Did I hear right-Cat litter?
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
Ok just checked out some pet shops and cat litter. They had "regular" and silica gel. When i asked about the baked clay they gave me a funny look. In a nutshell, unscented regular either says sepiolite or bentonite. Unless both are bad for cacti, which one would you recommend i use? I could check out more pet stores but expect the result to be the same.
Ive seen people say they use bentonite for seedlings and lophophora/ariocarpus but no feedback on their end.
So far definetely no damolin moler clay.
Ive seen people say they use bentonite for seedlings and lophophora/ariocarpus but no feedback on their end.
So far definetely no damolin moler clay.
- ElieEstephane
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- Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
I'd research chemical composition of each of the 2 and if they don't have any limestone or anything like that i'd go ahead and buy any of them. Or buy the 2 and mix them.
Personnally, i'd look in home improvement or building supplies stores for cement additives or stone mulch. You can buy bulk at a cheaper price.
Personnally, i'd look in home improvement or building supplies stores for cement additives or stone mulch. You can buy bulk at a cheaper price.
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
Im in no rush, and will check out (but please explain) cement additives.Id have to carry it , and that will suck.
One had 80 % sepiolite and 20 % bentonite, the other didnt state.
One had 80 % sepiolite and 20 % bentonite, the other didnt state.
- ElieEstephane
- Posts: 2909
- Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
- Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
I meant cement aggregates. It's the coarse stuff you add to your cement mixture. Google them because photo uploading is down.
Sepiolite is good. Experimented on it as a catalyst support due to porosiry. Buy a small bag to test for moisture holding and how long it teakes to dry.
http://www.ima-europe.eu/sites/ima-euro ... B-2011.pdf
Bentonite has very similar structure to sepiolite. That's all i know. That's why i suggested mixing both. Each has its merits. But look first for cement aggregates.
Sepiolite is good. Experimented on it as a catalyst support due to porosiry. Buy a small bag to test for moisture holding and how long it teakes to dry.
http://www.ima-europe.eu/sites/ima-euro ... B-2011.pdf
Bentonite has very similar structure to sepiolite. That's all i know. That's why i suggested mixing both. Each has its merits. But look first for cement aggregates.
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
So i asked my grandfather about the cement aggregates. Turns out its just sand sifted by size(small is used for mortar ,coarse for concrete) and comes in two types-river bed and quartz(but i dont know where i could get a usable quantity yet). But i think i forgot to mention that the 30-40 % sand i used was used construction (mortar sand) with somewhat gritty pieces.
Might i also ask - ash and cinders from wood kindling? Any use for them?
Might i also ask - ash and cinders from wood kindling? Any use for them?
- ElieEstephane
- Posts: 2909
- Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
- Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
Sand holds too much water and wood ash is caustic, not to mention very fine and will block porosity. However, wood ash is a very effective slug and snail deterrant.
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
And thats why i mixed it with the perlite coir.
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
I would avoid sand altogether, particularly fine bricklaying sand for making mortar. Presumably aggregates will vary country to country, some will use crushed rock, whereas builders ballast used in the UK for making concrete is originally coarse river sand laid down in previous times with water rounded stones of various sizes in it according to which mesh size it was passed through.
I would stick to fine grit in preference to sand every time.
I would stick to fine grit in preference to sand every time.
- ElieEstephane
- Posts: 2909
- Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
- Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
Im always preaching against the use of sand but no one listens.
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
This not "fine sand " since you misunderstood . This looks very similar to what i use http://lafargehomedelivery.com/wp-conte ... lam-bc.jpg and this http://ubilio.com/wp-content/uploads/20 ... -10050.JPG
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
That sand contains some fine fraction too. For me it would be OK, I can use it in a mix with perlite and leaf mold for example. Because the air around my cacti is dry most of the year or they are not moisture sensitive. But you should always be aware about how fast your soil dries.stefan m. wrote:This not "fine sand " since you misunderstood . This looks very similar to what i use http://lafargehomedelivery.com/wp-conte ... lam-bc.jpg and this http://ubilio.com/wp-content/uploads/20 ... -10050.JPG
If your cacti mess in your job just forget about the job.
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
Oh it dries fast. Its very porous combined with the other stuff(perlite infused coir and other fibrous organic stuff). But its not mineral enough so ive pest problems.
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
Also lot of salts or something else deposits on the pots from mixes with cat litter. But apparently some species are more tolerant to this stuff than others.
Photo from today.If your cacti mess in your job just forget about the job.
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
- ElieEstephane
- Posts: 2909
- Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2016 12:10 am
- Location: Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
Beautiful spination! Are these 2 fused flowers?7george wrote:Also lot of salts or something else deposits on the pots from mixes with cat litter. But apparently some species are more tolerant to this stuff than others.
MAM_crm-20.JPG
Photo from today.
There are more cacti in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
One of the few cactus lovers in Lebanon (zone 11a)
Re: Did I hear right-Cat litter?
Question- Zeolite? i hear its non clumping and i think we have that?