Brick Dust and Perlite mix

[Regan]

A bit off topic, but I just wanted to say how much I love Max Candy's fig

[NBPCA]

A bit off topic, but I just wanted to say how much I love Max Candy's fig

I also love it and hope that we can get the best out of it in Canberra.

We don't have a long fig growing season here so I have had to adapt the growing proceedures for the cooler climate here.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Update,

1st Decemeber, the fig is doing well. No problems.

Grant

PJ Fig 1st dec 2010 - Compressed.JPG

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Grant just curious where you get crushed brick from - is it available somewhere or is it diy ?


Tony

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Grant just curious where you get crushed brick from - is it available somewhere or is it diy ?


Tony

In Canberra there are/were a lot of houses built out of brick and as these houses are demolished the bricks go to a recycling station for crushing and using as driveway gravel. It is very cheap and dusty.

It behaves a little like diatomite; but If diatomite is available I would use it. You could substitute other material as well like gravel.

This was an experiment to confirm it works and was part of my search this year for a better potting mix.

Grant

[Damian Bee]

Just curious about the PH of the brick dust

[Grant Bowie]

Just curious about the PH of the brick dust

Here is alink to the results of my soil mix tests.

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5745&hilit=abbrevi ... s%E2%80%A6

Just download the PDF.

Grant

[Handy Mick]

I've been using the crushed brick for ages mixed with potting mix and depending on the plant, a percentage of washed sand. You get it from landscape supplies and because they usually sell buy the trailer, if you go in with a bucket, they usually wave you off. All my plants do fine in the mix, you need to sive into the 3 different sizes, use the large size on the bottom (black pots and grow boxes only) the second size goes next and mix the small size with the potting mix. Don't forget to wash the dust off, I use shade cloth and a hose.
Mick.

[Grant Bowie]

UPDATE,

Ok, as part of my talk last week to the Central Coast Bonsai Club I pulled the fig out of its pot to have a look at the roots and how it had gone in the mix of 50% perlite and %50 Brick Dust.

The tree was healthy enough but I would have expected a lot more roots after the 15 months or so it had been in the mix. The perlite and crushed brick mix fell off the roots very easily and it felt dry to the touch. No roots were running around the pot under the soil.

I potted it back into the same pot but used a mix of 40% Maidenwell Diatomite, 20% Coco Peat, 20% Pine bark Mini Nuggets and 20% Gravel.

CONCLUSION. The experiment was worthwhile but I will not be using the 50% Perlite and 50% Crushed brick mix.
I would use Crushed Brick as a minority percentage component but not bother with Perlite.

Grant

PS. The fig is now inside for the rest of winter and will do fine.

[Sean M]

UPDATE,

Ok, as part of my talk last week to the Central Coast Bonsai Club I pulled the fig out of its pot to have a look at the roots and how it had gone in the mix of 50% perlite and %50 Brick Dust.

The tree was healthy enough but I would have expected a lot more roots after the 15 months or so it had been in the mix. The perlite and crushed brick mix fell off the roots very easily and it felt dry to the touch. No roots were running around the pot under the soil.

I potted it back into the same pot but used a mix of 40% Maidenwell Diatomite, 20% Coco Peat, 20% Pine bark Mini Nuggets and 20% Gravel.

CONCLUSION. The experiment was worthwhile but I will not be using the 50% Perlite and 50% Crushed brick mix.
I would use Crushed Brick as a minority percentage component but not bother with Perlite.

Grant

PS. The fig is now inside for the rest of winter and will do fine.

Grant,

I know this might sound like a dumb question (but I am a newb) what kind of gravel are you using? I ask because my dad has just had a s##t load of decomposed granite dumped on his driveway for his garden beds and he now has too much so I was hoping that this would be the 20% gravel your talking about and I could score some free stuff.

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Sean,

The pink granite used for driveways in Canberra is perfect as the gravel for bonsai.

However as delivered it is full of dust and heavy silt, which is why it is perfect for driveways.

You must spread the gravel over the driveway to a good depth and then wait for rain. Once the gravel has been wetted a few times the silt and dust compacts and a layer of nice clean gravel is sitting on the service. You can rake up and collect some gravel for your use. I sieve it into various sizes and also use it for the top layer as a top dress. The gravel is as sharp and heavy as any I have ever known.

Grant