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Tesco low dust cat litter
http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18054		 Page 3 of 7
Author:  Paul200 [ 06 Oct 2018, 10:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
daryl wrote:
Which Akadama have you been using, Paul? I was told that the kind with two red lines on the packaging is the best. Like this..
Image


Absolutely no idea Daryl! It was a few years ago now, my memory has always been rubbish and when I see that barrage of Japanese characters my brain shuts down! I suppose they could easily have been Chinese for all I know.

Where I live is at least 2 hours from civilisation (a good bonsai outlet!) but I do intend to go shopping before repot season. I'll look out for the red lines and maybe give Akadama another go - especially if the kitty litter is no longer available.
Author:  daryl [ 06 Oct 2018, 10:33 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
I think it's known as Two Red Line Akadama because none of us can read the symbols :lol: but the packet has the distinctive red lines on it*. You can get it on line from various places - I can't remember where I got my bag from but a google search will find it for you. Before I knew this I bought a small bag of 'Shohin' Akadama from a local seller, just to use as top dressing for a show, and it turned to mush in a matter of weeks. Lesson learnt!


* Just hope that no cheapskate scoundrels decide to copy that or we will be scuppered!
Author:  Paul200 [ 06 Oct 2018, 11:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
daryl wrote:
I think it's known as Two Red Line Akadama because none of us can read the symbols :lol: but the packet has the distinctive red lines on it*. You can get it on line from various places - I can't remember where I got my bag from but a google search will find it for you. Before I knew this I bought a small bag of 'Shohin' Akadama from a local seller, just to use as top dressing for a show, and it turned to mush in a matter of weeks. Lesson learnt!


* Just hope that no cheapskate scoundrels decide to copy that or we will be scuppered!


Good and bad in everything I suppose. I should know better, I had a retail business and was forever banging on about people throwing their money away on rubbish to save a few quid!

Thanks for the recommendation Daryl and Gary. :201thumbup:
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 06 Oct 2018, 12:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
Paul the akadama can break down if it has been stored for some time. The cheap stuff that is advertised on some bidding sites, never tells you how long that they have had it lying around and the conditions that they have stored it. If we don't support the main bonsai nurseries then we will loose them, and their turn over of dry goods is much greater so it will be new stock.

Some years ago, I managed to get some extra hard akadama and I must say that that has lasted for years with little breakdown. So much so that I haven't had to use the few bags that I have stored away for emergencies.

I did several tests on kitty litter a few years ago and found that it holds too much water and I lost some trees with a mushie wet mess in the bottom of the containers. I have also tried it mixed with several things which does improve it, but would I use it for one of my good trees just to save a few quid after I have grown them for over 30 year?????......what do you think :132doh:
Author:  Paul200 [ 06 Oct 2018, 14:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
Hi Paul. I regularly bought mine from a bonsai nursery in Somerset. Not bought any online. Maybe I kept it too long? ::dunno: - but now that I'm able to give my trees a lot more attention I'm willing to give it a try again. The reason I started using CL wasn't to save money - it was more to do with the Akadama breaking down too quickly. Your test results are interesting and, I suppose, exactly what you'd expect, given what CL is intended to do, although I haven't noticed the wet mess (yet!).

I hear what you say about keeping the bonsai nurseries alive, I was in the same boat with my 'proper' tool shop, but I live about 100 miles away from the nearest to me so I don't think my contribution will count for much. I much prefer to deal directly than online though and I will make that journey soon - even though it involves crossing the border!
Author:  Gary Jones [ 06 Oct 2018, 15:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
Paul B [Swindon] wrote:
.... would I use it for one of my good trees just to save a few quid after I have grown them for over 30 year?????......what do you think :132doh:


This is often said by people (including Paul B) who have some good trees and years of experience. Worth at least considering this point of vue IMO. They've trodden the path before us.
Author:  KenE [ 06 Oct 2018, 20:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
Harry Harrington doesn't seem to have a problem with it and he's been using it for over 14 years on all his trees. He also adds chopped bark to actually increase water retention. I imagine that if a tree is sited in full sun that might be necessary. If in full shade it might hold water a bit longer - maybe too long.
I guess this is one of the great bonsai debates and will always separate the traditionalists from others.
I sometimes think that the very thing that cat litter is mainly used for is enough to put some people off, but it is also marketed as a soil conditioner which makes it sound much less controversial.
We all use what works for us on our own trees and should acknowledge that others will use a different method that works for them, - that diversity is all part of the joys of bonsai.
Author:  Loufada [ 08 Oct 2018, 16:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
Well said KenE. Although I will now move to more mineral soils this Spring, none of my trees ever died or seem to suffer from my earlier choices of soil. We all have our preferences and our opinions. The reason we are on this forum is to exchange those very opinions and learn, whilst still keeping our individualities.

Same goes with shapes of trees and styles of pots.
Author:  paulpash [ 09 Oct 2018, 19:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
You should do what all sensible folk would do, ie experiment with both and see which one yields the best results.
Author:  ConorDash [ 06 Nov 2018, 21:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter
As a big user of the tesco cat litter, I now have the worrying situation of looking elsewhere too.

I think Ill give that akadama a try, two red lines.
That or Kaizen No.2 or 1. I might try Kaizen and even sift out some of the larger bark pieces.
I personally prefer more drainage and having to water more frequently. The small particle size of the litter, seem to be doing my elms a wonder with their leaf size.
Something Bobby noticed and concluded upon seeing them (the elms were previously his... 2? years before).

https://www.kaizenbonsai.com/premium-bo ... -retention
Id try that for the small particles but remove as much bark as I could to get it draining more...

That or I am over doing it and wasting my time... thats very possible... very.
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