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- Green Thumb
- Posts: 391
- Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:24 pm
- Location: Haddonfield, NJ
Akadama can be used by itself, many people do, but it is best used when mixed with other amendments such as pine bark and a grit. I myself use it in a mix. It is great with holding moisture and nutrients from fertilizer, although it does breakdown over time and should be changed every 2 or 3 years, which is probobly when you should repot anyway.
Tom
Tom
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- Green Thumb
- Posts: 391
- Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:24 pm
- Location: Haddonfield, NJ
well I would say you could use 25% pine bark 25% akadama and 50% grit which could be anything that allows easy drainage, like a riversand or decomposed granit. Whatever grit you use make sure it is rough not smooth like river rock, the grit should allow better drainage but also have some rough spots for roots to cling to, I like to use lava rock although it holds most of its weight in water so for you I would use a coarse sand, particle size about the same size as the other ingrediants because if you use a large particle size for good drainage and then you use something a lot smaller, it will fill inbetween the larger particles and tke away the good drainage.
p.s. I forgot to ask what type of tree you plan to use this on as it can change the ratio of the ingrediants. A pine would have more like 80% grit as to an elm would have about 50%.
Tom
p.s. I forgot to ask what type of tree you plan to use this on as it can change the ratio of the ingrediants. A pine would have more like 80% grit as to an elm would have about 50%.
Tom
- Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Yes this is an important consideration. Many times Pines and Junipers are potted in an entirely inorganic mix. Deciduous trees generally like some organic materials while tropicals like Ficus can get by on an even more organic heavy mix.p.s. I forgot to ask what type of tree you plan to use this on as it can change the ratio of the ingrediants. A pine would have more like 80% grit as to an elm would have about 50%.
Also take into consideration your climate and the amount of time you can spend watering your plants each day, once a day twice etc.
Norm
Sandman,
Good points here from both constantstaticx3 and Gnome.
Keep it as simple as possible IMO [For your own sanity
]
Disclaimer for the casual reader: All numbers represent starting points NOT the perfect percentages, Tweak to your preferences/requirements.
I do some entirely inorganic trees but a good way to do it for you would be to use about 45% organic for your tropicals. [About a 1:1 mix I/O]
[These %s are far more than I would use but you have some severe heat in mid summer to deal with and such a mix will retain moisture longer.]
Temperate species are variable but you could start with about 30% organic. [About 3:1 I/O]
For your conifers about 15% or maybe 20% organic. [Again you have some severe heat...] [About 5:1 I/O]
The mix of grit and Akadama is up to you [One is far cheaper than the other
.]
It will take a bit of experimentation to sort out what is most effective for both your trees and you.
Good luck!
ynot
Good points here from both constantstaticx3 and Gnome.
Keep it as simple as possible IMO [For your own sanity

Disclaimer for the casual reader: All numbers represent starting points NOT the perfect percentages, Tweak to your preferences/requirements.
I do some entirely inorganic trees but a good way to do it for you would be to use about 45% organic for your tropicals. [About a 1:1 mix I/O]
[These %s are far more than I would use but you have some severe heat in mid summer to deal with and such a mix will retain moisture longer.]
Temperate species are variable but you could start with about 30% organic. [About 3:1 I/O]
For your conifers about 15% or maybe 20% organic. [Again you have some severe heat...] [About 5:1 I/O]
The mix of grit and Akadama is up to you [One is far cheaper than the other

It will take a bit of experimentation to sort out what is most effective for both your trees and you.
Good luck!
ynot