I found this tip on the bonsai4me website. It promotes the use of kitty litter or NAPA oil absorber as a potting medium. It is made of fired clay or diatomaceous earth/diatomite almost exact to the make up of Akadama. It's cheap easy to find and does not break down as fast. You can read all about it at the following link-

http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm

One thing that I found is that the NAPA oil absorbent bag has changed it's look but still is the same product can be found by using the product number shown in the picture. In the Bronx it costs 11.25$ for a 25 lbs. bag!

I rinse it off and let it dry out before using it in or as soil. If you want to be real frugal you can save the run off as spray treatment for some pests. I have not done this but the article describes it in more detail.

I'm sure using this does not follow bonsai tradition, correctness,(or what have you) but if it wasn't for learning from tradition and adopting them to a modern world the Clash and the Ramones would have never made it out of choir practice and blood letting would still be common practice!

Thanks for reading:)
Anthony

Please use kitty litter. There have been dozens if not hundreds of threads on this topic across the boards. Please, if you can't tell the difference in plant performance, use these "frugal" alternatives and leave the akadama to folks who appreciate it. I believe that your ficus will do just fine in "kitty Litter", just keep your cats away from it .

John
(Yes, I used the turface, oil dry, etc, for a long time before I switched).

Anthony, being frugal is one thing...trying to substitute a tried and proven thing with something else and will be more costly in the long run. This has nothing to do with "correctness", being polite or what have you...its got a lot to do with akadama being the right ingredient in a soil mix...based on its composition

I ask you this...is there a substitute for the Clash and the Ramones ..... blood letting will come later when you get some advanced trees

I would suggest you try the following experiment...before advocating that article or material. Put some kitty litter into a glass.....fill the glass with water and see how long it takes to turn to mush.

Then do this experiment....this one I learned long ago as a mechanic that used oil dry. Make a small pool of oil on the floor, do the same with water. Sprinkle oil dry on top, you will find that the oil dry will absorb oil quickly and efficiently...it will however not absorb water the pool of water. Its not meant to as a eco-friendly product that absorbs pollutants. So with out any moisture absorption you're not benefiting your trees, you might as well be using Granigrit which is about 6.50 for the same weight. Also if you can't hold water...your soil component certainly won't hold micro-nutrients that permeate soil particles as water is absorbed and held by them.

There is a golden rule ... at least for me.....you don't skimp on life sustaining ingredients. The health of your tree is paramount. Also if you haven't tried akadama....you shouldn't knock it

I cant say with the Kitty litter, everything I found has some type of crystal or deodorizer in it. In the states the NAPA oil absorber is pure diatomaceous earth. Was the one you used diatomaceous earth? I don't think all oil dry is the same but NAPA is 100% diatomaceous earth. Placed in water it doesn't turn to mush. Actually I wet and froze it to see how it would hold. When it thawed there was no visible signs of breakdown. It certainly does hold water, a little over 1/2 it weight I believe. I prefer to use it as a component to a soil mix but had a ficus that lived in it by itself for 6 months or so before I gave it away as a gift. What is Grangrit? I googled it and the only thing that comes up is a Wet Processing Facility in Baldwin IL. I don't know what that means but it sound terrifying!

I chose to try it based on how much I like Harry Harringtons trees. And the fact that Erin Pottery works so closely with him was a plus too. I have a lemon tree and a chinese elm in it and both have been doing excellent. Just my experience though...

And to answer your question yes there are many substitutes for the Clash and the Ramones, anything the Rolling Stones did after 1977 for one. But after spending 17$ for an album or 125$ for a show in the nose bleeds of a stadium your left with a sad reminder that you can't relive your youth:(

Anthony,
I have used NAPA's product, still have collected trees in it, sad but true. As I said, please use it.

Cheers,
John

Over here we cannot Get turface, pumice, and until recently Akadama either. Now we can get akadama, but it is real expensive
I have just taken delivery of some to try it out and compare to other soils so will know in a year or 2 whether it is worth it.

