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Making loam


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5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline SheepForgeBoi - Posted September 10 2018 - 9:55 AM

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Hey guys how do I make loam. My understanding is that it is made out of soil and clay but where do I get the clay from? Should I buy it or just dig it up? Any home recipes for making good loam?

Thanks



#2 Offline Major - Posted September 10 2018 - 10:43 AM

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You can buy clay from most arts and craft stores, like Michael's.

#3 Offline SheepForgeBoi - Posted September 10 2018 - 11:10 AM

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I assume you mean like wet clay? How would I break this down into a dust to make loam though?



#4 Offline Barristan - Posted September 10 2018 - 12:19 PM

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You can buy dry clay powder. Just mix that with dry sand. (3:1 sand:clay ratio, if you want a soil which doesn't collapse that easily).

 

Loam is a mixture of sand, clay and slit. Clay is extracted from loam soil.



#5 Offline SheepForgeBoi - Posted September 11 2018 - 4:33 AM

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You can buy dry clay powder. Just mix that with dry sand. (3:1 sand:clay ratio, if you want a soil which doesn't collapse that easily).

 

Loam is a mixture of sand, clay and slit. Clay is extracted from loam soil.

Do you have any care instructions for a loam nest? How often it needs water and such?



#6 Offline DaveJay - Posted September 11 2018 - 7:14 AM

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Hi, you're being a bit too vague I think, pictures or at least a description of the type of nest you have or are thinking of would be helpful. How often to add water will depend on several factors, how much substrate is involved, how much is subject to evaporation, ventilation, ambient humidity in the room and which species you have will all affect a care routine.
For any of the creatures I keep I use a mix of coco/coir peat and sand as substrate, varying the mix depending on the natural habitat of the animal.
Water added can vary from a weekly spray to adding 50ml every few months, it's hard to advise on what your routine should be without knowing the situation. In most cases spraying or adding water to one corner or end weekly is enough but the amount needed will vary. Adding water to one corner or end only will give you a range of moisture levels given adequate ventilation.
If you provide more details I'm sure you'll get more helpful answers.




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