AusBonsai

Gday gang,
I'm just wondering how the good people out there use Diatomite. I've been using it with coco peat and pine bark chips. So if you ware using these same 3 ingredients, what ratio do you use?

If you like to combine diatomite with other ingredients, what are the ingredients and what ratio do you use them in? How species specific do you go when it comes to your soil mixes? Do you make a new mix for every species or do you have 2 different kinds for Conifers and Deciduous trees?

Thanks

Hi,

One very good grower down in melbourne is using 50% Diatomite(2mm to 7mm). 25% Pine Bark Mini Nuggets and 25% Coconut Fibre. He says he uses it for everything and that it is slightly thirsty mix but it works for him. He grows some absolutely fabulous trees and we borrow as many as we can for the collection. He repots or checks every year as well.

I wanted a little bit more weight in my mix and so use 40% Diatomite, 20% Gravel(or Zeolite and gravel), 20% Pine Bark Mini Nuggets and 20% Coconut Fibre. I also use it for everything so far. I do use finer particles for my minis. I will repot or check every two years.

Slow release fertilizer at repot time and currently fertilizing with liquid fert every week at recomended strength.

Grant

Thanks very much Grant, great information

i use 2 parts diatomite to 1 part zeolite and/or river gravel of the same size. i have 25% of my trees in this mix and see no problems with it. the rest of my trees im going to be potting into a mix of 50% diatomite 25% zeolite and/or gravel and 25% crushed terracotta with the largest terracotta as a drainage layer to see how that goes.

Hugh

Hi All
I live in adelaide where we get some serious scorchers in summer and i work 12h shift work so can only water once a day what mix would you suggest (2009 i lost 5 trees in that 16 day heatwave ), should i add more zeolite
regards
peterb

peterb wrote:Hi All
I live in adelaide where we get some serious scorchers in summer and i work 12h shift work so can only water once a day what mix would you suggest (2009 i lost 5 trees in that 16 day heatwave ), should i add more zeolite
regards
peterb

At a guess Id say add more coco peat as it retains moisture. Zeolite retains and releases nutrients as needed by the trees by my understanding. Please correct me if I am wrong. Alternatively you could make a gravity fed drip irrigation system with some 4mm hose and a 20l water container for under $10 which should do 2-3 trees. Hope that helps

I am getting most of my stuff into 100% Diatomite, and everything seems to be doing OK

Previously I have used one part Akadama, one part Pumice and one part Diatomite. This mix has worked fine for me.

Almost all of my trees are in one part Akadama, one part Pumice, the remainder are in the Diatomite mix. I only stopped adding Diatomite to my mix so I could buy one less 'ingredient'.

Diatomite is a great medium, I know the NBPCA trees are growing great in it!

Peter, I'd set up an automatic misting system for your trees, you can do it for about $100, small price to pay that would have saved your trees.

With light mixes that include a large proportion of Diatomite/Pumice, I have found it best to wire my trees securely into the pot.

I use 2/3 Diatomite, 1/3 Zeolite and have all my trees in the same mix

Figs, Pines, Maples, etc. The only difference is Azaleas in Kanuma.

Peter, In Sydney we get Hot dry summers, and I have all my trees under an automatic watering system (Sprayers not drippers). Electronic timer and Remote 28v Solenoids on the tap( different sectors) . Have had it now for 3 years and has not missed a beat, The same system can be applied to tank water as well.

total cost was about $150 and worth every cent.
I have it come on once every 2 days in winter, once a day every other day except the height of summer ( Mid Dec - mid Feb) where I will turn on again in the arvo as well to water 2 times daily

I find works real well

Ken

kcpoole wrote:I use 2/3 Diatomite, 1/3 Zeolite and have all my trees in the same mix

Figs, Pines, Maples, etc. The only difference is Azaleas in Kanuma.

Peter, In Sydney we get Hot dry summers, and I have all my trees under an automatic watering system (Sprayers not drippers). Electronic timer and Remote 28v Solenoids on the tap( different sectors) . Have had it now for 3 years and has not missed a beat, The same system can be applied to tank water as well.

total cost was about $150 and worth every cent.
I have it come on once every 2 days in winter, once a day every other day except the height of summer ( Mid Dec - mid Feb) where I will turn on again in the arvo as well to water 2 times daily

I find works real well

Ken

Just wondering if you could post some more details about your watering system, I am new to the world of bonsai, and thought an automatic system would be way more expensive. Can you post some pics please? Thanks

i would love know more about the system. I have been thinking about making something like what you have . even like a timeclock that connects to a tap with a solenoid if there is such a thing?

Luke Paul I will take some good detailed pics tomorrow and post then. I will make a new thread and link to here.

Ken

I use a 50% diatomite mix, with the other 50% a corresponding soil/potting mix;
..ie: Aus native or Azalea, or Cacti/succulent mix for a more free draining option.. etc etc..

..having to work and travel and having no automated system, means I need my mix to hold water a little longer
than what I would ideally like to strive to (eg. Walter Pall..), with a higher % Diatomite: 80 - 100% with automated
watering..

gotta get those 'misters' into action..

Matt.