So what is this stuff?

BTW I wouldn't buy soil that is called 'ultimate bonsai soil"

Ultimate does not mean "the best", it actually means "the last" which means if you were to use that soil, this would be the last soil your tree ever sees, meaning it's probably going to kill the tree. My guess is that he gave it this name for liability purposes.
 
The characteristics that the seller states, i.e. that it absorbs up to 35% of weight in water, never decomposes, and is used in green roofs makes me think it is probably Rooflite or something similar. The seller says it is used on green roofs so it is basically one of the green roof growing mediums.

You can read about rooflite here:http://www.rooflitesoil.com/

If you dig around there are spec sheets for all of the different blends.

People buying Rooflite are usually buying an entire truckload at a time to cover the roof of a building. I could not find any info online about what was used at the particular locations the seller mentions. The main component in Rooflite is Hydrocks. I know some people say good things about Hydrocks and bonsai. Hydrocks is a fully calcined clay fired at over 2000°. Turface is only fired to 550°.

I have access to an enormous quantity of Rooflite Extensive that I am going to experiment with this spring on some bonsai. I'll be sure to report back.
 
MinnesotaKirk said:
The characteristics that the seller states, i.e. that it absorbs up to 35% of weight in water, never decomposes, and is used in green roofs makes me think it is probably Rooflite or something similar. The seller says it is used on green roofs so it is basically one of the green roof growing mediums.

You can read about rooflite here:http://www.rooflitesoil.com/

If you dig around there are spec sheets for all of the different blends.

People buying Rooflite are usually buying an entire truckload at a time to cover the roof of a building. I could not find any info online about what was used at the particular locations the seller mentions. The main component in Rooflite is Hydrocks. I know some people say good things about Hydrocks and bonsai. Hydrocks is a fully calcined clay fired at over 2000°. Turface is only fired to 550°.

I have access to an enormous quantity of Rooflite Extensive that I am going to experiment with this spring on some bonsai. I'll be sure to report back.
Click to expand...

Whoa, where'd you come from :) Thank you for your input on this. I tried to research that particular rooftop mentioned in the ad but seemingly it's not as exciting as the plants. I'm supremely interested in how this performs. And if you really do have access to a lot of it... Maybe I'll PM the rest ;)
 
buddhamonk said:
BTW I wouldn't buy soil that is called 'ultimate bonsai soil"

Ultimate does not mean "the best", it actually means "the last" which means if you were to use that soil, this would be the last soil your tree ever sees, meaning it's probably going to kill the tree. My guess is that he gave it this name for liability purposes.
Click to expand...

Wait. What? Is this serious? What's wrong with trying to find a new product. It reads like it could be great for bonsai. If I called akadama ULTIMATE SOIL would you still be closed to trying it out?

I recommend judging a book by its contents. Perhaps its not useful, but maybe it's that "holy grail" we hoped we had found before.

Only getting hands on will tell us.
 
This looks like Haydite to me...
 
The sifted crushed red earthenware brick, I use and have been using since 1983 or so is fired to 900 - 1050 deg.c , it lasts in soil and is also absorbent.
Good Day.
Anthony
 
Yeah, could be Haydite, which a calcined shale or it could be a calcined clay like hydrocks, kaolin, turface, etc. (Well, not turface since the seller indicated it is a fully calcined product and turface is only partly calcined.) I'm guessing it is a blend of different materials to give the proper characteristics desired in a green roof. it sounds like this seller may be a green roof installer who has a little left at the end of each installation season and sells it off as bonsai soil.

Haydite IS used in some green roof blends. If anyone is really curious you should just contact the seller and see if they know which green roof blend it is. Once you know that you can download an exact data sheet that will tell you everything you want to know.

Short of that, we're just guessing.
 
MinnesotaKirk said:
Yeah, could be Haydite, which a calcined shale or it could be a calcined clay like hydrocks, kaolin, turface, etc. (Well, not turface since the seller indicated it is a fully calcined product and turface is only partly calcined.) I'm guessing it is a blend of different materials to give the proper characteristics desired in a green roof. it sounds like this seller may be a green roof installer who has a little left at the end of each installation season and sells it off as bonsai soil.

Haydite IS used in some green roof blends. If anyone is really curious you should just contact the seller and see if they know which green roof blend it is. Once you know that you can download an exact data sheet that will tell you everything you want to know.

Short of that, we're just guessing.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by turface being only partially calcined? I use an different brand of Turface type product (Diamond Pro) and it's labeled as calcined. I thought calcination was something that either was or was not done, as in you can't kind of calcine something.
 
MinnesotaKirk said:
The characteristics that the seller states, i.e. that it absorbs up to 35% of weight in water, never decomposes, and is used in green roofs makes me think it is probably Rooflite or something similar. The seller says it is used on green roofs so it is basically one of the green roof growing mediums.

You can read about rooflite here:http://www.rooflitesoil.com/

If you dig around there are spec sheets for all of the different blends.

People buying Rooflite are usually buying an entire truckload at a time to cover the roof of a building. I could not find any info online about what was used at the particular locations the seller mentions. The main component in Rooflite is Hydrocks. I know some people say good things about Hydrocks and bonsai. Hydrocks is a fully calcined clay fired at over 2000°. Turface is only fired to 550°.

I have access to an enormous quantity of Rooflite Extensive that I am going to experiment with this spring on some bonsai. I'll be sure to report back.
Click to expand...



Minnesotakirk is 100% spot on. It is Hydrocks. I get it from a guy in the Green Roof business. I purchase about 2500-3000 lbs every spring for my bonsai nursery. When I am done with my repots, or close to being done, I share with some of my bonsai friends, customers, local orchid growers.... Then I usually sell off 300-400lbs of it on ebay to offset some of the cost.

I will send a free sample to anybody who wants one, as long as you pay the shipping of course. p.m. me if you are interested...

Heck, I will even send some to buddhamonk for free, and I will pay the shipping! One catch though. He has to give his honest review of the stuff here on bonsainut once he has had time to evaluate it.

And what's wrong with my "Award winning" White Pine? Is it not Award winning enough for you? Do you need proof? Why did you "lol"? I never said it won the koko-fu ten....:rolleyes: I could post a pic of the trophy I received for it. It's not a big trophy, mind you, but it is a trophy. Oh, and I received a $150 gift certificate with it too. Can't show you a pic of that because I used it....

-Troy
 
Dav4 said:
Is that white pine in FL? If so, how long have you been growing it there?
Click to expand...

Dav4, I sold this particular tree last year when I found out I was moving to N. Florida. The picture was taken in PA, where I used to live....

I do have a couple of white pine grafted onto JBP that I did move down with me, however. I have only been here a year, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. There are people that grow JBP successfully in the area and even a little farther south, so I am going to monitor the trees and see how they acclimate. They are budding profusely at the moment.....

If I notice that they are starting to decline, I have many bonsai friends back in PA that I am sure would love to take them off my hands.

-Troy
 
People (including myself, although this is my first season) are growing several JBP as far south as me. That being said, I'd think JWP grafted to JBP would be a different ball game. Good luck :)
 
I would really like to hang on to these guys, so I will be closely monitoring them..... Only time will tell if they get to stay in FL or have to go back to PA.
 
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