Live And Learn

RonMartin(deceased)

If it works for you then that is good. One should always use what will work.
But usefulness will change based on climate,specie of tree and many other factors. Repotting will also be based on many things. Not just time but also specie and age of the tree. The amount of growing days where you live will also be a factor.
One of the big differences between Dallas and where I live is the amount of relative humidity there is on a given day. A summer day where you are is hot and relatively dry. Here it is hot with a very high humidity level. Evaporation rates will be drastically different in both places. This alone will make for different set of requirements when selecting the ingredients for a soil mix.
In my post I only said how surprised I was at the difference in the growth rate between my two plants. Not sure why the lava stone seemed to make a difference but it did. Whether that is a short or long term gain will be something only time will tell.

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FredL

Ron, compared to a lot of people here, I'm just a beginner. But, I will have to say that I am a HUGE fan of lava rock. I've found it to be an absolutely magical component in my mixes. Put in at least half lava rock, black or red, and complete the mix with pretty much anything else you feel like using is now my way of making up mixes.

Fred

RonMartin(deceased)

One of the reasons I tried it was that I heard the same from a lot of people. Not just the "beginners" but from long time practitioners as well.
Mi initial reactions are that everyone of you are right. You beat me to a good thing )

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Hi, Ron.

For the past 18 months, or so, I have been using the lava rock with great success.

I think a large part of that success is that it drains very well, while holding a lot of moisture, which helps overcome my beginner's tendency to overwater.

It also makes an attractive top dressing.

For organic content, I have been using a product sold here called clay-buster. It's shredded fir bark, laced with gypsum. Most of the gypsum is lost in the sifting process, So I don't worry about it. Cost something like $8-9 for a 50lb bag. For me, a lifetime suppy!

wmcorcor

OK I have to ask. What is a good source for lava rock. I live in the northeast and we've spent tha last season and a half finding the components for our own soil. Our first attempt was:

1/3 Turface MVP
1/3 Chicken Grit (decomposed granite)
1/3 pine bark mulch

So far it has worked better but after a workshop with Jerry Stowell he suggested we lose the granite (too much alkaline according to Jerry) and use a lava rock he called Way-Lite.

I haven't been able to find any source for way-lite or a lava rock.

Any suggestions from anyone in the northeast?

Bart Thomas(deceased)

I've used Ed & Randall's Lava based bonsai soil. I buy rhe Pine grade, and add my own organics.

They are in Doylestown, as I recall. I get it from Chase Rosade

FredL

Well, I buy mine from the local Walmart. Apparently, alot of it is used for landscaping here, locally. It comes in medium and small in the red variety and as black, which is similar in size to small red. At first, it seemed a tad course for bonsai mix, but I soon came to see it as just right. I think the bonsai purists would probably wash it and screen it. I use it just as it comes out of the bag.

Fred

rockm

Granite is pretty inert. I'd question whether the "too alkaline" diagnosis is accurate. I've been using crushed granite for years in my basic soil mix. Haven't had a problem.

AncientLegend

wmcorcor,

I haven't been able to find usable lava rock in SW PA either. The only thing around here is the golf ball sized stuff used for landscaping.

If you come up with a source, please post it.