Bonsai Soil: Cat Litter Vs Akadama 

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Your explanation of how Akadama functions was much appreciated. I have been reading and watching videos for a while now and this finally explained it to me. Thank you.

I find "a little bit pricier" a real understatement, but I do like your video's. I'm really happy with your explanation, you're the first person that explains in depth what's the difference between moler clay and akadama. You also have given me a way to start my expedition into the bonsai forest. Going from cheap to expensive medium according to the age and value of the tree. This is the answer I was looking for. Thank you very much.

Good video. Really like how you broke it down. I've already know all this information but I like how you have made it so all van access it this vital bit of information. Great video

Superb informative video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

Watching this reminds me from when I was first in Bonsai back in the 90's. At that time they said to use a sharp sand particle. It causes the roots to get bruised during growth as it goes against the edges of the sand causing the roots to split. In much the way that akadama does today.

I was actually just wondering if cat litter could work! Glad I found your video!

I switched to cat litter some years ago after having a problem with acadama turning to a horrible clay paste. It may have been inferior acadama so I may try it again as part of a blend for some of my trees. Great video.

Hi Darren, this is one of the most informative vlogs that I have seen for ages. I used to use Tesco cat litter for all my bonsai but Tesco no longer do moler clay and I didn't know where to find it. I have been buying pumice, which is quite expensive and I will continue to use it for my conifers. My delivery of Sanicat arrived this morning! I will now mix cat litter with pumice for my deciduous trees. Many thanks.

Awesome video dude 👌

I’ve left my sycamore maple in a shallow pot filled with akadama the whole winter and at times it did completely expand and formed a sort of mountain of frozen akamada, but to my suprise, I repotted it a few weeks ago and the roots were fine. I didn’t see any dead roots even though there were some that almost came to the surface. The akamada didn’t break down at all. I’m happy everything went well, the tree is also fine

Great explanation! If we had that cat litter in Portugal it would be awesome. I tried to find a substitute but in the end I went with akadama, pumice and lava!👍

Great info. Thanks left a like

Great video, very informative. Looks like I'll be going to Tesco.

Great info! Where I live they sell a type of cat litter which is pure diatomite (sediments), there are several brands. I've been using this since a year now, normally in combination with some organic matter. Species like thyme even prefer 100% diatomite. The thing is I have done lots of research about its properties and found it has many important micronutrients, which you didn't consider in this comparison. The water retention and cationic exchange capacity are about the same as akadama, but diatomite has all these minerals and is also fungicidal and insecticidal. Now, even when the roots stick to diatomite grains, they don't seem to penetrate, so it wouldn't be happening their division.

Interesting informations and video. I use cat litter too but with a different component: pure sepiolite! I have to say that sepiolite in bonsai soil isn't bad, it helps a lot and it's very cheap. At least, it's good for my wallet and my climate

Thanks for the info, working fine for me. Unfortunately it looks like Sanicat is no longer making Sanicat Pink, so you might want to grab some stock.

Are you still using molar clay and if so what brand? I also use molar clay I did at one time. Use Tesco's dust free but I found recently it has come slightly perfumed so I no longer use it. I found that I use sanicat pink Which would you recommend or which do you use?

Hello mate. Ca you update us on what cat litter to use? i went to tescos and they have 6 pounds and 1.50p - none of them say the ingredients on the back so im lost lol thanks

We have, on several accounts talked about TESCOS type (Since this is the most common questions people ask about the-cat-litter-thing) where do you get it? What is it and so on.. It's seems like it's also confusing for Americans, they don't really have catlitter like moler clay / diatomite like E.U.... "The Danish Moler" is better then Akadama in our opinion, atleast for tougher climates..great vid bro.

Im using coco peat,vermi compost,pine bark and pumice..is this ok??

Great points Darren 😊 Just having a refresher before dipping my toe into this can of worms 😂

I found cat litter at dollar tree the bag says it’s made of diatomaceous earth do you think this is a good one to use for top of soil?

Love it

You mean kittydama lol it's ok I'd say it's more like a root starter soil kinda like organic gardening soil great video you really knocked it on the tee

Another top informative video on a subject that causes lots of debate! I have used both and ignoring the obvious cost issue I have found that the akadama tends to break down before I get that refined root structure I wanted. Im not sure if there are some quality issues linked to this with some of the akadama that is being produced these days? The big issue with 'molar clay' is the smell. I purchased 20 bags from Tesco last year when it was on sale - took me ages to wash it out...not sure if the fragrance links to any damaging properties?? Keep up the great work - I think I will have to directly credit you as a contributer on my web pages soon.

