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Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 9:26 pm
by Traveler
I have diatomaceous earth powder from my local big box store but have searched for a more granular diatomaceous earth without success. The floor dry products near me seem to contain coir or a clay product. Can anyone recommend a product and or source? Thanks
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 10:01 pm
by pepperhead212
The stuff I get is from auto stores - some of what they have is the floor dry stuff with clay, but some is the stuff labeled as 100% diatomaceous earth. I got some really cheap recently from a local Auto Zone.
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 5:07 am
by MissS
AutoZone or you can also buy Blue Ribbon Cat Litter from the Dollar Tree Store.
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 2:13 pm
by Traveler
I pick up some at the Auto Zone, so thanks to all that replied. However what is the main purpose of mixing it in potting soil? I understand that it absorbs moisture but is the goal to PREVENT fungus gnats and bugs by providing some drying power after watering? I understand that the power can be mixed in the very top soil layer to kill adult gnats.
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 4:46 pm
by zeuspaul
I use it instead of perlite because it holds water and helps with drainage. Perlite just helps with drainage.
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 7:42 pm
by pepperhead212
I add the granular, along with perlite, to help with drainage, plus it does hold some water, like vermiculite holds some, so it doesn't dry out as quickly. For the various pests in the soil, I use some powder, especially in the upper 2" or so, in larger pots.
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 8:36 am
by Kurt
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.h ... ndisturbed
Some interesting facts.
I mix the dustier in my container mix for the bug killing attributes.
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Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 3:19 pm
by MissS
DE granules are very absorbent and will hold water for you. It also is porous and dries out quickly which is great if you have a heavy hand at watering so that you get less of a chance at damping off. I have used granular DE mixed with worm castings as a seed starting medium and had great results. A side benefit is no fungus gnats and no damping off.
Powdered DE is used for insect control. It is said to only be effective while it is dry so I don't know how well powdered DE will work mixed into the soil. Most people use it on top. I put a half inch of granular on top of my houseplants soil and have found that it works to control gnats quite well.
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 4:00 pm
by Kurt
I use rice hulls,agricultural grade vermiculite,and coir pith in my mixes.The d.e. Is sprinkled to about half inch deep on top.It does work on the scale insects the best.
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:36 am
by Kurt
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:41 am
by Kurt
Above is the mix with the rice hulls,agricultural grade D .E. and coco coir mix,plus the finer D.E.
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 8:14 am
by FatBeeFarm
MissS wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 3:19 pm
DE granules are very absorbent and will hold water for you. It also is porous and dries out quickly which is great if you have a heavy hand at watering so that you get less of a chance at damping off. I have used granular DE mixed with worm castings as a seed starting medium and had great results. A side benefit is no fungus gnats and no damping off.
Powdered DE is used for insect control. It is said to only be effective while it is dry so I don't know how well powdered DE will work mixed into the soil. Most people use it on top. I put a half inch of granular on top of my houseplants soil and have found that it works to control gnats quite well.
Fascinating. What is your ratio of DE to worm castings? And do you still feed your seedlings or do the worm castings carry them all the way to transplanting out?
Re: Granular diatomaceous earth
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 8:41 am
by MissS
@FatBeeFarm The ratio was 3 parts DE to 1 part castings. It seems to have changed over the years and it's now about 50/50. I don't need to feed my seedlings until I up-pot them. I start up to 10-20 seedlings in a seed pack cell. When they have their first true leaf then I separate them and they each get their own pot. At this time they get a potting mix with some DE and castings thrown in and more DE on top and watered in with some fertilizer. This will usually take care of them until plant out.
Sometimes I do not need to fertilized the seedling at all and other times I do. I "read the leaves" and if they are showing that they are in need of more than the worm castings then I will feed them with what they are asking me for.