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Tesco low dust cat litter
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Author:  Penny Ann [ 03 Oct 2018, 21:25 ]
Post subject:  Tesco low dust cat litter

Just read on another Bonsai forum that Tesco has discontinued it's low dust cat litter? I have also read that pink sanicat is the best alternative, but it's more expensive. But you can buy something called HTS New safety tread industrial spillage absorber, 30l for £15.95 off eBay with free p&p, which is the same stuff as pink sanicat.

Author:  Gary Jones [ 03 Oct 2018, 22:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter

They're also different sizes. Tesco LDCL is finer and suits smaller trees, sanicat is larger and suits larger trees and/or trees in development. Personally I'm not so keen on cat litter any more as I think it holds too much water and lacks the root penetrability properties of Akadama, although of course you can grow trees in it. I've tended to go for molar when I'm trying to save money on Akadama.

Author:  Penny Ann [ 03 Oct 2018, 22:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter

So what's the difference between molar clay and cat litter? I Googled Sanicat and it says it's molar clay.

Author:  Gary Jones [ 03 Oct 2018, 23:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter

I think CL is molar clay manufactured to meet a specific requirement (cats toilet habits!). It seems to hold more water than straight molar (perhaps it's fired differently in some way). Additionally it may have additives such as perfumes, deodorisers or even antibacterial stuff added. As Bonsai folk we limit ourselves to the two brands mentioned for fear of the additives in other brands which have been known to kill trees from time to time. Even with the "safe" brands the water levels can, if not carefully managed, reduce the oxygen levels reaching the roots leading to poorer growth and in worst cases root rot. Of course many folk have successfully grown their trees in CL and will tell you so. It's not a bad substrate, it's just not as good as some of the others out there. You don't see the top professionals tree's in CL to my knowledge. I prefer Akadama as it seems to get the best results (stronger and finer growth) but mix it with Molar when I'm saving money.

Author:  darreng [ 04 Oct 2018, 09:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter

Molar clay sold as cat litter does have a perfume added which makes no difference to trees and disappears very quickly.

The reason only the two brands of molar clay cat litter are recommended for use by bonsai enthusiasts is because they are the only two brands of cat litter available in this country that are molar clay.

Molar clay is a particular type of diatomaceous earth that contains an amount of clay, it is calcined (heat treated at a lower temperature than what we might call 'fired') such that, unlike clay, or diatomaceous earth, it doesn't break down.

Author:  BobbyLane [ 04 Oct 2018, 10:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter

Gary Jones wrote:
They're also different sizes. Tesco LDCL is finer and suits smaller trees, sanicat is larger and suits larger trees and/or trees in development. Personally I'm not so keen on cat litter any more as I think it holds too much water and lacks the root penetrability properties of Akadama, although of course you can grow trees in it. I've tended to go for molar when I'm trying to save money on Akadama.


Didnt most of your trees suffer this summer Gary, maybe they would of done better in the sanicat. personally ive found the opposite in my micro climate, i add some organics to my CL otherwise i find it dries out extremely quickly, especially in a bonsai pot. since a lot of mine are in training bowls, i dont have to add as much organics now.

ps
ive never tried the tesco stuff before

Author:  john blanchard [ 04 Oct 2018, 11:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter

The Tesco cl holds a lot of water especially in winter when transpiration slows down.

Author:  Red Dog [ 04 Oct 2018, 13:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter

I too use Sanicat mixed with Akadama. I have found that Akadama breaks down into a crumble quicker than Sanicat which seems to hold it structure for longer. Whenever I buy a fresh bag of Sanicat, I empty it into some very large pond baskets and flush it through with a hose, this gets rid of any dust and the perfume smell dissappears.

Author:  john blanchard [ 04 Oct 2018, 13:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter

I've just bought some pumice that I'm gonna try with sanicat. For me I've only used akadama as a top dressing, or lately I used it to revive a hawthorn to see if it's as magic as people say. The hawthorn is doing really well but akadamas short life and high price makes it prohibitive.

Author:  Loufada [ 04 Oct 2018, 16:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Tesco low dust cat litter

If a common recommendation is to mix Akadama, Lava Rock, Pumice and possibly Veolite in various proportions and sizes depending on your tree, would it be fair to assume that CL is rather a substitute for Pumice (and Veolite)?

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