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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 5 months ago #78298

  • Derivious
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I live in a temperate climate here in adelaide, australia,
We get very, very hot summers here over 45c at times. (110 Fahrenheit)
I made this soil mix which all my plants seem to be loving.

I take what ever cheap potting mix i can get to start with as its just there for organics and water holding.
i add 50% generic kitty litter, this stuff is 100% zeolite and nothing else.
10% perlite
and 5%-10% propagation sand
i get very well draining soil and a tiny bit of moisture retention for hot days.

i would have loved to get akadama however its next to impossible to find near me and costs a fortune.

I highly reccomend kitty litter as long as you check the back as many expensive ones add fragrances and stuff, it seems the cheaper the better.
I get a 15l bag for $6

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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 5 months ago #78304

  • Tropfrog
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From my understanding kitty litter that are good for bonsai soil is virtually impossible to find in europe. At least in sweden it is. Kitty litter made of zeolit just don't exists at all here.

Akadama is a good and cheap in Japan, it seems like Zeolit is cheap in Australia. But here none of them is. I use pumice and lava rock from iceland, burned clay from Denmark and pine bark from Sweden. It makes no sence whatsoever to me to ship soil ingrediens around the world. Locally awailable stuff makes you spend less money on it and more on the trees, pots and tools instrad.
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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 5 months ago #78313

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Agree. There is a company here that makes paving material and has expanded shale to get rid of. I mix that with coffee grounds and they make it through our hot summers just fine. Local also means cheap.

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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 5 months ago #78314

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I have used kitty litter too, in similar proportions to those quoted - mostly for my "growing-on" trees, rather than the "finished" objects, works very well in my opinion. One word of caution though - as well as avoiding perfumed/deodorising brands, be aware that some litters absorb moisture and retain their solid integrity, and some just turn to mush! If in doubt, before adding to your soil, put a test sample in a pot of water for half an hour and see how it behaves...
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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 5 months ago #78315

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I guess that in most cases it is written on the bag. Clump forming is no good. Other than that it needs to be some sort of burnt clay. Without parfume as others allready mentioned.

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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 4 months ago #78597

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I' have some that I've used, and the trees haven't died. However, guru Harry Harrington, who used to promote its use, says he's switching away from it because it has antimicrobial properties, which will not promote a healthy root environment. See link. www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm

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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 4 months ago #78598

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I am sure not all kitten litters have antimicrobial properties. If you find a suitable product, well then it is suitable. Where I live it is just not possible to find kitty litter that are suitable for bonsai. However, I use the same kind of burnt clay that are marketed as kitty litter elsewhere. Here it is sold as absorbant for workshop floors and roads. Same thing but different productification.
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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 4 months ago #78599

  • Rorror
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@topfrog
Linda möller is danish clay.
Found a other supplier with the same ingriedient.
Perhaps this is available, in sweden it was?
"kitty friend PINK LITTER"
Or google "Danish clay cat litter" in your language, in hope to find a local product with the same danish clay.

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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 4 months ago #78600

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If in doubt, before adding to your soil, put a test sample in a pot of water for half an hour and see how it behaves...

Don't forget to do the freezer test.
A few cycles of frost and defrosting to see if it decomposes after the frost.

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Kitty litter for bonsai soil 1 year 4 months ago #78601

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@topfrog
Linda möller is danish clay.
Found a other supplier with the same ingriedient.
Perhaps this is available, in sweden it was?
"kitty friend PINK LITTER"
Or google "Danish clay cat litter" in your language, in hope to find a local product with the same danish clay.


That is the molar clay mined in the island of Fur in denmark by the company Imerys mining A/S. It is sold as kitty litter, absorbent and soil improvement. They have licence for two more years of mining and after that the business will be closed. I use big bags of it sold as absorbent. The kitty litter and the soil improvement products is not awailable in Sweden. But after all, all the products is mined in the same mine, burned in the same way in the same plant. The only difference is what the company that packs it say it is ment to use for on the package. I do not need kitty litter, I need burnt molar clay and don't really care what it says on the bag.

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