100% diatomite for soil?

[woodguy]

Also snakes won't cross it. Has the same effect on their skin as it does on the exoskeletons of insects. So it's got that going for it...

 

[michaelj]

The pictures have nothing else besides diatomite. The diatomite from Napa is light brown when dry. When it's wet, it shows all sorts of colors. I'm aware that the dust is dangerous to breath so I wash it first. Before I open each bag, I fill the bag with water. All the finer particles just pour out from the holes in the bag so there's no dust at all when I use it.

I keep my diatomite in a 32 gallon plastic trash can with screened holes at the bottom. When I replenish it, I water the heck out of the can, and the dust comes out the bottom as gray water. I collect that and use it to spray the foliage and the surface of trees that have ants and aphids. Then when I scoop the diatomite out of the can later to mix soils, there's almost no dust.

 

[aphid]

I keep my diatomite in a 32 gallon plastic trash can with screened holes at the bottom. When I replenish it, I water the heck out of the can, and the dust comes out the bottom as gray water. I collect that and use it to spray the foliage and the surface of trees that have ants and aphids. Then when I scoop the diatomite out of the can later to mix soils, there's almost no dust.

Besides washing off the dust, do you sieve it?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Final trivia... did you know diatomite (specifically diatomaceous earth) is what is used to absorb and stabilize nitro-glycerin in the manufacture of dynamite? It is this process that Nobel patented to make his $$$.

By the way, I'm a little slow, but I'm assuming this is where Nobel got the idea for the name...

diatomite > dynamite

 

[M. Frary]

By the way, I'm a little slow, but I'm assuming this is where Nobel got the idea for the name...

diatomite > dynamite

I believe that is correct. And the natural progression would be as J.J. Walker came up with DynOmite.

 

[michaelj]

Besides washing off the dust, do you sieve it?

I sometimes want uniform particle size, and when I do, I sift it even after I washed out the dust. Other times, I don't worry so much about particle size, and I'll mix DE with pumice without sifting.

 

[aphid]

I sometimes want uniform particle size, and when I do, I sift it even after I washed out the dust. Other times, I don't worry so much about particle size, and I'll mix DE with pumice without sifting.

What are the benefits of mixing it with pumice? I saw it sold at my local bonsai store. Where do you buy it?

 

[woodguy]

What are the benefits of mixing it with pumice? I saw it sold at my local bonsai store. Where do you buy it?

Napa auto parts.

 

[daygan]

Aphid, the guy here from China, I can't remember his name, uses it on all his trees. He says it keeps insects away and touts its use. He collects a lot of material and it works well for him. Do you have the surface of your plant in the picture covered with someting else like decomposed granite, it just looks the wrong color as diatomaceous earth is more whitish.

EDIT the head Nut beat me too it !


ed

Hey, Ed. I'm actually from Virginia but live in China and use diatomaceous earth for my trees. Were you referring to me?

I've had good success with using 100% diatomaceous earth for all of my trees so far.

In regards to the discussions about the colors, my DE is light tan-white when dry and has variations of brick-red and brown when wet. I'd take a photo except the only camera I have right now is a Nokia cell phone and it has no focus for close-range photography.

I presume that the variations in colors from product to product when wet is due to variations in mineral and metal consistencies (like iron) in the sources.

 

[aphid]

Napa auto parts.

I'm referring to pumice. Where do you buy it? Why do you use it with DE?

 

[aphid]

Hey, Ed. I'm actually from Virginia but live in China and use diatomaceous earth for my trees. Were you referring to me?

I've had good success with using 100% diatomaceous earth for all of my trees so far.

In regards to the discussions about the colors, my DE is light tan-white when dry and has variations of brick-red and brown when wet. I'd take a photo except the only camera I have right now is a Nokia cell phone and it has no focus for close-range photography.

I presume that the variations in colors from product to product when wet is due to variations in mineral and metal consistencies (like iron) in the sources.

