bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - [IBC] composted pine bark

<< Brent at Evergreen Gardenworks wrote:
> The major cause of soil collapse is loss of particle size due to _composting_
of the organic portion. By using composted bark, you are using a material that
already has one foot in the grave. >>

I'm a little puzzled at this. Fatal soil compaction results from using organic
matter that is too finely ground or too soft, like peat moss. The pine bark
that is generally used in commercial bonsai soil, like Hollow Creek Farms, is
only partially composted. This is to prevent the problem of bacteria in fresh
bark using too much nitrogen.
Also, if you repot on a regular basis, say every two or three years, the
organic matter won't have turned to mush that fast. Another cause of premature
soil collapse is using an inadequately fired clay component, like cat litter.
That is why we keep emphasizing the need to use a high fired product like
Turface.
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)

4-Aug-2004	#13
Iris Cohen Guest Posts: n/a	Re: composted pine bark << Brent at Evergreen Gardenworks wrote: > The major cause of soil collapse is loss of particle size due to _composting_ of the organic portion. By using composted bark, you are using a material that already has one foot in the grave. >> I'm a little puzzled at this. Fatal soil compaction results from using organic matter that is too finely ground or too soft, like peat moss. The pine bark that is generally used in commercial bonsai soil, like Hollow Creek Farms, is only partially composted. This is to prevent the problem of bacteria in fresh bark using too much nitrogen. Also, if you repot on a regular basis, say every two or three years, the organic matter won't have turned to mush that fast. Another cause of premature soil collapse is using an inadequately fired clay component, like cat litter. That is why we keep emphasizing the need to use a high fired product like Turface. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming train." Robert Lowell (1917-1977)