100% diatomite for soil?

[milehigh_7]

Optisorb about 4 hours after watering vs. Dry from the bag. Now what is awesome about DE is (if it is sifted) is the water soaks into the particle and the space between is damp but no water very aerated but cool and humid just what you want.

 

[Shima]

I do not use any soil... I do not know what you are growing but all of our plants do just fine in pumice.

Grimmy

Yep. Me too. Simple.

 

[milehigh_7]

Can't get pumice cost effectively here

 

[GrimLore]

Yep. Me too. Simple.

Funny since I posted that I started using a Organic Nursery type mix I make myself. Plants do just fine in it and require a lot less maintenance. It drains very good here and looking at it over a couple of years I am certain I have better roots now and more robust growth.

Not certain why as I spent a lot of time on everything when inorganic

Can't get pumice cost effectively here

Your mix the plants came in seems to be fine. I will most likely just repot 1 or 2 of the 12 this season giving them a little more space.

Grimmy

 

[milehigh_7]

Half DE half sifted bagged cactus mix (mostly lava small amount of composed bark).

 

[milehigh_7]

I just wanted you all to see what DE did at the bottom of a pot at 115F after 4 hours.

 

[M. Frary]

I just wanted you all to see what DE did at the bottom of a pot at 115F after 4 hours.

You're preaching to the choir here.
I know all about how good this stuff is.
I don't get to try it out at 115 degrees though.
Thank God.

 

[milehigh_7]

Who else can post the extreme conditions?

 

[Shima]

I started using a Organic Nursery type mix I make myself.

Could you reveal what's in it? PM if you'd rather.

 

[GrimLore]

Could you reveal what's in it? PM if you'd rather.

I have been using 1/3 each of Fafard Topsoil(pure black compost very fine ground), Course Silica sand(any brand, I have Quikrete this year), and Horticultural Perlite. If it is a acidic loving plant I add a generous amount of Canadian sphagnum peat moss. Either combination drains the same as ANY inorganic I have tried and allows great root growth. For much larger potting I also add Pine bark mulch instead of the Canadian sphagnum - in 12 to 15 gallon pots it drains far better

Grimmy

 

[Shima]

Thanks Grimmy. That's a radical change. I don't see how it can drain as well as pumice with all the fines but I'll bet you don't have to water as much. Wouldn't mind that at all.