Essential of Soil Mixture?

Entling

Hi.

I have seen a lot of recommendations for different soil mixtures, but the ingredients seem a bit too exotic to find where I live. I asked about turface and pumice at a home-improvement lawn and garden department near my house, and they looked at me as if I were speaking Mandarin. These are probably not the best places to check, but they are all I have locally. Does anyone know of a simple bonsai mixture that can be mixed with readily available ingredients? What are the basics of a soil mixture? Is there a formula? Maybe I could substitute other ingredients such as vermiculite or aquarium gravel for the harder to get elements? Thanks!

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Jay

Here are some thoughts for you. I purchased at my local feed store a 50 lb bag of Chiken Grit. It is crushed stone and would be a fine for soil. Just make sure the grit is some type of rock and not shells. The size by me was small med and large. The medium seems to work for me.

If you have an Auto Zone by you, yes the car place. They have a product called Saf T Absorbent in 50 lb bags. This is fired clay and works as the second soil part. Now you do have to sift this product and you do lose about 40-50% but its still cheap at $5.00 a bag.

As for the other parts of your soil you should be able to obtain them locally, pine bark...mulch etc

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