[IBC] Bonsai mix - source for organic component(s)

Steve wachs

I am not sure what size screen use for the compost. I use window screen
framed in a box to hold soil. I use this for the compost. I mill the peat moss
through the screen also. The perlite is largest size component. I have
purchased plants that had truffle or something gritty, but I do not find it
appealing. I prefer soil moss

SteveW


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Jim Lewis

> Hey Craig,
>
> That's interesting. I'd have to see the compost... but it
sounds like it
> could fit the bill as well. Having only seen compost at
lowes/home depot I'd
> not considered it for my mixes.

The compost at Lowes/Home Depot is little more than black talcum
powder. DO NOT USE IT WITH BONSAI (though it would be a good
muck component for root-over-rock). Make your own compost.

Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Jim Lewis

>
> Can you provide make/model of hand grinder for reference? Or
maybe a pointer
> to something similar that could be had new or used...

No. This is almost an antique. Check out websites that deal
with making compost -- www.rotweb.com used to be one.

Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests
are like genealogists: We know our roots!

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Steve wachs

oops sorry folks truffles was supposed to be turface. I guess spell check
never heard of turface

SteveW


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++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

John Dhom

Hey Bill,

Thx info! I read, I comprehend, I like

Turface MVP is a little on the small side, Turface pro is even a bit
smaller. Is the lava-rock/grat-grit a bit bigger?

Best,
/jhd

Central Tennessee, USDA zone 6a-6b, Sunset zone 33

"Corcoran. Bil" <wmcorcor@KINGS.EDU> wrote in message
news:672C834D0A1E974CB1B26D66252A6B41076307@mail01 .kings.edu...
> John:
>
> I find it does well for water retention. Since I have an automatic
> irrigation system I'd rather use a fast draining soil to minimize the
> risk of over-watering. I try to keep Biogold chunks in each pot as a
> food safety net and I tend to hit them every other week in the growing
> season with Dynagrow or fish emulsion.
>
> I was using 1/3 Turface MVP, 1/3 Grant-Grit (decomposed granite/chicken
> grit) and 1/3 composted pine bark mulch. This was based on several
> recipes I had read. After talking with Jerry Stowell about his concerns
> with the alkaline in the chicken grit and after my struggle to find a
> reasonable organic component year after year I started checking out more
> soils. I spoke with Chase Rosade and with Jim Doyle from Nature's Way
> and after checking out their soil mixes I decided to drop the organic
> component completely.
>
> I now use lava rock and Turface MVP in pretty much equal parts. It
> holds moisture, drains well and does not break down and clog the soil at
> all from what I have seen so far. It is still an experimental soil but
> I can say I'm using it in almost all of my plants, it's affordable and
> easy to sift.
>
> My concerns for this soil mix:
>
> 1) All feeding is controlled manually (Probably a good thing)
> 2) Ph of lava rock (I heard some of them are high depending on the
> source)
> 3) Hardness of the mix (Doesn't allow fine root to penetrate like
> Akadama)
>
> If the price was right I'd try Akadama instead of Turface or maybe
> instead of both but it's too expensive and it does break down more
> quickly than I can afford to replace it.
>
> wmcorcor
>
> ==> -----Original Message-----
> ==> From: Internet Bonsai Club [mailto:BONSAI@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM] On
> Behalf
> ==> Of John Dhom
> ==> Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 1:55 PM
> ==> To: BONSAI@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
> ==> Subject: Re: [IBC] Bonsai mix - source for organic component(s)
> ==>
> ==> Heya Bill,
> ==>
> ==> Well... it'd certainly be easy as I have good sources for the
> inorganic
> ==> components
> ==>
> ==> Does this have a significant impact on water/nutrient retention? Can
> you
> ==> provide an example recipe? What you use for moisture retention and
> how
> ==> you
> ==> adjusted it's portion when you dropped the organic component?
> ==>
> ==> Best,
> ==> /jhd
>
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> >>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
> +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++
>

John Dhom

Thx info. Will reconnoiter and conquer.

Best,
/jhd

Central Tennessee, USDA zone 6a-6b, Sunset zone 33

"Jim Lewis" <jklewis@NETTALLY.COM> wrote in message
news:011701c45f9d$47663000$c7102cc7@pavilion...
> >
> > Can you provide make/model of hand grinder for reference? Or
> maybe a pointer
> > to something similar that could be had new or used...
>
> No. This is almost an antique. Check out websites that deal
> with making compost -- www.rotweb.com used to be one.
>
> Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests
> are like genealogists: We know our roots!
>
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> >>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
> +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

John Dhom

I read, I comprehend, I obey.

/jhd

Central Tennessee, USDA zone 6a-6b, Sunset zone 33

"Jim Lewis" <jklewis@NETTALLY.COM> wrote in message
news:010f01c45f9d$117b1640$c7102cc7@pavilion...
> > Hey Craig,
> >
> > That's interesting. I'd have to see the compost... but it
> sounds like it
> > could fit the bill as well. Having only seen compost at
> lowes/home depot I'd
> > not considered it for my mixes.
>
> The compost at Lowes/Home Depot is little more than black talcum
> powder. DO NOT USE IT WITH BONSAI (though it would be a good
> muck component for root-over-rock). Make your own compost.
>
> Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
> people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
> its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
> should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.
>
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> >>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
> +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

John Dhom

Yeah... bonsai mix is expensive enough... truffles would be a bit exotic for
my mix

/jhd

"Steve wachs" <SteveWachs@AOL.COM> wrote in message
news:4e.2d94fb06.2e15b900@aol.com...
> oops sorry folks truffles was supposed to be turface. I guess spell check
> never heard of turface
>
> SteveW
>
>
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> >>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
> +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

John Dhom

Understood.

Yeah, I use a top dressing too... especially on the perlite mixes.

Best,
/jhd

Central Tennessee, USDA zone 6a-6b, Sunset zone 33

"Steve wachs" <SteveWachs@AOL.COM> wrote in message
news:1a0.266a6ea5.2e15b818@aol.com...
> I am not sure what size screen use for the compost. I use window screen
> framed in a box to hold soil. I use this for the compost. I mill the peat
moss
> through the screen also. The perlite is largest size component. I have
> purchased plants that had truffle or something gritty, but I do not find
it
> appealing. I prefer soil moss
>
> SteveW
>
>
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
>
************************************************** **************************
****
> >>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
> +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++