Mixing a soil - bonsaiTALK Community

18-Mar-2005	#1
Elm237 Ninja Woodsmen Join Date: Mar-2005 Location: OHIO Country: USA USDA Zone: 6-7 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 158	Mixing a soil What I don't understand is you all were kind enough to help me find the right soil mixture. I don't understand: for instance 1/3 manure 1/3 lava rock 1/3 turface. What I dont get is do you add those things to potting soil or that is the mix, without potting soil included. Please help me because I am going crazy!

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18-Mar-2005

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Perpetual Novice

Join Date: Jun-2003

Location: Bridgewater, NJ

Country: United States

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Elm237

What I don't understand is you all were kind enough to help me find the right soil mixture. I don't understand: for instance 1/3 manure 1/3 lava rock 1/3 turface. What I dont get is do you add those things to potting soil or that is the mix, without potting soil included. Please help me because I am going crazy!

That is the mix. "Potting soil" is often bad for bonsai because it does not drain well.

18-Mar-2005	#3
Senex bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: North Florida Posts: 10	To answer your question directly, you sift each of the ingredients of your soil seperately, then you mix them together. You sift them seperately because you cannot mix the proportions otherwise. It is like baking. Measure flour, measure salt, mix together. You should get a good book, like John Naka's, and consult the soil charts with respect to the type of tree you have. Different trees require different soils for best results.

24-Mar-2005	#4
jeremy_norbury bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Sep-2003 Location: Amstelveen Country: Netherlands USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 2-3 Posts: 1,396	You can't really use "Manure" - I guess you meant compost. I use 1/3 turface, 1/3 akadama and 1/3 grit. This has no organic material at all and needs watering frequently - but has no problem dealing with the fairly high rainfall we have here. Pretty much depends on how humid the climate is where you are... __________________ All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan I told you I was ill. Spike Milligan's Gravestone

24-Mar-2005	#5
Will_Heath BANNED Join Date: Apr-2004 Location: Clinton Township, MI Country: USA USDA Zone: 6 MI AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 4,227	Here are a few links that you should read through, I think many of your questions will be answered here. http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=8530 http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=4414 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/showthread.php?t=10296 http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=1454 Will

25-Mar-2005	#6
pootsie The Cat's Apprentice *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: May-2004 Location: Columbus o-HI-o Country: USofA USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 3,065	My mix: Step one, start with an empty bucket step two, add turface step three, add pine bark chips step four, add haydite step five, shake it all about no "potting soil," deffo no manure pootsie p.s. hokey pokey reference free of charge __________________ p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master. Columbus Bonsai Society

25-Mar-2005	#7
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	[QUOTE= step five, shake it all about [/QUOTE] Thats what it's all about. Good advice. __________________ Keep growing,---'Nut Lethal Use of Farce

25-Mar-2005

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

Quote:

=
step five, shake it all about

Thats what it's all about.

Good advice.

__________________
Keep growing,---'Nut

Lethal Use of Farce

26-Mar-2005	#9
Elm237 Ninja Woodsmen Join Date: Mar-2005 Location: OHIO Country: USA USDA Zone: 6-7 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 158	I think I understand but how do you get it to look like real soil? Also trees in forests grow some times in pure clay so why can't bonsai?

26-Mar-2005

#10

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elm237

I think I understand but how do you get it to look like real soil? Also trees in forests grow some times in pure clay so why can't bonsai?

It's mainly a function of drainage. Heavy, clayey soils tend to hold water too long, leading to fungus & root rot. Free-draining soil is very important to most bonsai.

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