KITTY LITTER ....really ....KITTY LITTER !

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baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431116772 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

OK I know so little about figs and fig culture compared to a lot of members here. I am soliciting opinions on the below topic . I only have six trees in pots and I have managed not to kill them for three years. Recently I was repotting some house plants . " not figs " and I remembered yrs ago there was a product called "Miracle plant water crystals ." The IDEA.... was that they would Absorb Water if soil was to Wet and Release water if soil was to Dry ?? WOW ! a Miracle ? haha . trouble was the 8oz jar was like $12. All they were were was silica crystal beads. Well it occurred to me that you could get a 4lb bag of silica bead unscented Mimi KittyLitter beads at Wal-Mart for $4 . Hummm..... So I thought heck lets get some and mix it up in the potting soil and see what happens ??? So far all of the plants potted with the thrifty version of "Miracle plant water crystals ." eeerrr I mean KittyLitter are doing well including one small fig tree .. My latest experiment , Am I A FOOL or a Genus ??? What Say Yee INTERNET FIG EXPERTS ????? ""NOTE : I am not talking about the Clay type kitty litter. This product is hard round Silica Beads. there are many brands . I bought the cheapo Mimi kitty brand silica litter at Wal-Mart """" __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1431117977	Reply with quote #2

I use regular cat litter on top of my growing medium to lock moisture in. I dont water till top is dry. Keeps me from over watering cuttings in small pots __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431118209	Reply with quote #3

Richard is that the fullers earth type kitty litter ?? I just mixed a cple cups of the silica beads into the potting mix __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1431127697	Reply with quote #4

Yea its pretty much dried clay. Works grate in keeping moisture in my small cutting pots so i dont over water them __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431143148 · Edited	Reply with quote #5

well I thought it would be interesting to give the silica crystal beads a try . see what happens __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431228202	Reply with quote #6

My latest experiment , Am I A FOOL or a Genus ??? What Say Yee INTERNET FIG EXPERTS ????? __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

Figfinatic

Registered:1330272993
Posts: 761

Posted 1431240979	Reply with quote #7

Genius if it works. How about getting it for free in packages of food. It always says don't ingest it. Any chemicals to worry about? __________________ Wish: Sbayi, passiflora incense, quadrangularis or others

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431264432 · Edited	Reply with quote #8

well I think the unsented kitty litter silica beads is just silica hummm... good question ??? Please Internet Experts Pontificate ... ??? __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

drphil69

Registered:1390113240
Posts: 803

Posted 1431310508	Reply with quote #9

I can't comment on kitty litter... but I did buy some "water crystals" and have been using them this year - about $7 per pound. Does the kitty litter expand like crazy when water is added? The stuff I bought says 1 teaspoon per gallon of water and it expands to many times it size as it absorbs water. Since this is the first year I am trying them, I can't yet comment on effectiveness. __________________ Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431313964 · Edited	Reply with quote #10

No the kitty litter beads remain hard and do not expand .. they absorb and release moisture but do not get soft or expand The MIMI litter is $4 for a 4lb bag at Wal-Mart . there are other brands .. ..... I also use the same kitty litter as a humidification media in my three humidors . I put it in bags made from cut up nylon hose . it keeps the humidity level in my humidor at a rock steady 65% RH. I have about 400 stinky good cigars in my humidors. if I need to raise the humidity a few points I sprits one of the bags a few times with distilled water . if the relative humidity in the room is higher than I want .. I can dry one of the bags in microwave and lower the RH in the humidor to 65% if lets say the RH in my basement is 80% It is very dry here in winter and very humid in summer . Anyway now I am experimenting using the kitty litter to regulate moisture levels in my potting soil . Hummmm...... __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431362388 · Edited	Reply with quote #11

Ok my casual unscientific observation so far . I have 2 figs in 10" self watering/water from below dollar store pots . They are in a mix half half Miracle-Gro organic garden soil and miracle-gro potting soil. I added some course perlite . They are a Excel and a VEBT. I have one Genovese Nero in10" self watering/water from below dollar store pot tin the same mix As above with about a half cup to a cup of the kitty litter silica beads in the mix . I have to water this plant about half as often .. as the other two ok maybe I should actually write it down .. now I am just recalling ....guessing . ha I have several house plants potted up with the same mix with the kitty litter . __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431440365	Reply with quote #12

ok today I am potting up some dahlia rhizomes one with regular mix and one with the Kitty Litter silica beads added . __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431616868	Reply with quote #13

oops left the little tree with the beads out in the rain .. we will see if it stays to wet or ??? __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431795220	Reply with quote #14

ok I am just bumping this up .. over 500 hits and only three people commented ..ha ha I was hopping some of the brainy super figgy geeks might comment.... or even give my idea a try . I know a few of you experiment with different soil mixes ect.? man you guys are even to polite to say if you think it's a bad idea ha .. well I will be up potting a cpl trees soon and will do a few with the silica beads .. please give me your thoughts thanks ... __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

