama here either. Its not allowed in. The only things we have is pumice and scoria (lava). Its a bummer yes but the pumice gives me real good results, so I make as if I don't miss the others.....

[kcpoole]

No Akadama here either. Its not allowed in. The only things we have is pumice and scoria (lava). Its a bummer yes but the pumice gives me real good results, so I make as if I don't miss the others.....

I was sure somewhere I read that peeps in NZ were using it but must be mistaken. ( not so unusual )

plenty of other things to use

Ken

[matty-j]

Hey Ken where do you get your Kanuma from?

[fredman]

Ken. Up to now pumice alone was doing good enough, but since I've been using liquid humic acid its growing at almost double their usual speed. Where I am in NZ the overall growth was slow. I always thought its the climate. All that thinking is out the window now. Since I started using humates everything is showing growth that I have not seen before.

[kcpoole]

Hey Ken where do you get your Kanuma from?

I get mine from Scott Roxburgh in Canberra.

He stocks it for himself and others and is happy to onsell.
occasionally comes up to Sydney and will deliver if here.
Depending on how much you want, I think I have 2 bags still from mylast purchase

Ken

[kcpoole]

Ken. Up to now pumice alone was doing good enough, but since I've been using liquid humic acid its growing at almost double their usual speed. Where I am in NZ the overall growth was slow. I always thought its the climate. All that thinking is out the window now. Since I started using humates everything is showing growth that I have not seen before.

Interesting What brand / product do you use for humates?

Ken

[fredman]

I buy this locally...

https://www.fertnz.co.nz/verteblack-liquid-humates/

[kcpoole]

Cool thanks Fred, I will look up if here or a suitable alternative.

Ken

[fredman]

Cheers Ken

[mtarros]

I'll have to give that a go too

I did find the following ones that we should be able to buy in australia.
http://www.seasol.com.au/commercial/pro ... wer-Humate
http://www.seasol.com.au/commercial/pro ... nic-Humate

How do you apply it? do you just spray it on to the plants and soil?

[cutejai]

sorry to resurrect this old thread.
i've just bought a bag of diatomite from greenfield produce and i'm quite shocked about the quality of it, half of the bag is dust and the other half is so soft that it literally melt in the potting mix. it's definitely different from what it used to be.

so i'm now on the same path and looking to replace diatomite with pumice, so i bought a bag of pumice yesterday and they look much better and defintely will not break under force, so not sure why peterb said it breaks down ealier than diatomite, it's almost as hard as scoria. or may be we are talking about different product? but the down side is, they are much more expensive than diatomite.

[Matthew Johnson]

Hi cutejai

Where did you purchase your pumice from?

Cheers
Matt

[fredman]

Glad you resurrected this thread. I have a link to liquid humates above. I since found a better one. Its made in NZ from Australian Leonardite. For those interested if you contact the company they might export or give an Aussie manufacturer/supplier....

http://www.humates.co.nz/content/trimate

[cutejai]

Hi Matt,

I bought mine from "canley vale nursery". they are graded 1-7mm and is about $35 i think.

cheers
George

[kcpoole]

What brand is diatomite, and where are greenfield produce? Never heard of them

I get diatomite (kleensorb) from Enfield produce, and pumice from Lux Cuttings. Both about $20 or so