Sumi Balls

[Candace]

I saw this product posted on the GW and think it's pretty clever. I have no idea if it would work well for s/h, but maybe would be worth an experiment on a throw away plant. Plus it comes in a rainbow of colors. Some are pretty fugly, but it's an interesting concept.

http://www.sumiball.com/about.htm

 

[NYEric]

Go for it!

 

[Candace]

Ah, no. I'm very happy with my current growing medium. Why don't you import some blue balls, Eric?

 

[Candace]

Or black or red.

 

[NYEric]

Not a big fan of others' balls! :evil:

 

[SlipperFan]

Not a big fan of others' balls! :evil:

:rollhappy:

 

[Ron-NY]

I'd be willing to give this a try. I contacted them to see if there is a vendor here in the US.

 

[Candace]

K. What color will you go for?:noangel:

 

[GaryB]

They claim the charcoal will filter out all of the "bad' stuff, but I don't think charcoal discriminates between bad and good stuff and won't it also filter out fertilizer?

 

[Mrs. Paph]

Yeah, I was pretty sure they could give some to me and I could prove I could still grow algae along w/ my S/H plants despite their claims...would be handy if it worked as advertised though.

 

[Heather]

Funny thread...in several ways! :rollhappy:

 

[Ron-NY]

K. What color will you go for?:noangel:

I think I would go with black. I'm not into flashy colored balls

 

[Candace]

Good idea, Ron. I can't stand garrish looking balls. Or you could always go with the good old black and blue? Is that passe?

 

[Ron-NY]

"balck and blue"...naw that would remind me too much of that painful swing incident

 

[NYEric]

Teasing dates.

 

[arcticshaun]

This product just appeared in the new Lee Valley catalog update (Canadian). It is only offered in terra cotta and is fairly expensive ($17 per kilogram). I might be tempted to try it but only if lasts or could be reused (rinsed or leached out). So my question is, if I wash my (Sumi) balls can I use them again somewhere else?


Shaun

 

[Roth]

You cannot reuse them I am afraid. If the ceramic is porous, it will allow anything to crystallize inside, so it would be a painful process to wash them. Maybe dip in acid for some days...

The name is strange... Sumi balls, at first I was wondering if it was spam for sex toys...

 

[Candace]

Ron, were you able to find a US distributor? They do look pretty cool in aquariums. And they may look artsy if used to topdress a pot. I don't think I'd ever use it as a plant medium, though.

 

[gonewild]

Ron, were you able to find a US distributor? They do look pretty cool in aquariums. And they may look artsy if used to topdress a pot. I don't think I'd ever use it as a plant medium, though.

I would work well to hide your Halite from the judge.
:rollhappy:

 

[NYEric]

Heehhee! :evil: