Where did superfly get Haydite from?
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rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Jesus. No they're not, but for crying out loud, this stuff is pretty much the same as the idiotic Holy Grail Superfly BS you see so obsessed with. IF you'd open your damn eyes, maybe you'd see what Superfly was selling wasn't the end all for this ingredient.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
They don't make expanded shale, they only distribute it.
I believe the only manufacturer of expanded shale in Texas is Arcosa Lightweight.
Now if you really want to go down the rabbit hole, Superfly Bonsai was located in Harrisburg, PA. Would they be bringing their expanded shale in from the Midwest? Possibly. But it is just as likely that they were using a supplier as close to home as possible, and the closest supplier of expanded shale to PA is Norlite - based in Albany, NY. They don't make Haydite... the name of their product is Norlite.
FWIW the expanded shale product that Superfly Bonsai sold was called "Superdite" which I have not seen anywhere else. They describe it as "Superdite - Expanded Shale - Black Haydite" and I leave it up to you all to decipher what that might mean.
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This makes sense. The Arcosa lightweight looks identical to the Nature's Creation bag.
But the Superfly looks completely different to me.
Interestingly, a company I contacted suggested it may be Northeast Solite / Northeast Hydrocure...
Of course...there are NO IMAGES of Solite on the internet...lmfao...
But there's one of Hydrocure...which does look extremely similar... At least more similar than Arcosa Expanded Shale...
Of course...there are NO IMAGES of Solite on the internet...lmfao...
But there's one of Hydrocure...which does look extremely similar... At least more similar than Arcosa Expanded Shale...
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Good Lord. 
Do you even know if Superfly was mixing his own soil or buying it already made?...Even so, there are dozens of alternatives that are just as good or better. That what you're after. I've used Superfly's soil. It was OK. From looking at it, my intuition is that he wasn't making his own. I can get better soil (with haydite, expanded shale) from a local bonsai nursery who gets it from a distributor...The source of that isn't really germane to me since I don't want to buy haydite in bulk and don't have a hundred trees.
Do you even know if Superfly was mixing his own soil or buying it already made?...Even so, there are dozens of alternatives that are just as good or better. That what you're after. I've used Superfly's soil. It was OK. From looking at it, my intuition is that he wasn't making his own. I can get better soil (with haydite, expanded shale) from a local bonsai nursery who gets it from a distributor...The source of that isn't really germane to me since I don't want to buy haydite in bulk and don't have a hundred trees.
RoadManDenDron
Chumono
I have to ask what EXACTLY is it about the superfly stuff you need for your mix?
in the UK we don't use haydite so I don't even know what properties it brings to the mix
in the UK we don't use haydite so I don't even know what properties it brings to the mix
I'm just looking for it without trying to get into yet another soil wars argument.
BillsBayou
Chumono
I'm still waiting for answers to my questions. However, if you want it from me, I can send you 1/2-cf (approx 3.5 gallons or 14 quarts) of "haydite" (expanded shale) for $55, shipping included anywhere in the continental USofA. The same goes for red lava, black lava, or red&black lava blended together. $55 gets you a box on your doorstep.
Here's my haydite:
1/8" to 1/4" in size. This photo shows the haydite rather clean. Haydite generates its own dust during shipping. It travelled a good ways before getting to me and was seriously dusty. Not photogenic. On my 4K monitor, these granules look enormous. But on my phone they're tiny. Go figure.
These are some larger particles I selected to crack open. Someone in the thread said it might be a good idea to show the media cracked open. I picked the largest to crack because the small ones get stuck in my teeth.
I may have chipped a couple teeth doing this. Instead of hearing one note when I whistle, I now whistle in chords. Part of the $55 might go to dental work. The chords need to be tuned.
I wanted to use a banana for scale, but I eated it.
This is what it looks like wet. So sexy. I used natural spring water for this photo. Tap would not do.
I'm running a sale. Buy 5 boxes for $550, and I'll send you 5 more boxes for free. That's 10 boxes for $550.00 What a deal!
My coffee tasted funny this morning. Then I woke up at work. My wife may have roofied me. Maybe it was me. I forget.
Thanks for the response!
Where is this from (if you don’t mind me asking)?
Is this actual Buildex Haydite? It may be the only pictures on the whole internet lol.
Unfortunately it doesn’t look like what superfly used. (To me.) I’m starting to think what they used wasn’t actually haydite at all. May be why they won’t respond to anyone asking about it.
FreshAirSunshine
Shohin
So who has a portable x-ray diffractometer, an IR and Raman spectrometer, a x-ray fluorimeter, and perhaps an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer for us to really find out what this whole haydite business is about.
FreshAirSunshine
Shohin
I forgot. Surface area and porosity matter. Better add on a nitrogen porosimeter for good measure.
LeftHandLuke
Mame
I need proof of who manufactured spectrometer before I can trust it.
FreshAirSunshine
Shohin
Imma guess Bruker, thermofisher, or Agilent.
One company I contacted actually told me to test the absorption of it. But I don’t know how to do that accurately. I’m sure my readings would be all over the place.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Wow! After reading this from beginning to end I have to wonder. How was I ever able to grow bonsai over decades without the use of this mysterious product. That is one rabbit hole I am glad I didn't go down.
BillsBayou
Chumono
Superfly got his from the northeast US. Buildex, I think, is Kansas. Every manufacturer gets their shale or clay from a pit behind their plants in several states. It's usually coal-fired in gigantic tumbling kilns. I've seen them roll. Impressive and noisy.
I used to get mine from a plant in Louisiana. The same company now uses their Alabama plant. There is a difference to me, but none of my regular customers have complained. Those people have 30+ years of bonsai experience. Each.
How long have you been in bonsai and where are you located? Both usually affect attitudes towards substrates.
Way off in the distance are the kilns.
Many sizes for many uses.
Here comes my haydite.
Very inefficient way to load a bag. I used to pay 1/5th the price when they would just dump it in my trailer. Bastards.
Me at home:
I used to get mine from a plant in Louisiana. The same company now uses their Alabama plant. There is a difference to me, but none of my regular customers have complained. Those people have 30+ years of bonsai experience. Each.
How long have you been in bonsai and where are you located? Both usually affect attitudes towards substrates.
Way off in the distance are the kilns.
Many sizes for many uses.
Here comes my haydite.
Very inefficient way to load a bag. I used to pay 1/5th the price when they would just dump it in my trailer. Bastards.
Me at home:
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
When I was talking to the stalite/permatil guys, they used to load pickup trucks, but they broke a couple of axles and so no longer do this. To pick up bulk loads you need a weight-rated trailer or a dump truck.
P.S. Are you married? Was your wife involved in this unloading procedure?
Bob Hunter
Shohin
Just messaged Andy
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