Zeolite as main substrate component

[FinnLakk]

I'm looking to see if anyone has been using zeolite as their main substrate component for a good few seasons at least. And what their findings are with it?

I have a couple trees planted in it as of this season's Spring and will be reporting back here when next spring rolls around. A lot of my trees are early in development so it would be nice to here from those with older refined trees planted in the stuff.


Cheers, Finn

 

[Rivian]

Over here its brighter and more expensive than pumice.
What does it cost where youre at?

 

[FinnLakk]

Over here its brighter and more expensive than pumice.
What does it cost where youre at?

Depends on the quantity as cheap as £1 a litre at regular quantities, cheaper if you go wholesale.

Puts it at half the price I can get akadama at and around the same as pumice.

That's for "horticultural grade" as far as I can tell it seems the stuff used for aquariums has been bleached or some sort of process to make it more "attractive".


I have not had good experience with "akadama", having it breakdown before the first frost even comes.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

The few reports I have seen recommend it as a replacement for akadama in mixes with pumice and lava. But just not a lot seems to have been done with it due to limited availability in the US.

 

[FinnLakk]

The few reports I have seen recommend it as a replacement for akadama in mixes with pumice and lava. But just not a lot seems to have been done with it due to limited availability in the US.

This is what makes me so interested in it. Similar structure, comparable CEC rates, neutral pH so easily amended with lava/kanuma etc.

The decline in quality akadama, or at least the uptick in the sale of poor quality akadama has put me off paying a premium for something that may or may not be the quality product I'm after.

It is already quite widely used in the green keeping side of the horticulture industry(at least in Europe), albeit at a granular size of 0.5-1mm, but for the same reasons it would be beneficial for us.

What I am having an issue with is finding it at the right size. As most of its applications are as a soil amendment or top dressing most suppliers only stock it up to 3mm in size, however special orders can be made and back stock is available from some.

I would imagine you could get your hands on it over there it's just finding it. I have had to use entirely different companies/suppliers as I typically would when looking for substrate.

 

[Rivian]

I thought zeolites CEC was higher.
Do you own mature trees?

 

[FinnLakk]

I thought zeolites CEC was higher.

Yes, dont have the numbers in front of me "comparable" was used to mean "it's definitely not worse"

mature trees?

Yea and no, I have 3 deciduous azalea ~40yo that were collected this season, and a few older trees that will be collected this winter, if I have the time.

However it won't be til 2024 likely they get potted on, currently in a molar clay and peat free compost mix. Not ideal but far better than the ground they came out of.

The majority of trees I have is relatively young nursery stock as the bonsai trade is nonexistent up here, if I want an old tree I need to go dig it up and I have very little free time

 

[Pinenut]

I have a local source for ZEOLITE at the cost of $1.00 per pound (25Ib. bags) with FREE SHIPPING.
This is almost the same as the Canadian stuff called "Chabasai" (see attached spec sheet)
The problem with this zeolite is the size which is described as "course sand", not the perfect size for bonsai I know but
does anybody think this stuff could work???

 

[FinnLakk]

I have a local source for ZEOLITE at the cost of $1.00 per pound (25Ib. bags) with FREE SHIPPING.
This is almost the same as the Canadian stuff called "Chabasai" (see attached spec sheet)
The problem with this zeolite is the size which is described as "course sand", not the perfect size for bonsai I know but
does anybody think this stuff could work???

I would be inclined to use that as an ingredient in a cutting/seedling mix, it will be far too small to use as main component in bonsai soil. Your looking for an aggregate size of 4-7mm.

 

[minkes]

I used zeolite alone, but it is too heavy so now I am mixing it with perlite and pine bark. I have quite cheap source here. It costs me about 8€ per 25kg bag (I am from Slovakia). It comes in fractions from 1mm, 3mm, 7mm and about 15mm. My experience is it is very good substitute for acadama, but on my indoor trees it is getting mold on top of container - I do not know why, so I'll need to deal with it somehow. I always do top dressing with spagnum moss for retain better moisture in summer. This autumn I collected some local moss similar to spagnum from Aliexpress I used. So I will see how it will work and maybe I save some money also with moss. Its quite expensive hobby, when I count all year spending on substrate, tools, wires, some trees, etc.. ..so saving some money is good . My Ficus trees love to go with pure zeolite with very good results.

 

[ralfish]

Ive been using zeolite for a couple of years along with DE. Initially the zeolite I found was not the ideal size as it was about the same as a coarse sand and was used by an artificial turf installer. Regardless it was all about the CEC I was after so I used it and like the results I was getting. However, in the mean time Ive found another supplier of a specific zeolite called clinoptilolite (which is chabusai) locally to me in Vancouver BC as a traction aid on ice (of all things) and its perfectly sized for my intended use. Its about 3/16-1/4" with very few fines and consistent sizing. Its even available in bulk totes but for now I'll just stick with the 20 kg bags. The specific product is called" Eco traction Pro "available at the local industrial supplier. (Grainger) for around $36/20 kg. Not cheap but at least I can go pick it up and its available for now. Theres a myth that zeolite isnt available in the US when in fact it is. Its a widely used mineral and gets used in everything from water filtration, agriculture, animal feed, health products, playing fields etc. Theres stuff available in Quebec that is being brought in from Europe as a specialty Bonsai growing medium(as an akadama replacement) but shipping to BC is rather dear. Ironically there is a zeolite mine near Princeton BC but the clinoptilolite Im buying comes from the US. Its on P 806 in the on-line Grainger catalogue. So now I can get to the business of actually running trials comparing DE and clinoptilolite, though I'll likely just pot trees up using it where ever I would be using akadama instead. The one thing that is different right off the bat is that this stuff is green, and it doesnt break down with frost action and doesnt turn into mud. If you arent sure what is in your industrially sourced stuff take a gander at the MSDS sheets that are usually available on-line from the supplier. Often suppliers go through considerable expense getting their product tested to confirm exactly what they have for industrial scale buyers and sometimes they post that info on their websites too.

 

[minkes]

Few weeks ago I potted this new yamadori Lonicera in zeolite / perlite mix.

 

[Darth Masiah]

is this a good deal?

Zeolite: The Wonder Bonsai Soil to Improve Tree & Root Growth - Medium 3-5+mm 18 lbs

bonsai soil, soil, aggregate, soil aggregate, zeolite, wonder bonsai soil, mineral rich, mineral bonsai soil, mineral rich bonsai soil, bonsai minerals, bonsai secret, bonsai soil addon, bonsai soil add on

houseofbonsai.com

i thinking about adding to a lava/pumice mix.