AusBonsai

Been looking everywhere for some Akadama and so far no one has any in stock anywhere.

What can i use as an alternative and where can i get it in Sydney??

Might wanna PM Ken (kcpoole)
He should be able to sort you out, particularly in Sydney.

Here's a link to Ken's last post offering Akadama.
[url][/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=23689&p=253711&hil ... p253711url]

I could suggest -

5 mm silica based gravel [ we get it from a sand blasting company or can sift it in nature ]

aged compost ----------- compost that has sat in a covered barrel kept just moist - so the weeds germinate and in
the darkness die.

also -

5 mm crushed red earthenware building block -------- you can sift at a brick yard or hardware.

As the compost ages it glues itself back into, a roundish shape, and improves drainage whilst going
inorganic. Next stage is to return to metal oxides [ Ca0 and so on ....]
BUT continues to hold water / fertiliser in solution.

I have used this mix since the 1980's and some years ago opened the 30 year old trees, to check
their soil cores. No fattening of roots was observed and in fact all that was noted was fine roots.

Our climate is Dry Season [ no rain ] from December / January to May / June.
Wet the rest of the months.
So repotting takes place 2nd January until April / May.

The tree in that time period masters the soil and the rains that follow have no effect on the roots health.

It is a simple soil mix, and handles all trees well.

The limits are - compost holds 20 times it's weight in water.
So you use it at a max of 3 parts to 7 parts inorganic. By shovel or volume.
For a thirsty tree - e.g. Tamarind ------ you can replace up to half of the gravel with the red brick.

I don't believe in using soil components that will break with root growing - e.g perlite..
Laters,
Tambrand.

Ryceman3 wrote:Might wanna PM Ken (kcpoole)
He should be able to sort you out, particularly in Sydney.

Thanks but i already asked kcpoole. He said he's out of stock for a few months.

Dylanesguerra wrote:Been looking everywhere for some Akadama and so far no one has any in stock anywhere.

What can i use as an alternative and where can i get it in Sydney??

My preferred mix is a blend of akadama, pumice, and diatomite.
When I can't get akadama, I use a blend of pumice, diatomite, and mini pine-bark nuggets. If more water retention is needed, I will sometimes even add a small portion of Debco plugger to this blend.
All can be sourced in Sydney.

As far as I know Akadama is akin to "Unobtanium" here at the moment as the previous supplier in Perth has run out and did not import any more

After searching around, I have just received Quotes on a container load of Akadama and Kanuma, and costs shipping thereof and will be bringing in to Sydney myself in due course
The bigger issue at the moment I have been advised buy the supplier that due to a unseasonably cold winter in Japan, no Akadama has been mined and will not be available for another 3- 4 months still

Stay tuned and I will update everyone when I have more info but Unless the moon falls, I will have some later in the year

Ken

New stocks arrived today Just before Chrissy
PM or call me to get yours before the holidays so you can put soem under the tree
Ken