bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Top soil or rock?? / Indoor Bonsai's.

The moss covering on many displayed trees is applied to the soil surface just a week or so before the show.

Some growers do use mulches of different kinds on the top layer of the soil as a matter of practice. This could be anything from moss or fine gravel to a blended "shohin" soil or a crushed black lava. The mulch may serve a functional purpose (holding the soil in place during watering, increasing humidity and reducing evaporation from the soil surface) or it may just be decorative.

If the surface gets too choked with moss, (or gravel glued to the surface of a mallsai) the ability of air to diffuse into the soil, where the roots need it can be impaired, and it can make it difficult to water the plant. So, you need to choose an appropriate surface and keep it under control.

Regards,

Matt

12-Feb-2002	#2
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,742	Re: Top soil or rock?? / Indoor Bonsai's. The moss covering on many displayed trees is applied to the soil surface just a week or so before the show. Some growers do use mulches of different kinds on the top layer of the soil as a matter of practice. This could be anything from moss or fine gravel to a blended "shohin" soil or a crushed black lava. The mulch may serve a functional purpose (holding the soil in place during watering, increasing humidity and reducing evaporation from the soil surface) or it may just be decorative. If the surface gets too choked with moss, (or gravel glued to the surface of a mallsai) the ability of air to diffuse into the soil, where the roots need it can be impaired, and it can make it difficult to water the plant. So, you need to choose an appropriate surface and keep it under control. Regards, Matt __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!