bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - The great soil conspiracy.

Will,

I use just about the same soil mix for almost all trees. Hundreds of trees, mind you, some extremely valuable. I do not think that it is worth to bother about individual mixes for every species.
I take whatever the garden has available:

for most conifers and rather dry loving trees:

80 % pumice or 'turface' or lava split, or akadama or similar of a mixture of all these
20 % peat

for non-conifers (broadleaved trees) and some conifers like spruce:

60 % see above
40 % peat

no compost, no other organic ingredients.

For azaleas and other ericaceous plants:

100 % kanuma or 50 % peat and 50 % pumice

There are no nutrients in my soil. I have to feed on a regular basis, mainly organic.
The soil is very well draining but dries out quickly. I have to water EVERY day, in summer twice.

best regards
Walter Pall
http://walter-pall.de look how healthy my trees look with this simple soil regime.

5-Oct-2004	#3
Walter_Pall bonsai is not my hobby Join Date: Oct-2001 Location: Egling, south of Munich Country: Germany USDA Zone: 6a AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 1,450	Will, I use just about the same soil mix for almost all trees. Hundreds of trees, mind you, some extremely valuable. I do not think that it is worth to bother about individual mixes for every species. I take whatever the garden has available: for most conifers and rather dry loving trees: 80 % pumice or 'turface' or lava split, or akadama or similar of a mixture of all these 20 % peat for non-conifers (broadleaved trees) and some conifers like spruce: 60 % see above 40 % peat no compost, no other organic ingredients. For azaleas and other ericaceous plants: 100 % kanuma or 50 % peat and 50 % pumice There are no nutrients in my soil. I have to feed on a regular basis, mainly organic. The soil is very well draining but dries out quickly. I have to water EVERY day, in summer twice. best regards Walter Pall http://walter-pall.de look how healthy my trees look with this simple soil regime.