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Originally Posted by kompik
I've been reading that there are basically three components to bonsai soil (organic matter, inorganic filler, and water-holding material) typically in a ratio of 2:2:1. In each of these categories, which haved you found the most sucess with or which is the easiest to find and use?
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Most organic matter is in fact water-holding material. There is actually no such thing as a filler for bonsai soil, if it doesn't have a purpose, it shouldn't be used.
A base mix that I use contains three ingredients.
1/3 Lava rock This is porous and hold some water however because of the irregularly shape and sharp edges it creates pockets to hold the much needed air and helps the roots divide and creates the fine feeder roots that the tree needs.
1/3 turface holds water well and doesn't break down easily.
1/3 fir bark organic matter that also holds water while supplying some nutrients when it breaks down.
All these ingredients are sifted well and sorted to size, remember if your particle sizes are not uniform, you are defeating the purpose.
For my figs I use 50% lava and 50% bark. For my pines and other dry loving trees I use less water holding material and for my deciduous and other wet loving trees I use more.
Here are some links to other threads here on this subject.
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...hlight=soil+mix
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...hlight=soil+mix
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...hlight=soil+mix
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...hlight=soil+mix
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...hlight=soil+mix
http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...hlight=soil+mix
And here's Brent's excellent
article...
Will