Soil - bonsaiTALK Community

25-Aug-2004	#1
lucas bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Aug-2004 Country: The Netherlands USDA Zone: Europe AHS Heat Zone: Eur Posts: 12	Soil what's the best soil/ground for a jack pine and for a chinese elm?

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25-Aug-2004	#2
Carl_Bergstrom Old Mister Crow Join Date: May-2002 Location: Seattle, WA. Country: USA USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 2 Posts: 3,197	Try searching the archives. There's plenty of soil discussion to read through. Here's the key, though. There's no such thing a single "best" soil mix. A soil mix is only right given the context - which includes your zone, your light environment, your watering habits, your fertilizing habits, your diligence in sifting the ingredients, your particle size or mix of particle sizes, your soil layering procedure or lack thereof, even your repotting technique. Best regards, Carl __________________ In love with trees

25-Aug-2004	#3
Bonsainut Carrier of Bonsai Fever Join Date: Oct-2001 Location: So-Cal, US of A Country: America The Beautiful USDA Zone: Zone 9-10 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,833	Crow nailed it. But I wonder when you say soil/ground are you talking about soil in a pot or soil amendments for the ground? __________________ Keep growing,---'Nut Lethal Use of Farce

25-Aug-2004	#4
lucas bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Aug-2004 Country: The Netherlands USDA Zone: Europe AHS Heat Zone: Eur Posts: 12	soil in a pot okey, but what would you guys use for a jack pine (in a pot) & a chinese elm (in a pot)?

25-Aug-2004	#5
Carl_Bergstrom Old Mister Crow Join Date: May-2002 Location: Seattle, WA. Country: USA USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 2 Posts: 3,197	Lucas, I would use 1/3 pumice, 1/3 akadama, and 1/3 red lava, sifted and layered, for both. But that's completely irrelevant because unless you water like I do, repot like I do, fertilize like I do, root prune like I do, and grow your trees in my back yard, you're unlikely to get the same results or even good results from this mix. -Carl __________________ In love with trees

25-Aug-2004	#6
lucas bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Aug-2004 Country: The Netherlands USDA Zone: Europe AHS Heat Zone: Eur Posts: 12	right i got it i read in a book that for a chinese elm you can use 100% akadama....is this true?

25-Aug-2004

RonMartin(deceased)

Bonsai nare-do-well

Join Date: Jan-2003

Location: Summerville SC

Country: USA

USDA Zone: 8A

AHS Heat Zone: 8

Posts: 4,653

Re: Soil

Quote:

Originally posted by lucas
what's the best soil/ground for a jack pine and for a chinese elm?

Doesn't look like you are getting much help here.
A jack pine and a Chinese elm will both require a different soil. The pine needs a better, less moisture retentive soil than a elm does.
Living in the Netherlands this can cause some problems finding the right ingredients.
Take a peak at the following article
http://www.memobug.com/csn/csn.cgi?...0.5995123805917

Once you have read that contact me by PM and I will see if I can help out a bit.

Last edited by Ron Martin : 25-Aug-2004 at 07:23 PM.

25-Aug-2004	#8
Bart Thomas(deceased) Perpetual Novice Join Date: Jun-2003 Location: Bridgewater, NJ Country: United States USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 1,367	Dunno about the acadama. I'd ask locally. Your weather and watering habits have everything to do with the answer. The Crow really nailed this answer. You will not get a better basic one. Beyond that, it's like arguing about religion. Just gets everybody angry, and doesn't add to the knowledge pool.