HAVE YOU, wanted to try Cali-Dama?

[Smoke]

Glenn is selling on ebay, Large flat rate box. Thats a picture of Glenn in the beard at the head of his new sifting machine I posted here a while back.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CALIDAMA-BONSAI-SOIL-/111405785510?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f04d61a6

 

[berobinson82]

If you've used it, can someone describe how it performs?

Thank you, kindly.

B

 

[Smoke]

If you've used it, can someone describe how it performs?

Thank you, kindly.

B

Still not akadama, but 100 times better than kitty litter or turface. I would say on par with haydite.

 

[berobinson82]

Still not akadama, but 100 times better than kitty litter or turface. I would say on par with haydite.

Thanks, sir. What place would it have if one was using akadama, pumice and lava? Admittedly, my akadama percentage is low due to location and a mortgage.

 

[JudyB]

Thanks for posting it, I can't tell from the ebay listing how much the offer is for. Odd. But large flat rate box, is that more or less than a bag of Akadama?
As long as I can get my hands on Akadama, I'm never looking back, but if it becomes scarce....

I didn't like haydite all that much btw... My leaf health/tree growth rate is so much better in APL.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I've ordered a box now.. I can't wait to sink my roots into it.

 

[ABCarve]

Seems a bit pricy for something that's not imported.

 

[mcpesq817]

Seems a bit pricy for something that's not imported.

I think the price includes shipping.

 

[coh]

Price is basically what people charge for large flat rate boxes of pumice, lava, etc. And I believe those boxes hold about 3 gallons (maybe 3.5).

I wouldn't pay that much for something that I've never used or known of being used (outside of a few in California). If he was offering an "introductory price" I might give it a try but I can get akadama much cheaper than that locally, for now at least.

 

[Alain]

For this kind of price you've got 3.5 gallons of 1/4th" lava rocks, and for more than 10$ less 3.5 gal of pumice or bonsai block at bonsaijack.com

And the shipping is included there too.

However we can't see the volume on the e-bay posting...

 

[dick benbow]

the value i saw in it, was it's weight. I had several heavy cascades, and it's weight stabilized the cascade pots so they didn't have a tendency to tip. Trees were cedars and had fairly large bases. trees did all right in it as a medium.

 

[evmibo]

For this kind of price you've got 3.5 gallons of 1/4th" lava rocks, and for more than 10$ less 3.5 gal of pumice or bonsai block at bonsaijack.com

And the shipping is included there too.

However we can't see the volume on the e-bay posting...

Fwiw..

Large flat rate box (inside) dimensions are 12" x 12" x 5.5" = 3.428 Gallons.. I'm assuming they will pack that pretty tight... Furthermore, the size of particles seem to be pretty inconsistent. A dime has 0.705" diameter, so from the looks you'll have a couple 3/4" pieces at the largest end of the spectrum and probably some smaller 3/16" particles.

 

[JudyB]

I do think it's great that someone is working a substitute for Akadama. One day it will end and then we will all be glad for it. I'm sure that costs to do this as a small operation are pretty stiff, so it is understandable that it's not going to be cheap.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I wonder how this stuff compares to the Bonsai Block that BonsaiJack.com sells. The block is supposed to be calcined clay like turface but larger particle size. Is it safe to assume that Calidama is fired to a lower temperature? Maybe just flash fired like akadama.

 

[coh]

I need to correct my original post. The typical prices I've seen for large flat rate boxes of pumice are more like $28 or $29 (see Wee Tree for example), NOT $38. So yes, this stuff is very expensive. I can buy a 14 L bag of akadama (a little under 4 gal) locally for about $30. So yes, if someday I can no longer get reasonably priced akadama, then I would consider trying something like calidama. Not now, though.

 

[Alain]

Fwiw..

Large flat rate box (inside) dimensions are 12" x 12" x 5.5" = 3.428 Gallons.. I'm assuming they will pack that pretty tight... Furthermore, the size of particles seem to be pretty inconsistent. A dime has 0.705" diameter, so from the looks you'll have a couple 3/4" pieces at the largest end of the spectrum and probably some smaller 3/16" particles.

FWIW?...what does that mean?

Otherwise what you say regarding the particle's sizes is referring to bonsaijack or the e-bay announcement?

 

[coh]

FWIW = for what it's worth

 

[Eric Schrader]

There were people selling akadama 14L bags at the REBS show for $28, and Darren Wong (azalea importer and seller) was selling Clay King pre-mixed Japanese soil which is pretty much straight out of the bag perfect for $39 per 14L bag. Both products are imported and proven great for growing bonsai.

 

[Atrox]

Not for me

If it aint imported or at least expensive I aint buyin' it!

 

[QuintinBonsai]

If it aint imported or at least expensive I aint buyin' it!

Hard to tell if that was a sarcastic, or a serious response.