Only one brand of kitty litter here on OZ is Diatomite, but is quite soft and turns to mush after a year or 2.

I have been using for the last 2 years, Diatomite mined in Queensland, and mixed with Zeolite. The mine company, has gone bust, but we found an alternative supplier and should get some in the next week or so :-)
This Diatomite will absorb it own weight in water readily, unlike the oil dry you mention. and will hold onto water it longer in our heat than a commercial Bonsai potting mix.
If it does dry out, will re wet readily too

Ken

Skimp on material, if that's all you can afford, but use the savings to buy decent soil, otherwise buy some scratch off lottery tickets.

keep it green,
Harry

Although it can be used alone I'm advocating as one component in a mix. The other two ingrediants in MY mix will be pine bark and sharp Black sand. I'll see how that works soon enough!

kcpoole wrote:I have just taken delivery of some to try it out and compare to other soils so will know in a year or 2 whether it is worth it.
Only one brand of kitty litter here on OZ is Diatomite, but is quite soft and turns to mush after a year or 2.

I have been using for the last 2 years, Diatomite mined in Queensland, and mixed with Zeolite. The mine company, has gone bust, but we found an alternative supplier and should get some in the next week or so :-)
This Diatomite will absorb it own weight in water readily, unlike the oil dry you mention. and will hold onto water it longer in our heat than a commercial Bonsai potting mix.
If it does dry out, will re wet readily too

Ken

I have been using Korean expanded clay for 2 years and Diatomite for longer. I have reused both many times over. The company that mines diatomite (Maidenwell) has not gone bust and the product doesn't go to mush, I would suggest you remove the fines out of it prior to using it, thats the mush you refer to, i believe. The diatomite has proven to create better root systems then the expanded clay as well as making repotting a pleasure. It is sensational for cuttings (especially very large ones).
Please make sure of your facts before publicly stating a company has gone bust Ken as that can be very harmful to business in an already difficult business environment.
Regards,
Peter

PeterW wrote:

kcpoole wrote:I have just taken delivery of some to try it out and compare to other soils so will know in a year or 2 whether it is worth it.
Only one brand of kitty litter here on OZ is Diatomite, but is quite soft and turns to mush after a year or 2.

I have been using for the last 2 years, Diatomite mined in Queensland, and mixed with Zeolite. The mine company, has gone bust, but we found an alternative supplier and should get some in the next week or so :-)
This Diatomite will absorb it own weight in water readily, unlike the oil dry you mention. and will hold onto water it longer in our heat than a commercial Bonsai potting mix.
If it does dry out, will re wet readily too

Ken

I have been using Korean expanded clay for 2 years and Diatomite for longer. I have reused both many times over. The company that mines diatomite (Maidenwell) has not gone bust and the product doesn't go to mush, I would suggest you remove the fines out of it prior to using it, thats the mush you refer to, i believe. The diatomite has proven to create better root systems then the expanded clay as well as making repotting a pleasure. It is sensational for cuttings (especially very large ones).
Please make sure of your facts before publicly stating a company has gone bust Ken as that can be very harmful to business in an already difficult business environment.
Regards,
Peter

I had been told by every supplier in Sydney that Maidenwell had gone out, their Phones were disconnected, their website and Email were no longer online so I assumed they were no longer. I am happy to be corrected if you know any different. If you have their updated contact details then please send them to me by pm or post here, but their website is still not up so again assume they are still not trading.

I mentioned in my post that the only Diatomite based Kitty Litter turns to mush. Maidenwell stays hard and firm for many years. I have a Jar oif it soaking in water for over 2 years now, and is a firm as when I put it in there.
I agree it is an awesome product as a Bonsai compost. To confirm its performance compared to other soil products I am conducting several tests over an extended time with several trees species. See my post on Ausbonsai.com/forums if you are interested in these results.

What is the "Korean expanded clay" Is it availabale in Sydney?, if so where and how much

Thanks
Ken