Feline Pine

[JackTheGrower]

Having just re-composted my soil I tried a product called Feline Pine for some added long term brown.
I have used wood shavings as a long lasting brown source but this year I tried the pellets of the Feline Pine cat litter.

Once moistt it basically became finely ground up wood. More on the micronized wood side.

They advertise all natural and I know how pellets are made with a pellet mill so I feel good that I have a good soil additive.

This is the web site. If I'm not supposed to post a web link please edit this and tell me.
http://www.naturesearth.com/?gclid=CP3qj6jRs4gCFRABGAod131_2A

I'd like to get your organic opinion.


Jack (JTG)

 

[NoNameNoshame]

Whats the perks?

 

[3BM]

Hey Jack:

Sounds great, roll with it. Check the pH of the additive, to ensure it doesnt contribute any hidden acidity to the mix. Sometimes odor repellant products contain cedar which is highly acidic. To check pH add some to water with a known pH. Steep in water for several hours (since its not very soluble), and take a reading of the water (avoiding fiber/sediment). If the pH is on, it should be fine. I have used a product sold at nurseries for some time called "Moisture saver" which is essentially ground pine bark (with composted forest humus). If the feline pine is similiar to this, it will work great. Let us know how it works out.

Hey No Name:

Wood fiber contributes longevity to soil mixes. It provides texture (similiar to perlite) and will cut the acidity of peat moss over time. Wood fiber will both create air pockets and retain moisture in soil mixes. As peat breaks down and becomes increasingly acidic, wood fiber contributes a slow to break down neutral pH base to keep the medium consistent over time. Hope that helps.

3BM

 

[JackTheGrower]

Whats the perks?

If I remember correctly when it decays it adds some iron.

 

[JackTheGrower]

Hey Jack:

Sounds great, roll with it

Wood fiber contributes longevity to soil mixes. It provides texture (similiar to perlite) and will cut the acidity of peat moss over time. Wood fiber will both create air pockets and retain moisture in soil mixes. As peat breaks down and becomes increasingly acidic, wood fiber contributes a slow to break down neutral pH base to keep the medium consistent over time. Hope that helps.

3BM

That's a great description.

As far as I can tell it's 100% "chemical free, all-natural Southern Yellow Pine "

The pellets fall apart when they get moisture.

I'm figuring that it may work well as top dressing when I add things like guano and or coffee. A pleasent source of brown.

I'll do the PH test. I'll pick up another bag in the morning.

 

[NoNameNoshame]

^^^Mmmmm, interesting. I have a bin of soil that has been collected over time.

I'm pretty sure most of my store bought soils have been thrown out....there may be some organic soils from the store in the mix. But anymore I make my own from outdoor hikes.

I've been trying something new lately. I found a realy old stump that has been rotting and getting it from the bugs. It's a very dark red wood, and very soft, crumbles up very nicely. I ground this up by hand at first in a metal strainer, this got a bit old after a few runs. So I ground the rest up in veggie chopper, electric that is. Much broke down to a fluffy soil like texture although I allowed and aimed for some to be pellet size, to replace my need for perlite. I don't like the looks of perlite, just don't care for it.

So I also have some completely rotted tree that may be called humus in the mix. Along with a few cubic feet of manure, composted for years, doesn't even smell anymore.

I added some lime and a great all around organic dry fertilizer.

I don't worry about bugs, I treated with neem and with all the hand workings I got what buggers I could see out. Plus it's in it's final drying stage, set to grow here real soon, January I hopes ;-)

 

[JackTheGrower]

Hey NNNS can I call ya N^3S <grin>.

You may find a set of hardware cloth screens useful.

I build a wood frame and attached the hardware cloth to the bottom.

Over the years I have ground compost through 1/2 inch then 1/4 inch to get a fine top dressing.
I bet the decaying tree material would be a good thing to screen.

Yep my old screens and screen table look antique now.

 

[JackTheGrower]

I went to vote after the Graveyard shift and didn't get to the store.

I will tomorrow.

 

[dopamine]

Pine wood, needles and bark are all very acidic. In fact, I use pine bark in the holes I plant azaleas in to keep the soil acidic (which azaleas love).

 

[emmy75]

hey JTG
i was just crusin the posts and saw this thread. i also have bags of feline pine for my cat. now thats its been awhile (i assume) since uve used it, would u recommend feline pine as a top dressing. is it a good source of brown to feed the microbes?
thanks

 

[JackTheGrower]

hey JTG
i was just crusin the posts and saw this thread. i also have bags of feline pine for my cat. now thats its been awhile (i assume) since uve used it, would u recommend feline pine as a top dressing. is it a good source of brown to feed the microbes?
thanks

In moderation with other feeding materials.

I take a bucket and add an organic soil mix as a base then add whatever I am interested in laying down as feeding materials such as rice , coffee, alfalfa meal, shrimp meal, crawfords micronized compost, bone meal guano, Azomite and what not.

I have then mixed and spread the layer. I then sprinkle feline pine pellets over the surface of the new layer.


I water then and let things just start to decay.

In time I take and mix the top layer up a bit with my fingers or a small rake.

It's a good idea IMO to turn the top materials under a bit after a while .. Not too deep, that might damage roots but, just enough to mix the materials for the microbes

My room is a planter box 4x4.