Aquatic Planting Mix

[JaseH]

Looking through previous posts, the Richgro Aquatic Planting mix used to be an ok alternative to diatomaceous earth, then apparently it changed. That was a couple of years ago, I was wondering if anyone had used it lately and if its still an option if I cant easily get hold of anything else?

[mugen]

They changed whatever they were putting into it to some thing that went soggy. I was using it with great success until that point. But not sure what they are using currently. To test I would buy some or make a hole in the bag at the shops and get some and test it in water see if it goes squishy.

[JaseH]

Well I noticed a hydro shop in the area had this stuff called Growstone: http://www.growstone.com/soil-aerator-2/

I figured with not much else easily avalable to me that I'd buy a bag and give it a go. Has anyone else had any experience with this? I think I paid <$40 for a 56L bag.

[lackhand]

There are people in the US using growstone. It's supposedly just man-made pumice, so whatever you would use pumice for, this should work too.

http://bonsaial.wordpress.com/2013/02/0 ... oly-grail/

There are also some threads about it over at bonsainut.com. Please post your experience here though and let us know if you try it out.

[thoglette]

There are people in the US using growstone.

I'd love to know what the Big Green Box is using for their "aquatic" plants - it looks like a cross between brick and BBQ rocks ("slag").

All I do know is that they don't stock it.

[JaseH]

Please post your experience here though and let us know if you try it out.

I did end up buying a bag of the growstone stuff, I'm far from an expert in soil aeration media but it appears to be just like pumice. The majority of pieces may be a little large for smaller bonsai pots but I sieved some to seperate out some of the smaller pieces and mixed it with some Debco bonsai soil and repotted a little Monterey Cypress with it.

[thoglette]

.. but it appears to be just like pumice.

Does it float or sink?