Egghead

Registered:1430496432
Posts: 74

Posted 1431807442	Reply with quote #15

Yeah, you've got to pot up plants of the same type and same size and age at the same time, doing one group without the litter and a second group with the litter. Preferably with several identical plants in each group. Myself, I'm a little skeptical. The kitty litter beads aren't actually the same thing as the water-retaining crystals. But you'll never know if you don't give it a good try! __________________ -- Ione -- amazondoc on ebay -- http://www.eggheadhill.com (website coming eventually!) Lebanon, TN 6b/7a Figs (currently all babies): Atreano, Battaglia Green, Black Bethlehem, Desert King (Wellspring), Ischia Green (Wellspring), Janice, Kathleen's Black, Lattarula/Italian Honey (Wellspring), Letizia/Florea? (Wayside), LSU Black (PFTP), LSU Gold, LSU Purple, Lyndhurst White, Magnolia/Brunswick (Wellspring), Marseilles Black VS, Nero 600M, "North China"/Magnolia?, O'Rourke (PFTP), Olympian (Wellspring), Osborn, Panache (yay!), Peter's Honey, Petite Black Dwarf/Petite Negri? (Wellspring), Poppa John (PFTP), Red Lebanese (cuttings), Red Sicilian, Sal's (EL), Ronde de Bordeaux, Sicilian Black (Robin), Stella, Violette de Bordeaux (Wellspring) wishlist: Florea, Hollier, LaRadek English Brown Turkey, Rockaway Green, Smith, Vasilika Sika, Weeping Black, any Rimada -- and Jolly Tiger someday!

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1431808766	Reply with quote #16

thanks for comments egghead ..I got the idea for using the kitty litter in potting mix from using them to keep a steady RH in my humidors .. they seem to give off or absorb moisture at a constant rate ? or it seems so . __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1432483712	Reply with quote #17

bump! Well the plants with the silica beads seem to be doing a tad better than the ones with out ? It will take all summer and the super hot days ahead to see any real difference ???? So I think ??? ha __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

Mario_1

Registered:1398299123
Posts: 407

Posted 1432488872 · Edited	Reply with quote #18

Nothing ventured nothing gained __________________ Wallingford CT, USA zone 6a would be happy to meet and get together with other members near me Wish list; Any fig from any specific place anywhere in Italy

SoniSoni

Registered:1362273241
Posts: 777

Posted 1432525188	Reply with quote #19

I think I'm going to try your kitty litter idea. I have about 100 1 gal figs I want to move up to 3 or 5 gal and I'd like a better potting mix than what I've been using (commercial potting mix + Perlite) It drains well but dries out too quickly. I'd like a mix that retains moisture longer without being water-logged. It wont be a very controlled experiment using mixed fig varieties but if I plant 1/2 using kitty litter and 1/2 without ,and do everything else the same for all, I should be able to see if there's a difference. I hope to get around to repotting within the next couple weeks. How much kitty litter would you use to 5 gal pot? Mario's right "nothing ventured nothing gained" __________________ Soni GA. 7-8. seeking Galicia Negra, Bianchi Guido, Violette de Sollies, Emerald Strawberry

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1432561130 · Edited	Reply with quote #20

Good Luck SONI ; ) Look for it at WalMart it is MiMi crystal unsented litter . its silica .4lb for $4 I think a half pound to a pound . I just guess when I mix up my soil .. sorry not very scientific . doh ! __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1436108777	Reply with quote #21

HEY SONI did you give the Wal-Mart Mimi Kiity litter silica beads a try? __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1450188907 · Edited	Reply with quote #22

I did a little reading about the use of silica for moisture control. Hate to tell you but it only releases its absorbed water at a temp of about 300F. That is why it works so good in keeping packaged products dry. It does not release the moisture back. So unfortunately it will not work for your plants, it only sucked up water until full gain (40% by weight) then it locks-up the moisture. Sorry. __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1450196319	Reply with quote #23

well sorry my experience using these beads for 3 yrs says they do release moisture I use these silica beads for humidity control in 4 different humidors and it does release it back at 63f at about 63 to 68 % humidity according to my calibrated digital hygrometers .. but I could be wrong ha my hygrometers say different so far I water the pots with humidity beads about once every two weeks ,those without about once a week I am sure they were not at 300f not sure if the silica product you read about the same as what I am experimenting with ? anyone else with actual exprance ? please chime in . __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

baust55

Registered:1240892043
Posts: 497

Posted 1450212537 · Edited	Reply with quote #24

Sorry that was a little snarky response GENE I also did a little reading and the silica in those little stay dry packs mustt be way different then the beads I have been using ? The actual fancy ones they sell for humidors . can be purchased calibrated with mineral salts to release humidity at different levels . say 62% , 65% , 70% ect. Experimenting I found the kitty litter beads realsed humidity at about 65% to 68% in the humidors so I thought lets try in potting soil They also helps correct when soil to wet .. figs hate that. __________________ AUSTIN Read more mad non- scientist stuff ....check out my post on KITTY LITTER ! http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/kitty-litter-really-kitty-litter-7398708?pid=1287129765#post1287129765 "I grow fruit of the wine!" Zone 5 Fig trees I have : Hardy Chicago , Weeping Black , Ginoso , Excel , VEBT , and Genovese Nero . My Wish list: Panache, Florea,Desert King , RdB, Marseilles black vs, Vdb , Abruzzi, JH Adriatic , Nero 600 , MvsB, Malta Black,

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