Soil Alternatives-Post them up

[M. Frary]

I should have qualified for bonsai pots. Grow pots I have no problem with

I use it in everything.
Bonsai pots,colanders and nursery buckets.
It works great for me. For trees that suck more water I use more 8822.
I have the mix down for all of my trees so I only need to water once per day.

 

[Anthony]

@M. Frary

Mike,

much thanks, you have convinced us to continue the work to create
4 mm or so spheres of fired clay.

Why ------- because I am seeing folk saying this or that, ingredient is gone.
So before it happens here, we will fix it.

Didn't realise that red lava or simple silica based gravel could disappear.
[ what do you guys use a source for concrete ?]
Amazing.
Thanks again.
Merry Christmas
Anthony

 

[drew33998]

@M. Frary

Mike,

much thanks, you have convinced us to continue the work to create
4 mm or so spheres of fired clay.

Why ------- because I am seeing folk saying this or that, ingredient is gone.
So before it happens here, we will fix it.

Didn't realise that red lava or simple silica based gravel could disappear.
[ what do you guys use a source for concrete ?]
Amazing.
Thanks again.
Merry Christmas
Anthony

I have checked with my local concrete yard for lightweight aggregate. They carry it from time to time they said. Id like to know what they use. I didnt push hard enough to find out. But that may be an alternative for some of us. Check your local concrete manufacturers, as in ready mix, for lightwieght aggregate.
Most of the standard rocks in our concrere are much too large. 3/8-1/2"

 

[drew33998]

I use a product called Dry Stall. It is 100% pumice. I got a couple of bags at a local Agway a couple of years ago for about $17 a bag. The only real down side is the particle size is a little small. It needs to be sifted but fines were only about 10-15% of the bag. I have used it with ~15% fir bark for my pines. It works great.

I cant seem to find it here locally. Their website seems pretty old and outdated too

 

[milehigh_7]

Back in South Africa when I had my big aquarium, I used pool filter sand as substrate. But it was a while back and I've forgotten what the consistency of it was like. Is there anyone using it to plant their trees in?

That would likely be DE...

 

[drew33998]

I have been looking at turfaces warning track aggregates. Larger particles equals more air space?

 

[augustine]

We can no longer get Stall Dry here either. It was nice to have a local pumice source.

Last year we bought pumice in bulk from Jonas of Bonsai Tonight. It was great material and clean as a whistle. It didn't even have to be sifted.

 

[GrimLore]

Permatill is too coarse. I stopped using it years ago. Nice material, but grains aren't small enough.

I have been using it for a drainage layer for several years, nice and heavy, prevents a lot of tipping over on the larger stuff. I also stops most any bug from getting into the pots from the bottom. Con is if you use it a lot gloves are needed, it is much like crushed glass.

A buyer at the greenhouse also keeps and shows horses and I had her on the lookout for a while but to no avail...

Here it was available locally for many years at any Agri store for Equine. The East coast distribution of it stopped for reasons unknown perhaps 4 years ago - places like Agway would have to ship it from the other side of the country now.

Grimmy

 

[theone420]

just found Dry Stall localish. about 40 minute drive(in Southern California that local) the distributor is about 2 hours away but I spoke to her and she told me she ships all over California but didn't mention any other states.

You can contact her and she was willing to help me find a local distributor but she wasn't in the office at the time so I searched my self and found it.

But for those of you on the east coast you might be able to get some info on whether they still sell anything out your way. here is the # http://www.drystall.com/dealers.html

 

[River's Edge]

A good source of granite grit is Target Industrial Supply, they have #2 and #3 granite grit, PH neutral. Used in the well drilling industry. I believe it is sourced in Texas. 50 lb bag. Brownish / red . Good sizes for Bonsai, rinse for dust.

 

[theone420]

found this Pumice product at a feed and seed store and it is 40lb bag of pumice for $15 the guy said it was dry stall but the tag said different. But it is pumice so I grabbed 5 bags of it for my grow beds.
here is a store locator that will help find a store in California, Utah, Hawaii Arizona, and Nevada
http://ohkruse.com/storelocator.html
Here are some pics............

 

[milehigh_7]

found this Pumice product at a feed and seed store and it is 40lb bag of pumice for $15 the guy said it was dry stall but the tag said different. But it is pumice so I grabbed 5 bags of it for my grow beds.
here is a store locator that will help find a store in California, Utah, Hawaii Arizona, and Nevada
http://ohkruse.com/storelocator.html
Here are some pics............

SCORE!

There is a store right up the street! Have you had a chance to check out the screen size or % of fines?

 

[theone420]

SCORE!

There is a store right up the street! Have you had a chance to check out the screen size or % of fines?

it is all smaller than a 7mm or 1/4"
my guess from the small amount I tested is less than 15% will be smaller than 3.5mm or 1/8" and im sure the small stuff is still good for a number things.

so 5-6lbs of fines and about 35lbs of usable pumice