AusBonsai

After reading the recent thread on coco peat, I decided to do a bit of experimenting. I picked up some coco grinds & clay pebbles from a Hydro shop ( read dope-growing) down at Noosa. The coco grinds are very fine, maybe too fine for a bonsai soil medium. The clay pebbles are larger than I anticipated, ranging in size from 15mm diameter down to 7mm dia. First experiment was 100% coco grinds. The coco drained reasonably quickly & I left it sit for 30 minutes. I then checked it & found that it retained a lot of water. According to their website, it retains approx. 73% water & 23% air.
Second experiment was 50/50 coco grinds & clay pebbles. It drained very quickly but still retained a lot of water.

Initial impressions:
The coco grinds appear to be way too fine & retain a lot of water.
The clay pebbles are probably too large to be of much use in a general bonsai mix but would make in ideal drainage layer. They may be OK in larger bonsai pots & definitely open up the mix & provide exceptional drainage.

Carrying on further, I have left a pot full of 50/50 mix outside & will monitor it over the next few days. I will check for settling & separation as I suspect the fine coco grinds will migrate to the base of the pot.
Although the coco grinds are very, very fine, they may prove beneficial as, when dry, they definitely creates a spongy textured, open mix. When wet it is very water-logged which may cause problems but as the water drains it may open up and prove useful. All depends on the rate of drainage/ drying.
I'll keep you all posted over the next few days.

The coco grinds are very fine and will clog up the soil .the clay looks good i was thinking of getting some of that myself but decided it was a bit on the large side but your stuff looks smaller and should work well. I think that clay stuff mixed with something else would work well maybe pumice, diatomite( pine bark sifted) coco peat Would all be options.
I reckon the clay would maybe dry out too quick but then Again I'm guessing coz I have never used it.

Yes you're right, the coco grinds are way too fine.
After a day in the sun it is still very wet, to the point where I can squeeze water out of it.
The same hydro shop also have coco coir, both in compressed bricks & non-compressed bags. I might give this a go on the weekend & see what results I get.
They also do a professional hydro potting mix containing bark, airy peat moss, perlite, compost & a few other things which may be worth experimenting with.
The main reason I'm doing this is because I can no longer buy diatomite up this way since Maidenwell went bust, so I'm looking for alternatives.
If anyone up this way can get diatomite please let me know.
Cheers
Mal.

Is diatomite used as kitty litter too?

kuregtr wrote:Is diatomite used as kitty litter too?

Apparently some do but the ones I have checked use various types of clay which break down & go mushy very quickly.
I've just found out that some oil spill products are 100% diatomite so I will look into this further.

I can no longer buy diatomite up this way since Maidenwell went bust, so I'm looking for alternatives.
คาสิโนออนไลน์

I am not sure if this will help you guys, but here goes.

The hydroponic pebbles can be sourced at 5 to 3 mm from Leca, and the tree planted in them.
Then simply sprinkle on the organic material.
Watering will send the organic material down.

I made as a test, some clay balls, hand rolled and fired them. They are still porous but stable for use as a soil component at around 8 mm.
I normally use compost as my organic addition,
So I planted a ficus in the clay balls, and just sprinkled the sifted compost on top.a

I repeated the above with 10 mm glass marbles and 3 mm glass spheres. Using the compost as the organic. All trees are alive and well - Tamarindus and Chlorophora t.

I prefer to use compost, as opposed to coco peat or bark materials, as they will turn to mush on my side in a few months,

Rounded particles, such as silica based pebbles will also work [ aquarium pebbles from China ]
Laters.
Tambrand