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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: 5rod on July 12, 2012, 14:59:22

Title: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: 5rod on July 12, 2012, 14:59:22

hi all
what a rotten year, i've bought this compost maker from lidls
and on the box it suggests adding bentonite powder to aid with
humification anyone know forsure where i can buy this, i looked
at wyvale with no joy, so i'm here for help.
                                            many thanks
                                                   5 rod ???

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: petengade on July 12, 2012, 16:16:15

 Try a do it yourself  wine supplies, also used for clearing home made wine, (powdered clay)

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: katynewbie on July 12, 2012, 16:18:47

What is humification please?  ???

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: petengade on July 12, 2012, 16:32:06

did a google. = HUMIFICATION
 Dictionary entry overview: What does humification mean?

• HUMIFICATION (noun)
  The noun HUMIFICATION has 1 sense:

1. the process of the formation of humus

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: 5rod on July 12, 2012, 17:31:36

thank you
 5 rod :D :D

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: ed dibbles on July 13, 2012, 08:31:11

My bentonite comes from the home brew shop too.

Never used it in the compost bin but I do put the rackings. spent lees, and fruit strainings (often containing used bentonite) in there. ;)

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: petengade on July 13, 2012, 08:38:30

Cheapest way I found was empty the chamber pot into the  compst bin, that gets it working, Bentonite very expensive for about an egg cupfull.

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: delboy on July 13, 2012, 10:15:10

On a bigger scale, bentonite is pumped into railway and road cuttings to stabilize the sides...

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: gavinjconway on July 13, 2012, 14:50:26

Its basically a name for "clay powder" and is used widely in the foundry industry for making beautiful smooth moulds for accurate items before  pouring in the molten metal.. so maybe try foundry supplies.. 

or just do as we all do... add anything you can to the compost heap and it all works without having to buy in stuff like bentonite..

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: chriscross1966 on July 15, 2012, 12:55:28

I'd guess unused cat litter would be about the same sort of stuff...

Title: Re: bentonite powder for garden compost
Post by: gavinjconway on July 15, 2012, 23:58:19

Quote from: chriscross1966 on July 15, 2012, 12:55:28

I'd guess unused cat litter would be about the same sort of stuff...

Much finer than that tho.. almost like chalk dust but a tiny bit coarser..