OVERWHELMED With Repotting And SOIL

hgiljr

I have been doing so much reading ever since I found this website this weekend on repotting my Mallsai's and my non MallSai Juniper but all post of mixtures of soils to use is so confusing. 2/3 this, 1/4 that all different. I live in Miami, Florida where we have lots of rain during summer, lots of humidity and very little cold. Can someone just recommand me one mixture to use? I have about 10 different ones that I have found from this website on a word document and have no clue what to use. any help or info really appreciated.
One confused rookie Bonsaier

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Travesty34

Ha, you will never get a straight answer on an exact mix! Gather all the mixtures you have found and find the most common ingredients and use some common sense. There are a lot of experienced people here that should be able to guide you. The mixture should be about 65% non-organic though.

Have you read this article?

Article

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hgiljr

Thanks for the link. More to read and learn.

FredL

Hgiljr, Bonsai soil isn't really that mysterious. Just make sure that what you put together is course and drains well. If you have a Wallmart or other mass merchandising store with a nursery section, get a bag of some course gravel type of component (small lava rock is terrific) which is as "sharp" and angular as possible. Use this for about 1/2 your mixture. Then get some sort of organic component, probably labeled as mulch or something similar. Use this for about 1/3 of your mix. Then, for about 1/6 or less of your mix, use something like garden soil or compost or potting mix or potting soil. Mix it together well. What you should end up with is more-or-less a dirty gravel with lots of organic material (plant material) mixed in. Later on ,after you're more experienced, you will begin to refine this mix to your own liking. Initially, do not worry if it seems too course, MUCH better that it be too course than too fine.

Some people will argue about the last component I've recommended; eliminate it if you want and make it 2/3 gravel, 1/3 mulch. I suspect fertilizer becomes more important in this case.

If it comes out right, your mix shouild drain well, leaving air in the spaces between particles, but retain water within the organic (mulch) particles. The idea is to provide the roots with both air and water, as well as spaces within the mix for them to grow.

The reason there is so much difference of opinion on bonsai mixes is that as long as the mix contains spaces between particles for air and root growth and the mix retains water, most bonsai will tolerate alot of variation in components. Remember, 1/2 rocky gravel, 1/3 plant based mulch, 1/6 humus or loam. That's all there is to it.

Now, it's time to "go for it". If you do and stay with your new interest, you'll be back in 18 months trying to persuade everybody that you now have the best mix and everybody should shut up about soil mixes and listen to YOU!

Fred

FredL

Woops! Make that "coarse", not "course". No wonder you're so confused!

Fred

Bonsainut

Can we make is simple.

1/3 Sand*

1/3 aggregate*

1/3 compost*



Sand= large particle like silica #12. Find at building supply houses.


Aggregate= volcanic cinder, scoria, pumice, akadama, turface, shulz's soil conditioner. Just choose which is easy to find

Compost= A good soiless potting soil, sifted free of fines and big pieces.

Simple as pie, go for it!
S

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agraham

i don't use any organic for junipers.......small lava and turface..50/50

i don't know how much it matters.....just make sure it drains well......if you water everyday make sure it drains very well....if you water on occasion,add some organic(peatmoss,bark mulch)to hold a bit more moisture

1959_heidim

also check Evergreengardenworks.com bonsaisite.com, and bonsai4me.com. they have some good infor.I suggest you copy to reread this infor. good luck...i am another newbie!!
1959Heidim

Mcspeed

Graydon, a member of our forum uses this mix, he's from your area, and does a lot of pines, try this -

That was also based on my growing season and climate (zone 9B and 48 weeks of growing time).

The soil mix I primarily use is a medium size (1/3 each) lava, akadama and pumice

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