AusBonsai

hi Guys,

With Maidenwell Diatomite now unavailable and looking for a new base component for drainage and water holding capability in my mix, i am looking in using Pumice, it seems to tick all the boxes.

I am currently in contact with Auspearl, but one bag costs $42 including shipping.

So im currently getting a few prices for larger quantities, such as 10 bags, skid volume and pallet volume.

Just trying to get an idea of who might be interested, and if it looks good price wise, and i can get enough people interested, i would be happy to organize a shipment to go to my work for you to pick up (hunter Pets in Thornton).

so, anyone interested?

Sizes are

1-4mm
1-7mm
4-10mm
7-20mm

Now 1-4mm would be pretty much useless unless your wanting it for seed raising mix, and then why not use sand, buying it JUST for seed raising mix would be overkill i recon i most applications.

The 1-7mm would be ok, but MR Scott Roxborough previously used this and found it had too many fine after sieving it, the smaller stuff, as a by-product COULD be used for seed raising, but as the guy who is using this the most and most likely for the longest in this situation, i would go with his recommendation which is....

the 4-10mm. I would most likely use this straight out of the bag

the larger size again i wouldnt even worry about.

So the 4-10mm sounds the goods, and it would be ideal if everyone wanted the same size, but as i said, only getting expressions of interest at the moment.

I've used 1-4mm pumice unsifted in a mix with coco peat (4pum 1cp) with my shohin, and they're fine. If you can get gravel of the same size it would certainly be cheaper, but might not hold as much water.

Gavin

Alright guys,

This is the deal with pricing

You are welcome to pick up from the factory at $18.00 per bag.

$70.00 per pallet delivery, any number of bags up to 50 on a pallet.

So 5 bags would be $160 $32 per bag

10 bags $250. $25 per bag

The price of the Pumice drops to $13.50 for a full pallet of 50: total with freight $745.00 $14.90 per bag

Anyone interested?

No one interested?

Hi Gareth, I would be interested in two bags.

Thanks

terry

just for everyone's interest, each bag is 25 liters and around 20kgs

Can I ask why you don't just use Mt Sylvia diatomite ? It's cheaper, easy to source and lighter and in my experience it just comes up short of Maidenwell with the main difference being the colour.

because i want to use pumice.

Gareth wrote:because i want to use pumice.

I don't feel that it is a substitute for Diatomite.

...and Diatomite would be the same issue wouldn't...it's in Sydney?

Hi Gareth,

If you are going to get a number of bags, why not get a mixture of grades?

I recently got back from O/S and picked up 2 bags of 1-7mm and 2 bags of 4-10mm on the way back to Canberra. The reason for the 1-7mm? because I have started to supply a mix of Akadama and Pumice (1:2) and most people want a finer mix so they don't have to water as often.

I sift the Pumice 3 times, once in a 2mm sieve, once in a 5mm and once in a 7mm. I then offer 2, most people want the 2-5mm, but I use more of the 5-7mm on my own trees.

Bougy Fan wrote:Can I ask why you don't just use Mt Sylvia diatomite ? It's cheaper, easy to source and lighter and in my experience it just comes up short of Maidenwell with the main difference being the colour.

I have been thinking of getting some to try out myself as I might make a nice addition to my Diatomite zeolite mix. Maybe up to about 25%
The larger sizes ( 7-15 mm) will make a nice layer in the bottom of grow pots to stop the 2-7mm Diatomite falling thru.
I currently use Hard scoria for this, but cannot get the (medium size) of 10mm or so any more, only the larger one 20 - 25mm. Looking for a replacement now.

I will be over to Enfield on the weekend, so might just pick up a bag of 7-15mm diatomite while there.

Ken

Hi Guys,

I do not mean to be rude so do not take what i am about to say as being so, BUT

This is not a discussion about the pros and cons of pumice, it is not why i am using pumice, how it relates to other types of materials or asking for suggestions on what to use.


It is a post to see who is interested in going into a group buy to get some pumice for their soil mixes. If you want to get some, by all means let me know and ill try to work out the logistics and what it will cost. If you dont want the pumice, then dont post here please, it is clogging up the thread with unnessecary comments that do not relate to the original purpose of the post.

Thankyou.