AusBonsai

Last year i purchased a mini Crepe Myrtyl form Ray ( he said it a native?) in a 4" pot.
It had done not much over the summer and I repotted yesterday and found out why it was not very vigorous. The Poor thing has 5 Curl grubs in there munching on the roots!

Now is potted up into Diatomite, so expect it to take off this summer

Ken

with you all the way on this one buddy!
havnt had one curl grub in any pot with substrate....ever!

This is why i also, myself, use a diatomite substrate

ROOTS A PLENTY!!! and this is after i chopped the bottom half off too

Lovely roots there Hugh

Ken

Ive never seen a curl grub before till i brought home a elm from my parents place last yr so far this yr with repotting havent seen any use to work in a bonsai nursey yrs an yrs ago an cant remeber seeing any in our trees but the mix used had alot of sharp gravel in it. I think i read some where it say they dont like that type of mix

hugh grant wrote:with you all the way on this one buddy!
havnt had one curl grub in any pot with substrate....ever!

This is why i also, myself, use a diatomite substrate

ROOTS A PLENTY!!! and this is after i chopped the bottom half off too

IMG_9792 resized.jpg

Mother of god!!!! lol thats a healthy set of roots!!!! Im counting down the days till i can get my hands on some now

Andrew what percentage do you use on average? I see a lot of talk about potting soil on this site and wonder why people don't use 100% non organic mixes.

Goff wrote:Andrew what percentage do you use on average? I see a lot of talk about potting soil on this site and wonder why people don't use 100% non organic mixes.

i dont because im unable to water my trees 3-5 times aday on the really hot days have read where people have lost trees at shows because they where not watered enough

Olivecrazy wrote:

Goff wrote:Andrew what percentage do you use on average? I see a lot of talk about potting soil on this site and wonder why people don't use 100% non organic mixes.

i dont because im unable to water my trees 3-5 times a day on the really hot days have read where people have lost trees at shows because they where not watered enough

I call BS on that one sorry Olive. Sounds like the myth many in Sydney still trot out.
I started in Bonsai using Rays mix, and after losing trees to the dreaded grub, moved to to 100% inorganic mix ( 2/3 diatomite, 1/3 Zeolite) and water less than I did before. Been using it now for 6 years.
Last summer, the only trees that suffered in 47 deg days were ones that I acquired and had yet to repot in substrate.
I water once a day thru summer using a timer, My Mame / Shohin benches get 2 times a day. Been doing this routine now for 5 years.

Ken

I concur with Ken, started 2 years ago repotting my trees into diatomite and zeolite and my plants have never been healthier.

Did find a few curl grubs in one of my bonsai soil mix just the other week. That plant is now in my organic mix.

I do find that these plants need a few weeks of extra watering , then once settled they power on.

Fiona

I have tridents in a diatomite/ zeolite mix and have never had a problem with them drying out. In fact using diatomite without sieving presents me with problems of holding too much water for some trees. I find some species like bougies I use a 4mm + diatomite and scoria mix with greater success. Never ever had a drying out problem with the mix - sometimes on a very hot summer day I water twice but that is for all mixes.

Guys,

Can I just ask - what does this stuff looklike, and how long does it last? I ask because I can't get it here, so was thinking about what the alternatives many be.

Cheers,

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

I have seen these results with many different mediums, all of them Inorganic,

Including but not limited to
-scoria
-diatomite
-pumice
-akadama

Although akadama could be argued as being organic but we will leave that alone.

I have talked to a few people and it is a fairly common belief that good draining properties and oxygen concentration in the root zone all help to create a fiborous system of fine feeder roots.

I myself use a combination of diatomite, zeolite potting mix (soon to be changed to line bark mini nuggets) and worms castings, and achieve the same results.

The key here is a well draining media with a high percentage of air filled porosity and good water holding ability so the fine feeder roots don't dry out.

Weather it's a totally inorganic mix or it contains organic it makes no matter, as long as it is free draining.

I also agree with bougy fan, I have found a size particle of 3-6mm to be the perfect size for all trees. Drains well but it small enough to hold water between each particle with surface tension.

I would not be too worried about the substrate, as to those CURL grubs and where they come from would be a worry though.

I am also sure if you approached the person sooner than putting the name on an open forum, it would be much better.

You do leave yourself open to some nasty little litigation.

just my Pup

Ps, it brings up the old my mix is the best mix coconut again. Horses for courses. My trees grow well in my mix, and have done for the last 25 plus years so I stick with it.

Cheers Pup

Pup wrote:I would not be too worried about the substrate, as to those CURL grubs and where they come from would be a worry though.

I am also sure if you approached the person sooner than putting the name on an open forum, it would be much better.

You do leave yourself open to some nasty little litigation.

just my Pup

Ps, it brings up the old my mix is the best mix coconut again. Horses for courses. My trees grow well in my mix, and have done for the last 25 plus years so I stick with it.

Cheers Pup

So what's your mix pup