Mounds

robinpla

Does anyone have any good tips on how to make a bonsai mound and most effectively maintain it? I have built a few but when I water with anything other than a mister the soil washes away and leaves the roots exposed. Would moss possibly help prevent erosion?

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tachigi

I assume your mounding on a slab. If so what are you using to retain the soil?

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Tom

Shady Side Bonsai
Bonsai Vault
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CRZY_Canuck

Pictures of said problem would help as well!

robinpla

I am using a bonsai soil that I purchase at my local bonsai nursery, and my mounds are not on a slab, but in a very shallow pot. Either way, are there any tricks to make the soil stay in place, or is it all about watering gently? I can take pictures tomorrow.

bonhe

Hi Robinpla,

You may add more soft clay (akadama) to your soil and yes, you should let moss grow to avoid soil washed away and remember using gentle mist until moss established. Bonhe

PatArizona

G'day Robin...

My soil mix is equal parts of: 1. Turface OR Profile OR OilDri; and, 2. Lava OR Pumice.

To this I add, RARELY, less than 5% Orchid Mix (fir bark).

I hand water using using a 1/2 gallon per minute FoggIt nozzle.

Very little, if any at all, moss.

The only time I have a problem with soil runoff is when it rains toooo much.

This has worked for me for 8-9 years.

Pat

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BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

JayC

Hi Robin,

Do you know what bonsai muck or peat muck is? Its basically a mix of alot of different things with 1 common ingredient, clay. There are many many mixtures out on the internet. Just do a search on "bonsai muck" or "peat muck" or "keto muck" on the internet and select the one with ingredients you can find. Im experimenting with different ingredients at the moment.

JayC

robinpla

Thanks JayC. I have been researching muck now, but I am a little confused. Is clay the kind of clay you can buy at a hobby store that you used to make ash trays out of as a kid? And if it is, can you be sure the clay doesn't contain harmful chemicals?

robinpla

Hi again JayC,

I went to my local bonsai nursery today and asked about muck and how to avoid soil erotion. They had never heard of adding clay to the dirt (and this woman was like hard core 90 years old from japan). They said muck is only used when creating retention walls and that using it on top of the soil would prevent water from getting to the roots.

They suggested just putting normal potting soil and compacting it real good. And of course water real carefully. I have this super fine shower thing maid for bonsais, but it still is pretty forcefull.

I am so confused...