Does coarse perlite really look like this? Well I didn't see any mention of an open cell structure in that link. Even though the container may suit our artistic vision for a bonsai masterpiece, it is an alien environment insofar as … Not knowing very much about Hawaii soils, it's hard to say what you would need and whether any of these would perform that function better than the others. Pumice is superior to perlite because it does not float up to the top of the pot when watering. for $20.00 for 1 bag, 2 bags for $37.00, and 3 bags for $54.00, FREE SHIPPING for any number of bags ordered. The other thing is that pumice … Perlite does tend to float, but I find it mixes fairly well without incident if I soak it down first, along with the other ingredients to create a nice pre-moistened/pre-soaked medium that's drained off and mixed well before potting. Pumice – 16.7%. It comes in three grades. - Sublime Succulents. Here in northern California the price for pumice is approximately $8.00 for a 0.75 cubic foot bag. A lighter weight soft pumice will have a more open honeycomb structure that plant roots seem to adore. Actually, perlite holds quite a bit of water @ about 3/4 quart per gallon of perlite. Pumice / Perlite / Vermiculite - Formulated Bonsai Soil Mixes ... Pumice is a great ingredient for bonsai soil mixes. Pumice is often the aggregate choice for specialty potting soils (cactus, bonsai) because it provides great aeration and helps anchor roots. Dimensions Returns & refunds We will gladly assist with returns and exchanges of this product in accordance with our returns and exchanges policy. Pumice... 8 hrs.Both the bark and pumice looked "dry" to the eye very quickly. As long as the organic matter particle size is nottoo small,and the amendm… Thanks GW! This is an excellent mix for bonsai, except for aesthetic reasons you may wish to replace the perlite with other inorganic structural elements such as decomposed granite, turface, pumice, etc. Look for pumice graded to about 1/4", plus or minus 1/8". to loose all its moisture. It would be quite a challenge living there and having to constantly choose between what's available locally vs. the high cost of imported *anything*. I usually top off my outdoor potted plants with a layer of pure compost anyway, so that isn't a big issue for me. And it will hold its form. jefe, perlite is available in various forms but expanded perlite is used most often for horticultural applications. I'll just wait for the spring and hopefully will not overwater to death my trees until then. It ultimately depends on the plants themselves and the watering/fertilizing methods used. Read about vermiculite vs. perlite here. This is why it is so important to know where you are buying your pumice from, what the pumice nutrient content is, where it coming from (pumice from Oregon is very dense, brown, and very wet due to the rain fall, and does not have the mineral/vitamin content our product does.) If there's a high percentage of peat moss, you might as well buy regular potting mix (it's cheaper). 11:38. But as with all broken-down, airless clay-soils in Bonsai pots, drainage is poor, absorbance of water into dry akadama is poor, and the overall health of the tree as well as its vigor is greatly reduced. lava rocks. Although commonly used by bonsai enthusiasts ... PERLITE: Once very popular as a potting soil ingredient in commercial horticulture, perlite seems to have fallen out of favor and has been replaced by cheaper, nastier stuff like pine bark. Ina perfect world, the mineral fraction for use in the gritty mix wouldrange in size from about 1/10 - 5/32" (.100 - .156" orfrom about 2.5 - 4.0 mm) The bark fraction would be slightly largerto allow for some breakdown over the life of the planting ........from 1/8-1/4 is about ideal (.125 - .250" or about 3.25 - 6.25mm. BTW I noticed the horticulture tab/ page on your site stating that pumice is pH neutral. http://www.ofwolfinbargerinc.com/plantprices/list.nhtml. It is more durable than perlite; it adds more both in terms of aeration and water retention (and subsequent release) than does perlite. I always thought the bark fracture in the mix is the one that diffuses the moisture in time. Soil vs. Substrate. Pumice has been used to replace perlite, Here is a link that might be useful: University of Hawaii CES. How much to deliver a couple cubic yards to LA? When I walk past a pot now, that looks dry although I know I watered it recently, I know for certain there is moisture in there...Also very interesting is the steady rate the pumice released moisture. If I am wrong about this or anyone knows where to find Pumice on the Hawaiian islands please send info, thanks! Both are roughly 1/4 inch size. I would like to go buy some. So the price is more expensive. When I worked at a garden centre we would sell 30 bags or more of perlite to pumice. For me it works the same way...I use perlite for drainage and to keep certain pots light.In some I use both. Pumice is often the aggregate choice for specialty potting soils (cactus, bonsai) because it provides great aeration and helps anchor roots. We also sell in bulk and wholesale to nurseries like Altman's, Monrovia, Color Spot, etc. If pumice is hard to come by in Hawaii - which would surprise me, as I've been told by folks who have lived there that its not hard to find - try scoria. WOW gardengal,That is a very imformative article...Thanks! A Bonsai growing in broken-down Akadama won't aically die; it would be wrong of me to state this. We are fortunate to live close to wholesale bulk suppliers that have this product at very low prices if you pick it up. Is the locally available cinder material light and porous? D.I.Y. Also makes the water soak in faster. What surprizes me, is that the pumice takes up much more moisture than the bark, and holds onto it for much longer to. I would think there are some gardening people in HI who know about the local materials. Some bonsai soil mixes include organic compounds, like peat or bark. Having used pumice for 25 years we have found the perfect grade that we know works wonders with most commonly cultivated species used for bonsai. I would suggest that if you don't see plants growing in pure pumice in the wild, its a matter of available nutrients and has little to do with pumice as a substrate per se. The common ingredients in bonsai soil are akadama, pumice, lava rock, organic potting compost and fine gravel. Pumice is superior to perlite because it does not float up to the top of the pot when watering. It is up to you to decide for yourself:-). On unit by weight of it will absorb roughly the same amount of water. Wet, it weighs about 18 lbs for the same volume, so it holds more than 2-1/2 times it's weight in water. In soils, perlite promotes drainage and improves porosity. Also a nursery that wants a pallet to resell a bag or two at a time. One person’s soil composition for tropical trees may be too light or too heavy for a different hobbyist's tree. This time of year, rooting new cuttings is the hot topic. It is often used alone in growing bonsai, or in various mixes such as 70/30 pumice/peat or 50/50 pumice/peat. It adds additional air space, prevents matting, and helps to control moisture. I believe that perlite holds no nutrients at all. Growstone tends to be pretty alkaline so rinsing well before use is recommended. Vermiculite is a spongy material that is dark brown to golden brown in color. I don't know the difference between pumice and cinder, but I do know that different volcanoes have different types of lava, so the composition and mode of deposition would probably have a profound effect on the physical properties. I add 1 part pumice to 4 parts commercial potting soil for my potted palms. What would you do? What is perlite? Plantgirl_50 * Bre 2,855 views. Neither product provides any significant nutrient input on their own. It's heated and kind of popped like popcorn. I already spotted an insect screen, I will surely go through this step, since I plan to leave the trees in the new pots for at least 2 seasons and would like to avoid accumulation of sludge. The FLF's I have in Gritty do well outside ( high humidity) with only weekly, thorough, watering. 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