AusBonsai

Hi All,

I'm after some "Maidenwell Diatomite" not "mt sylvia" but couldn't find it anywhere in sydney except online but the shipping cost is ridiculous. anyone know where to buy? I'm after 2-3 bags. have used mt sylvia in the past but after reading its high PH property I'm abit concerned.

Regards

I am a little surprised at the possibility of diatomite being high pH. The composition of diatomite from Mt Sylvia is nearly 100% Silica - with it most remarkable property of absorbing water (up to 200% of its volume). There may be inpure diatomite containing some clays (less than 2%) which could affect pH, however, as we well know the Japanese use Akadama and Kanuma, natural volcanic CLAYs (100%) surface-mined in Japan, in their bonsai soils. Kanuma a yellow, volcanic clay soil is slightly acidic, and is thus favoured as a potting medium for SATSUKI azaleas.

Ausbonsai members coordinate bulk buys of diatomite, akadama and Kanuma from time to time through this forum - typically in winter in preparation for spring replanting. So keep your eye out for that.

see also
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5170
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5138

cheers

Neville

Hi CuteJai
I use Mt Sylvia and have had no problems with it re PH. I have Azales in it which should hate the PH of 8 but in practice do not seem to mind

I originally started out using Maidenwell, but after their trouble a year or 2 ago, it is not available from any supplier in Sydney that I know of, hence my use of Mt Sylvia instead.

Grant in Canberra, is doing extensive tests on both brands of diatomite and other mixes, but would be surprised if it turns out any real world differences between the 2 of them

Ken

KC, I think that Grant did find differences between MW and MS Diatomite, I can't remember what the difference was though. I havent used Mount Silvia, but have heard from people that have used it that there can be some pH inconsistency from batch to batch....although I can't say that in 6 years of using Maidenwell, I have ever bothered to test the pH of it, but it is supposed to be neutral.

Cheers,
Mojo

Mojo Moyogi wrote:KC, I think that Grant did find differences between MW and MS Diatomite, I can't remember what the difference was though. I havent used Mount Silvia, but have heard from people that have used it that there can be some pH inconsistency from batch to batch....although I can't say that in 6 years of using Maidenwell, I have ever bothered to test the pH of it, but it is supposed to be neutral.

Cheers,
Mojo

I thought the only difference in his initial tests were the PH and marginally better water holding for maidenwell

hello

my brother just purchased 6 bags from a company called productive garden.com.au they are at manly in queensland @25.00 dollars for 40 ltr bags the freight was roughley $16 per bag .david is the chaps name and he arranges the post and all that was down to wollongong u may find it cheaper into sydney mate here is his number if you want to enquire 0400339356.i did some extensive searching in the sydney area and came up empty even had the local produce man on the case and with all his contacts no good either.


cheers mick

Ken

You should start petitioning Ray to get is stocked.

And I'll try and get Leong to get some Maidenwell in. Mt Sylvia does have PH inconsistances and can be quite high. There is nowhere in Sydney to get it.

Leong has done some good tests with maidenwell diatomite percentage mixes and has had some great results documented.

Tech

Hartos wrote:Ken

You should start petitioning Ray to get is stocked.

Have already tried that

Will not do so as every time he looks at my Mix he shakes his head

Quite conservative I think
Have thought that maybe I should just buy a pallet and get him to store and sell it as I have nowhere to keep it at home. If had room that is exactly what I would do

Ken

Thanking you all for the quick response.

kcpoole, I've read somewhere that high in PH will lockup the availabilities of some elements and might cause long term nutrient deficiency, but I think if one is ready to supply trace element every now and then, it should be negligible, in my case, I normally mix it for my other big potting fruit tree which get watered less often. e.g mulberry, blueberry, kumquat,,, so would prefer a more neutral PH and don't need to worry about nutrient deficiency.

Thanks Michael, yep that was the online store I was referring to, $16 per bag is still quite expensive if I'm to buy 3-5 bags.

will definitely keep an eye on group buy and hopefully someone like Ken could organise a pallet or 2. =)