Thank you for this video! here in Australia its very expensive to import akadama from Japan, thank you for giving me an alternative! Edit: I found cat litter which is made not from molar clay, but "zeolite". I researched the stone and it is a type of volcanic clay. Does it act similarly to molar clay?

Does anyone know what the Chinese used in bonsai before Akadama became popular?

Where i live Akadama is expensive the trees i have in my collection are all LARGE conifers.... do you have any experience with Pumice? Its readily available here in the PNW...

Found this on amazon which might be of interest ( New Safety Tread Absorbent Granules 30ltr Bag ) made from calcined moller earth £13.80 for a 30ltr Bag so far it seems to work fine for me

I'm thinking of using molar clay for indoor trees like Fukiens and Ficus. Is it safe for this setting?

I used cat litter for years here in Sweden. There were three to choose from and easily available. But they've all disappeared from the shops. No moler clay cat litter in Sweden.

hi.i am in need of bonsai soli and because of the whole virus thing I am not really able to order some,is there anything else I can use or pick up easily from a department store

it would appear that Kittyfriend pink is the same stuff - rebranded - can anyone confirm this ? Thanks.

Is melcourt a brand name?

How about fuller’s earth as a substitute (non clumping cat litters) Anyone tried it?

Interesting information, thanks. I did find the background music annoying. I thought that your video was better with simply you talking. Best..Tim

Wow this is the first clear explanation I've come across, thank you! I've been practicing pre bonsai on a ton of wild trees and propagated branches collected from my yard and it is just too expensive to use bonsai substrates for all of them so I haven't known what to do... Your process of air pots with normal compost soil for the young trees before refining the soil along with the quality of the bonsai so perfect! I now feel more confident that I'm not going to ruin all my pre bonsais lol

About a year ago, my wife bought a collectors doll via the interweb. It had obviously lived in a heavy smokers home, and ponged, the smell having soaked into the hair and plastic bits. The remedy, apparently, is to bury it Fullers Earth particles which absorb everything. I know from being in the RN Fullers Earth powder is used in chemical and biological decontamination. In fact it looked like powdered Akadama. This was obtained in a large bag from LIDL as cat litter. Having used the now unobtainable Tescos stuff, my interest was raised, The bag claimed 100% natural, The particles are of mixed size comparable with Akadama, there is no perfume, its light grey, and so far nothing has died, except by Vine Weevil. May be worth looking at. Thanks for the videos.

Hi Darren, What about a bit of both molar clay and akadama? Air pruning pots? Punsen lava? Yes, I am new to the hobby. The type of background 'musac' makes it a bit difficult to hear, at my age.Thank you for the clear enunciation.

I killed a few trees when I tried to use cat litter in my soil mix. Turns out, the wrong kind of cat litter. So in my opinion, it's best to first make sure that the exact variety of cat litter one is thinking of using is safe, and probably just use perlite. I just put loads of perlite and vermiculite into my mix.

Akadama makes good cat litter but is rather expensive

Can cat litter alone be used for these trees ???

Why can't we use potting grit in our mix...

Turface vs bakes vs litter..

It seems like it's for trees that like wet feet.

never thought of cat litter. will try this out. Coles in Australia selling many home brand types. Clay. Clumping clay. Silica gel. recycled paper.

what about AZOMITE...........

Necesito tu vídeo en español😅

Buy a premade bonsai mix and cut it 50/50 with your cheaper mix

I just picked up a 50 lbs bag of cat litter and a 33 lbs bag of oil absorbent. Let's do bonsai.

Gro Bonsai aka 'Wavy Hand Man'.

It's a surprise u can grow anything up there in the land of the long Grey cloud☁️😂👍🇦🇺

Thanks for clearing that one up. It’s not cat litter!😂

"We shouldn't call it cat litter" *puts cat litter in the thumbnail and title*

O.K. until your cat thinks its another litter tray !

Spell the type of clay you are talking about please, it sounds like you are saying molar clay.

You never mentioned the most important details about molar clay cat litter that people need to understand. Cat litter moler clay contains deodorising chemicals which means you should leave the clay in a container with running water from a hose pipe, which can take half an hour or so to remove the chemicals and dust depending on the amount being cleaned. Research regarding the dust has show that long term inihilation can damage the bodies immune system (though this is more subjective in indoor long term use) and irritate asthma. It is not known what damage if any would be caused to the root system by the chemicals if used directly from the bag. My advice would be to wash only the amount needed for that tree at a time, I've never lost anything this way over the years including airlayerings, who's roots are not fully established in a medium.....hope this helps. P.S. are you using sign language 😄

I thought he speaks sign language.... and then I thought he was showing kung foo moves... and then I look for other video

Not as interesting and informative like ur other vidio sorry sir