New better Product on the market to replace Akadama

[Colorado]

You guys can debate sakadama or whatever while I’ll be enjoying my stockpile of double red line Akadama

Hey now, didn’t your momma teach ya not to bring goodies to class unless you have enough to share with everyone?

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Hey now, didn’t your momma teach ya not to bring goodies to class unless you have enough to share with everyone?

Stable supply is the issue with imported "dirt". Thankfully pumice is quarried in the USA. Periodically my local suppliers of Akadama and Kanuma run out. Importing from SA is not an ideal solution, but finding alternatives, and learning how to use them is key to sustainable sourcing for bonsai media.

In the past, I've used several different mixes, depending on availability. I keep ingredients on hand for several versions of bonsai media.

 

[Shogun610]

Stable supply is the issue with imported "dirt". Thankfully pumice is quarried in the USA. Periodically my local suppliers of Akadama and Kanuma run out. Importing from SA is not an ideal solution, but finding alternatives, and learning how to use them is key to sustainable sourcing for bonsai media.

In the past, I've used several different mixes, depending on availability. I keep ingredients on hand for several versions of bonsai media.

That’s what I do , I don’t replace Akadama. I use US Pumice and US Black Lava. Hell I’ve even see versions of Kanuma and Lava for non azaelea

 

[Maiden69]

@Leo in N E Illinois I was watching a video from Bjorn and he said he used to get pumice from dirt cheap, like $5 a gallon or something stupid low like that. I guess that's in areas that have quarries around. We have plenty of quarries here but for rock, no pumice. I am buying it from Jonas, so far its the most cost effective I have found. There is one place online that was close to his price, but from the feedback I read you have to sift to size, which means buying a lot more than needed. I lost the bookmark for that place... found it one day at work and all my bookmarks got lost in an update they did.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Pumice is quarried in New Mexico, you're in Texas, not that far away, you should be able to get pumice cheap. Hit the marijuana grower supply shops.

Worst case, perlite is a fairly good substitute for pumice. Perlite is light and floats, but with a layer of long fiber moss to hold it down perlite works well.

A group from Milwaukee Bonsai Soc went in on a 5 pallet load of pumice, that is how I got mine. I still have a year or two worth left.

Bonsai clubs are great for networking and sourcing locally supplies

 

[badatusernames]

In a recent video Bjorn talks about getting a bunch of pots from Willow, rumor confirmed

 

[Sakadama]

I have not been active on this thread for a while, since I figured better first have this product in home. Now I do!!!
Sakadama is in Holland, coming to Europe and I am proud to be able to co-facilitate this. The samples are in and ready to go.

 

[hinmo24t]

I have not been active on this thread for a while, since I figured better first have this product in home. Now I do!!!
Sakadama is in Holland, coming to Europe and I am proud to be able to co-facilitate this. The samples are in and ready to go.

rad!!

 

[roberthu]

I have not been active on this thread for a while, since I figured better first have this product in home. Now I do!!!
Sakadama is in Holland, coming to Europe and I am proud to be able to co-facilitate this. The samples are in and ready to go.

Any word on when it’s going to be available in the US?

 

[Farwest]

Any word on when it’s going to be available in the US?

SAkadama Bonsai Soil Substrate - South African Akadama

SAkadama Bonsai Growing SubstrateSakadama is a product developed and manufactured in South Africa. Developed to be a lower cost alternative to Akadama, it now has the added benefit of being more readily available. It is mined, crushed, sieved and then heated to 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. The...

www.superflybonsai.com

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Just for those folks that want to try “something different” and to pay exactly what I just paid for my last load of small grain akadama!



Cheers
DSD sends

 

[caffeinated]

Just for those folks that want to try “something different” and to pay exactly what I just paid for my last load of small grain akadama!



Cheers
DSD sends

isn't this generally how people, artists, crafters and societies learn? Successes and failures, trying something different?

 

[Enfield Snapper]

Just for those folks that want to try “something different” and to pay exactly what I just paid for my last load of small grain akadama!

Did you get a comparable amount? I don't know how much a bag of akadama weighs or how many liters you get out of one of these bags.

 

[caffeinated]

Just ordered a bag from Superfly. I'll let you know what my non professional, anecdotal tree response is in a couple years... just hang tight

 

[R3x]

I think whoever creates the next best thing to akadama and can cut the price down will be well off.

Well I use something I am even more satisfied with than Akadama. It's called Zeolite. Great cation exchange rate. Great water retention. Doesn't break up with time. Unbeatable price. The only downside is weight.

 

[roberthu]

SAkadama Bonsai Soil Substrate - South African Akadama

SAkadama Bonsai Growing SubstrateSakadama is a product developed and manufactured in South Africa. Developed to be a lower cost alternative to Akadama, it now has the added benefit of being more readily available. It is mined, crushed, sieved and then heated to 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. The...

www.superflybonsai.com

Thank you! The price isn’t much better than akadama actually… hope they have a sale soon…

 

[Lorax7]

At its current price point, there’s zero chance of me even bothering to try it unless supply chain issues get so bad that I cannot source akadama.

 

[Rowbow]

Is anyone in the UK stocking it yet

 

[HorseloverFat]

I'm leery... The product seems realistic, but....

What mines do you think they are using.

Think about it.

I would think twice.. or request more information before supporting a South African Mining company, but that's ME.

Could be entirely legit..

There's a BUNCH of legitimate, ethically-run mining operations in Africa, right?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

isn't this generally how people, artists, crafters and societies learn? Successes and failures, trying something different?

Yep it is.

That would be great as a side by side comparison over time with four to six similar sized trees in similar sized containers.

I actually wash/heat/sift and reuse the my media and find 1/3 to 1/2 of the akadama remains useable of size, So that should factor in. Is this product of the same durability as akadama over time?

Here’s images of media recovered from a big California Juniper tree that had been in the pot for 4 years. I just finished heating the lot. Yesterday I blended it into a 3:1:1 media for our new Mtn Hemlocks.




Factually Sakadama lists as 14L bags and Akadama is shipped in 13 L bags. So 3.21 vs 3.53 a liter. Yet I’m not excited as the shipping for me, which should be similar to you, was 37.00 from PA vs the 21.90/bag from CA (UPS vs USPS I’m guessing as all my akadama & Kanuma comes via USPS ). This more then makes up the difference in volume.

Looking forward to seeing the results in 3-4 years.

cheers
DSD sends