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Jay,

My teacher says the same thing about the Japanese growers. In Tokyo he says they use straight Akadama, but in the south where the winters are warmer they use gravel also.

If you take a handful of Akadama in one hand and a handful of crushed granite in the other, the granite certainly feels colder. I suppose the Aka just helps the root-zone stay warmer?? This could just be another one of those bonsai myths though.

Personally, I use a load of grit in my mixes for conifers, but then my primary concern is getting too much rain, rather than too much cold.

Ron - nice article. Just a quick question. Although soil is obviously necessary to anchor the tree into the ground in nature, I don't think that this really is the case in a pot. Certainly MOST of my trees are anchored in with wire, without it, for the first year or two the openess of bonsai soil would not stop my trees from falling out of their pots. However, once the roots have colonised the pots and the soil has decomposed slightly, the wire is not necessary. I leave it on though for the party trick of lifting trees by the trunks!

Regards,

Fish.

__________________
Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.

HEALTH WARNING: Engage brain fully, before typing into keyboard.

"We are the average gamers and we'll kill you badly. There'll be no finesse. no fancy tricks, no inventive attacks, just 2 whole smg clips and a rain of 'nades."

8-Sep-2003	#18
Emperor Fish Bonsai Otaku Join Date: Nov-2002 Location: Hants Country: England USDA Zone: 8 ish AHS Heat Zone: 2-3 Posts: 570	Jay, My teacher says the same thing about the Japanese growers. In Tokyo he says they use straight Akadama, but in the south where the winters are warmer they use gravel also. If you take a handful of Akadama in one hand and a handful of crushed granite in the other, the granite certainly feels colder. I suppose the Aka just helps the root-zone stay warmer?? This could just be another one of those bonsai myths though. Personally, I use a load of grit in my mixes for conifers, but then my primary concern is getting too much rain, rather than too much cold. Ron - nice article. Just a quick question. Although soil is obviously necessary to anchor the tree into the ground in nature, I don't think that this really is the case in a pot. Certainly MOST of my trees are anchored in with wire, without it, for the first year or two the openess of bonsai soil would not stop my trees from falling out of their pots. However, once the roots have colonised the pots and the soil has decomposed slightly, the wire is not necessary. I leave it on though for the party trick of lifting trees by the trunks! Regards, Fish. __________________ Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill. HEALTH WARNING: Engage brain fully, before typing into keyboard. "We are the average gamers and we'll kill you badly. There'll be no finesse. no fancy tricks, no inventive attacks, just 2 whole smg clips and a rain of 'nades."