Your DE looks smaller than mine. Do you sieve at all or just wash it with water to get rid of the dust?

 

[daygan]

Aphid, I personally don't sieve or sift out anything, even the dust, though it would probably be better if I did.

 

[michaelj]

I'm referring to pumice. Where do you buy it? Why do you use it with DE?

I buy the pumice at my local farm supply. It's readily available on the West Coast. I get about 50 lbs worth (roughly 2 cubic feet) for about $7. I use it with DE to mix up the soil texture and to reduce water retention. DE holds a lot of moisture. Pumice is also slightly cheaper than the DE, at least where I live.

 

[sikadelic]

Your DE looks smaller than mine.

Don't be too hard on yourself. A lot of guys feel that way...

 

[drew33998]

So I have been following this thread closely. I checked and the NAPA down the road from my house has the Floor Dry( which has diatomaceous earth in quotation beside the description), which I assume is what you guys are talking about. What have you guys used as an organic to add to your soil that would be easily available, preferably in bulk. Aged pine bark chips? For intensive purposes I have junipers, maples, boxwood, azalea, 2 year shimps(to be put in colanders), mature parsons juniper and an unsightly buckeye that budded out all its leaves around Christmas after loosing them in August(WTH?). I really would like to just have a "general" mix to use with all my trees. As for climate, very hot summers, lots of humidity and rain, dryer winters with the early spring/late winter having a good bit of rainfall.

 

[drew33998]

Found this at a semi local mulch distributor. Pine bark "fines" Thoughts?

 

[aphid]

So I have been following this thread closely. I checked and the NAPA down the road from my house has the Floor Dry( which has diatomaceous earth in quotation beside the description), which I assume is what you guys are talking about. What have you guys used as an organic to add to your soil that would be easily available, preferably in bulk. Aged pine bark chips? For intensive purposes I have junipers, maples, boxwood, azalea, 2 year shimps(to be put in colanders), mature parsons juniper and an unsightly buckeye that budded out all its leaves around Christmas after loosing them in August(WTH?). I really would like to just have a "general" mix to use with all my trees. As for climate, very hot summers, lots of humidity and rain, dryer winters with the early spring/late winter having a good bit of rainfall.

Make sure it's Napa part #8822. The last time I got these, I had to call the local Napa store and had them order them in for me. I'm going to buy 10 bags this year.

I'm repotting a couple of dozen plants this spring and will use it unsieved in all my colander-type containers. For bonsai containers, I will try to sieve. It's very dusty so you'll need to wash it first. Might be easier to sieve it first, but you MUST wear a mask. It's extremely dangerous to breath and causes lung cancer. After the initial wash, you don't have to worry about dust anymore. Don't throw away the water. Use it to water all your plants. When it dries up, it leaves a film of dust that kills aphids and stuff.

 

[sikadelic]

Found this at a semi local mulch distributor. Pine bark "fines" Thoughts?

That looks decent. I found small pine bark particles at Lowes that I like. The brand was Evergreen and labeled as Top Soil. It was about $3-4 and definitely has to be sifted. There is a lot of fine powder in the bag.

Pics are below. Sorry about the quality on the close up...using a tablet and the measuring tape is shiny.

 

[GrimLore]

Pine horse bedding is cheap and comes in 3 sizes. Also it is pure Pine with no dye.

Grimmy

 

[brewmeister83]

I buy the pumice at my local farm supply. It's readily available on the West Coast. I get about 50 lbs worth (roughly 2 cubic feet) for about $7. I use it with DE to mix up the soil texture and to reduce water retention. DE holds a lot of moisture. Pumice is also slightly cheaper than the DE, at least where I live.

Just discovered that Agway does carry Dry Stall (40# bag) on their website, so I think it's safe to assume you can order it at any of their stores. Might be a viable option for anyone living in the Northeast to get their hands on small granule pumice. I'm going to contact my local store this week to see about availability & pricing.