River Sand - from my creek...

Age : 35 Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 181 Location : Cairns

I live right on a creek which is full of sand Smile

Would you recommend using it though? It's coarse sand.

Do you think it would need treating? If so - I assume 20 - 30 minutes at 200'C in the oven would do it...

It might be my job for this weekend. Anyone wanna come over and help me cart a few buckets of sand from my river to the house? It's only 1km away. There's some great cactus growing there too.... Smile

Plus you can take a bucket for yourself.

I already use the stones and some of the sand as a display top in the pots of the cacti now. But I am wondering what diseases, if any could actually live in the sand. If it's weed seeds we're killing, that's not a big deal, they can be plucked out as they emerge.

So I guess really my question is - does the sand from my creek require treatment?

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

I'd sterilise it , and probably wash it first (not with the creek water by the way)

Subject: Re: River Sand - from my creek... Fri May 09, 2008 6:13 pm

Also, how fine is it?
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mmm spikey...

Age : 35 Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 181 Location : Cairns

It's not that fine.. it's quite coarse - sort of equivallent to the propergation sand from bunnings.

Tell me though, what exactly am I sterilising it from?

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

bacteria, germs microbes... anything that might attack your seedlings. All you have to do it bake it in the oven to sterilize it. It's not hard to do, but given that it came from the river, I would.

Subject: Re: River Sand - from my creek... Fri May 09, 2008 7:11 pm

Parasites, diseases, fungal pathogens etc. sounds like good stuff. Let me know how it goes.
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mmm spikey...

Age : 35 Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 181 Location : Cairns

Will do...

Why not come over tomorrow and help me cart it through (haha). We can have a bbq later!

Subject: Re: River Sand - from my creek... Fri May 09, 2008 7:33 pm

Subject: Re: River Sand - from my creek... Fri May 09, 2008 7:40 pm

umm because you live about 3000 k's from me and even further from calycium lol apart from that I'd love to.
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mmm spikey...

Subject: Re: River Sand - from my creek... Fri May 09, 2008 7:42 pm

Bloody winter here already San mate, must think about moving somewhere warmer soon.
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mmm spikey...

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

Slim,
before you ask HOW TO STERILISE...

How to Sterilize

Subject: Re: River Sand - from my creek... Fri May 09, 2008 7:43 pm

Perhaps mid north QLD would be good Wink

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mmm spikey...

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

BBQ Tomorrow: Slim's place.3400Kms in 12 hours by Car....
let me think about that........................
nope.
But your more than welcome to come to my place and I'll GIVE you a bag of sterilized soil, and a FREE packet of seeds Laughing

Age : 35 Joined : 26 Apr 2008 Posts : 181 Location : Cairns

I tell ya tho... it's tough living with 9 months of 18 - 30'C every day. I don't know how I do it.

But with the smooth (and natural beauty of this area) comes a fair whack of rough...

I've battled through several cyclones - including Larry... Every tree in the street I lived on was ripped out of the ground... all except one... Luckily it was the one behind my room. Though I was a bit cowardly and set up shelter underneath the breakfast bar.

I've had to live through severe flooding and weeks where no food from south of Townsville could come through...

but you know... we always amuse ourselves Smile

That was after the flood waters subsided Smile

Before you couldn't even see the culvert at the end of my driveway!

This is the other side of my road one day after the rains had stopped... This is my creek Smile

You know... the one I get the sand from...

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

Cool photos,
now I know where all the water I've been trying to put on my garden went!!!