#1: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 00:50:19 by SWAMPGOD
Hi All:
Anyone using cocoa shell mulch in making bonsai soil? It is a pretty
homogeneous material. The pieces are generally less than .5 inch in diameter and
maybe 1/32 in thick. The material is somewhat stiff but nothing like bark,
probably because it's so much thinner. On top of that, it smells really nice.
Ed Spaans
Grand Rapids, MI.
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#2: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 01:23:57 by jklewis
Ed Spaans wrote:
> Hi All:
>
> Anyone using cocoa shell mulch in making bonsai soil? It is a pretty
> homogeneous material. The pieces are generally less than .5 inch in diameter and
> maybe 1/32 in thick. The material is somewhat stiff but nothing like bark,
> probably because it's so much thinner. On top of that, it smells really nice.
>
And it turns into a greasy mush. Even as a mulch it seems
to grow mold and other fungus better than anything I know.
But maybe that's just down here in the hot and humid southeast.
Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Nature
encourages no looseness, pardons no errors. Ralph Waldo Emerson
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#3: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 02:34:39 by dward
I have been using it for over a year now. It seems to work very well,
grows mold very quickly here in Iowa. It is easier for me to find as well.
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#4: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 02:36:20 by ccowing
On Jun 14, 2005, at 7:21 PM, Jim Lewis wrote:
> Ed Spaans wrote:
>> Hi All:
>> Anyone using cocoa shell mulch in making bonsai soil? It is a pretty
>> homogeneous material. The pieces are generally less than .5 inch in
>> diameter and maybe 1/32 in thick. The material is somewhat stiff but
>> nothing like bark, probably because it's so much thinner. On top of
>> that, it smells really nice.
>>
> And it turns into a greasy mush. Even as a mulch it seems to grow
> mold and other fungus better than anything I know.
>
> But maybe that's just down here in the hot and humid southeast.
>
> Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Nature encourages
> no looseness, pardons no errors. Ralph Waldo Emerson
>
Even in Maine it turned to mush after one growing season. Use something
else.
Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37
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#5: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 03:15:14 by dward
Since cocoa shell mulch is not the best, and it seems to be much easier to
find, does anyone know of a good source for smaller size pine bark nuggets?
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#6: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 03:41:29 by GOPHERHILL
In a message dated 6/14/2005 9:15:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dward@RILUBE.COM writes:
> Since cocoa shell mulch is not the best, and it seems to be much easier to
> find, does anyone know of a good source for smaller size pine bark nuggets?
>
What we use in Florida is a decomposed pine bark sold as Fafard Soil
Conditioner.
It has a lot of fines but you can sift it and use the dust as part of a muck
for walls on slabs or just spread on the lawn.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast
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#7: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 07:42:53 by awbonsai
If you can get orchid mix, it works great for bonsai. When I
could get it, I found it to be very homogenous particle size,
just right for our needs. However, I haven't been able to get
anyone local to carry it. They know that the bonsai group is
small and apparently so are the orchid growers.
Alan Walker
http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Ward
Since cocoa shell mulch is not the best, and it seems to be much
easier to find, does anyone know of a good source for smaller
size pine bark nuggets?
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#8: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 17:05:20 by bigbart
Alan:
In my part of the world, more and more florists are selling potted orchids
for the home. Often, they will have orchid bark mixes. It isn't cheap, but,
in the quantities we use, can save a lot of miles chasing after an
alternative.
Regards,
Bart Thomas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Walker" <awbonsai@BELLSOUTH.NET>
To: <BONSAI@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 1:42 AM
Subject: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
> If you can get orchid mix, it works great for bonsai. When I
> could get it, I found it to be very homogenous particle size,
> just right for our needs. However, I haven't been able to get
> anyone local to carry it. They know that the bonsai group is
> small and apparently so are the orchid growers.
>
> Alan Walker
> http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Ward
>
> Since cocoa shell mulch is not the best, and it seems to be much
> easier to find, does anyone know of a good source for smaller
> size pine bark nuggets?
>
> ************************************************************ ********************
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
> ************************************************************ ********************
>>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
> +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++
>
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#9: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 23:02:16 by GOPHERHILL
In a message dated 6/14/2005 8:34:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dward@RILUBE.COM writes:
> I have been using it for over a year now. It seems to work very well,
> grows mold very quickly here in Iowa. It is easier for me to find as well.
>
Growing mold is a good thing? Have I missed something?
Billy on the Florida Space Coast
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#10: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-15 23:11:48 by dward
Billy,
I was being somewhat sarcastic. I have tried it, and yes it does grow mold
very well. I seem to be very good at that. And, I have a hard time finding
pine bark nuggets. Sorry for the poor attemt at humor.
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#11: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-16 01:26:19 by SteveWachs
've had the same problem of trying to find composted pine/fir bark mulch. A
garden center in Kansas City has it but would only sell it in cubic yard
lots. I don't have that many trees so this spring I ordered from Dallas Bonsai
Gardens. They had a special of buy 2 bags get one free. That was plenty for
this years repotting and should cover next years too.
I have been trying to find Fir bark but it is hard to find here. I found a
25 lb bag for $30 I is usually sold as Orchid mix and goes for $8 for a small
bag. Pine bark is sold all over
SteveW
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#12: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-16 03:34:46 by awbonsai
Considering the time and money expended on my bonsai, it
doesn't make sense to cheap out on the soil. Cost doesn't always
mean quality, but quality should be the main concern most of the
time. Hard experience teaches the lesson of "penny wise and pound
foolish."
Alan Walker
http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Bart Thomas
Alan:
In my part of the world, more and more florists are selling
potted orchids
for the home. Often, they will have orchid bark mixes. It isn't
cheap, but,
in the quantities we use, can save a lot of miles chasing after
an
alternative.
Regards,
Bart Thomas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Walker" <awbonsai@BELLSOUTH.NET>
If you can get orchid mix, it works great for bonsai. When I
could get it, I found it to be very homogenous particle size,
just right for our needs. However, I haven't been able to get
anyone local to carry it. They know that the bonsai group is
small and apparently so are the orchid growers.
Alan Walker
http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Ward
Since cocoa shell mulch is not the best, and it seems to be much
easier to find, does anyone know of a good source for smaller
size pine bark nuggets?
************************************************************ ********************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************************ ********************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++
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#13: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-16 14:52:12 by ccowing
On Jun 15, 2005, at 9:34 PM, Alan Walker wrote:
> Considering the time and money expended on my bonsai, it
> doesn't make sense to cheap out on the soil. Cost doesn't always
> mean quality, but quality should be the main concern most of the
> time. Hard experience teaches the lesson of "penny wise and pound
> foolish."
> Alan Walker
> http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org
>
Anita and I make our own compost, which costs nothing other than
minimal labor. In return we get wonderful compost which makes for an
excellent addition to our soil. I use a bit of the pine bark as well,
but mostly in the larger trees. As a result, the only soil component
I've bought recently, since I have several bags of the pine bark, is
Turface.
Alan's right. The right soil is critical. Don't cut corners, but it
doesn't have to be expensive either.
Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37
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#14: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-16 19:50:56 by jklewis
Craig Cowing wrote:
> On Jun 15, 2005, at 9:34 PM, Alan Walker wrote:
>
>> Considering the time and money expended on my bonsai, it
>> doesn't make sense to cheap out on the soil. Cost doesn't always
>> mean quality, but quality should be the main concern most of the
>> time. Hard experience teaches the lesson of "penny wise and pound
>> foolish."
>> Alan Walker
>> http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org
>>
>
> Anita and I make our own compost, which costs nothing other than minimal
> labor. In return we get wonderful compost which makes for an excellent
> addition to our soil. I use a bit of the pine bark as well, but mostly
> in the larger trees. As a result, the only soil component I've bought
> recently, since I have several bags of the pine bark, is Turface.
>
I use home brewed compost, too, but there is an important
issue with home-made compost. You MUST be certain it
reaches and maintains a high enough temperature during the
composting process that all the major pathogens. To get
these temperatures, you need a pile that is at least 3 feet
in diameter and 2 feet deep. A hot pile reaches 160 degrees
(F) and is best, of course, but if it can cook for a few
months at 120 degrees you will be OK.
To get your piles hot enough, you must turn it frequently.
Down here, that's no big problem. Elsewhere, it can be.
There IS "passive composting" and anaerobic decomposition.
This can get smelly.
Rodale publishes books on composting (see also their
Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening) and there are websites
galore.
Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Nature
encourages no looseness, pardons no errors. Ralph Waldo Emerson
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#15: Re: cocoa shell mulch
Posted on 2005-06-17 14:27:06 by bluhipo
At one point, (before I was forced to move to an apartment and lost
most of my gardening area) we had a compost barrel. We bought it as
such, but it was a fairly simple compost. Metal drum, door in side
(that latches, that's important) that is set on a frame with pivots.
There was a handle at one end of the barrel and someone would go out
there and give it a good turn once in a while. After a couple months,
line a bag up under the door and let the soil drop out.
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#16: [IBC] Compost (was: Re: [IBC] cocoa shell mulch)
Posted on 2005-06-17 15:00:35 by ccowing
On Jun 17, 2005, at 8:27 AM, BlueHippo wrote:
> At one point, (before I was forced to move to an apartment and lost
> most of my gardening area) we had a compost barrel. We bought it as
> such, but it was a fairly simple compost. Metal drum, door in side
> (that latches, that's important) that is set on a frame with pivots.
> There was a handle at one end of the barrel and someone would go out
> there and give it a good turn once in a while. After a couple months,
> line a bag up under the door and let the soil drop out.
>
>
We have a five bin system. The outermost two are for raw material. The
next bin in on either end is for material at an intermediate stage, and
the one in the center is for the final stage. We're not obsessive about
turning. We generally turn it once a year. The bins were free--we made
them out of discarded pallets. There is a place near here that sells
ATV's and that sort of thing, and there is always a pile of pallets and
crate material outside for free.
Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37
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