Return to the Gardening in Oz Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
Posted by meggs WA Aust/coastal plai (My Page) on Wed, Aug 24, 05 at 0:05
| Has anybody used these two products in their gardening career? Josh from GA recommends them for impoverished sandy soils lacking in trace elements. I found lots of info on the net. It is used in agriculture in the Middle East (soils similar to coastal strip in Perth). However, I would like to get some advice from people who might have some hands on experience. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
Hi Meggs,
I don't know anything about them particularly, but I do know you can make a slurry with almost any clay and water, which is then watered onto your existing soil.
Another thing you can do if you are near a beach is to collect seaweed and add that to your soil.
I saw a beachside garden that had both these methods applied and what was once pure sand had turned into rich black soil.
Cheers,
Dee. |
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
| I have never used either product but a geranium grower I heard at the local garden club used bentonite mixed with standard potting mix to grow her plants. She advised that the best place to get it was from the supermarket - some brands of cat litter are made of it. Check the labels and you should find it - our local Coles has two brands and I think their own brand might also be bentonite but it doesnt state so on the label. Robyn |
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
| Sodium Bentonite has lots of uses. it is most commonly used to block leaks in dams, in cosmetics and in the mining industry. It is also used to clear wine. Do a google on Sodium bentonite and I am sure you will learn all about it. It is used to bind sandy soils. One of its advantages is that it is a great buffering agent; that is, it can hold nutrients in sandy soils instead of them leaching out. |
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Fri, Aug 26, 05 at 5:42
| To all who contributed, many thanks. Yes, Robert I have googled and found the same info. It all sounds great on the screan. I think I will go for the cat litter first, guess it will be cheaper than the 25kg bag in the Nursery supplier - $32 for 25kg. |
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
| $32 dollars is well spent though when you consider the price of manure etc. |
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
| g'day meggs, did you check produce agencies or feed stores to see if they stock the product quiet often they are much cheaper than nurseries etc.,? len mail len lens garden page |
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Sat, Aug 27, 05 at 3:25
| Thanks for the suggestion Len, however nobody stores the product. I rang all over Perth and found it in 2 places: one in my area which supplies produce for hobby farms and another, cheaper place I found is not a nursery but a suplier for nurseries so I guess it is the cheapest. |
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
meggs
If you rang all over Perth, then this probably no help.... I entered 'stock feed' and greater Perth into yellow pages.com and got 52 results. It can be used as an additive for grain fed cattle. Rose |
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Sun, Aug 28, 05 at 6:01
| Well, thank you all ever so much. I have decided to get this stuff and use it when I will plant my new Myer Lemon and I will keep you posted what the effects are. I am treating it like an experiment. I must say I am a bit desperate as with the amount of manure and organic matter I had put into my soil I should have had results ages ago but still my plants suffer. They get typical symptoms of iron and manganese deficiency. I find that iron chelates, although they work, are too expensive for my liking. I hope bentonite clay and the mineral rock should last forever.... we will see. |
RE: ? re: bentonite clay & rock minerals
| | |
| g'day meggs, did anyone mention kitty litter just read on a thread in another forum that some kitty litter is made with bentonite. you need to shop around for your rock minerals maybe the produce agency can tell you of a supplier we have one in gympie so imagine they will be in most centres. len |
|
|
|
|
